Grading Advice No. 12: Talking to Startups

This is part of a series on how to be a good mock partner and ask the right questions. It is also great for thinking like a hiring manager to better prepare for your pending interviews.

To see the rest of the articles in the series, find the list here.

Startups will ask a mix of behavioral and case questions.

Startups want to know:

• Are you passionate about their product?

• Are you going to roll up your sleeves?

• You will take ownership?

• Are you hungry? (For leaders, means you aren’t hungry for a big team?)

How to Mock:

If you are mocking someone focused on a startup, try these starter questions.

Ask questions about the company.

• Why do you want to work for X?

• Design What do you think we should improve about X?

• Strategy What do you think we should build next?

• Strategy What do you think is our greatest threat?

Note: The interviewers will not always ask these questions but being able to answer them helps the candidate to prepare better.

How to Grade:

When grading, use common sense. Here are some things to ask yourself. If they miss the mark on these items, give them frank and honest feedback.

• Are they clear on what the company does?

• Do their experiences show they are a good fit for the company?

• If senior, do they sound like they wouldn’t like rolling up their sleeves to do some execution work?

• Do they understand the threats the company is facing?

• Are they passionate enough about the company and product space to suggest some innovative product changes?