How to Avoid Asking for Too Much During Salary Negotiation

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published September 14, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published September 14, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Almost everyone should salary negotiate a little bit when they receive a new job offer. But young job seekers are not always aware of the implications and risks of over negotiating for a role. Of course, there’s the obvious risk of having the offer rescinded. But what if you actually get what you ask for? Are your talents and contributions going to be worth the dollar amount you asked for during your interview?

Things to consider when negotiating your salary:

Cost of living

Of course, when considering the cost of living in an area, you’re going to want to keep your expectations realistic. Just because you picture yourself in a certain lifestyle once you land your new job, doesn’t mean that’s what the employer will be able to give you.

Experience

We know, Glassdoor tells you that the average Investment Banking Analyst in New York, New York makes $103,000 a year. But what young job seekers need to consider is the fact that they’re probably not the average investment banking analyst, not yet anyway. If you have 0 years experience and are looking for your first “stepping stool” job, you’ll need to take that into account when considering your expected salary. But hey, if you kill it at your first job and have some clout you can point to, you’ll have much more negotiating power in the future.

Manager of… what?

Just because the job title has the word “manager” in it, doesn’t mean you’re necessarily in a management role. Say you’re a content manager or even a project manager, you may be juggling several balls in doing your job, which is great, but managing people is another story entirely and it’ll make a difference in a salary offer. So instead of looking at and comparing titles, instead look at comparable responsibilities when getting an idea of an appropriate salary.

Be honest about what you currently make

Of course it’s now a huge no-no (or even illegal) for an employer to ask what you currently make during an interview, but as a job seeker, you may feel incentivized to use your current salary as a reasoning point during your salary negotiation. If that’s the case and you choose to disclose what you currently make, be honest! Just because you have a pretty good idea that a promotion is coming at your current job, doesn’t mean you can use that prospective salary as leverage. Your employer could look this up during a background check after you’re hiring and have grounds to fire you.

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If you decide to negotiate and ask for more compensation:

Make sure you’re able to live up to it. You don’t want to risk putting a bad taste in your hiring manager’s mouth by making claims and promises (to get them to pay you more) that you can’t follow through on. When your annual review comes around and your manager realizes they could get someone with the same skill set for less compensation, you may find yourself on the job hunt again sooner than you expected. If you are able to live up to what you claim, great! Just be careful not to set yourself up for failure if your negotiation claims end up being all talk.

If you choose to take the lower salary:

While it’s a good practice to negotiate at least a little bit, there’s something to be said for proving your value to a company first. For example, if you ask for $65,000 but your employer can only offer $55,000, it might be worth sticking it out at $55,000 for 6 months, rocking at your job, and then coming back and asking for $65,000 now that you can prove you’re worth it. In the meantime, while you’re rocking at your job, do your best to quantify and measure the value you bring to a company. If you’re able to prove your value to your hiring manager, you may be able to give yourself leverage enough to ask for a significant raise with your track record to backing up your reasoning rather than promises.

Things to negotiate other than compensation:

When thinking about what you should push for or leave on the table when it comes to negotiating compensation, remember that a lot more goes into a total compensation package than your actual paycheck. Think: healthcare, life insurance, dental, 401k, tuition reimbursement, vacation, flexible work hours, etc. Remember that these do have a quantifiable value that should be included when thinking of overall compensation.

Key takeaway:

The key thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that you want your new employer to actually be excited when you start working for them. Having an employer who thinks, “We’re so excited to have you here!” rather than, “This person better be worth it” can set the tone going forward in your work relationships. You’ll also give yourself a much better chance at impressing your employers and exceeding their expectations rather than having to live up to them.

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Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

What Size Startup Should You Join?

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

8 min read • Originally published October 12, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

8 min read • Originally published October 12, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

So you want to work for a startup. After binge-watching 5 seasons of Silicon Valley and watching the Social Network you’ve realized you want to work for fast-paced, mission-conscious, world-changing startup. That’s great to hear! Now the real question is what sort of startup should you work for? More specifically what size startup should you be working for… You have definitely heard of companies like Uber and JUUL raising 100’s of millions of dollars during their Series C or D rounds. But what about the average startup? How do they raise money? What is the size of a typical round of funding? And most importantly what does each round of funding indicate to someone looking for a job at a startup. Well, you’re in luck because you’re about to receive an education in startup funding for dummies.

First, who is investing in startups?

Before we jump into the different stages of funding it seems appropriate to start with who/where all of this money is coming from. There are a number of different and creative ways to raise money beyond venture capital firms.

Bootstrapping– Essentially a founding team will self-fund themselves until they raise outside capital or generate revenue.
Friends and Family– Probably the easiest people to tap into, this is usually the first place a startup will turn to for outside capital.
Angel investors- These are accredited investors, usually well-off people investing their own money at very early stages of companies. They not only invest in companies but often times will become mentors/advisors.
Accelerators/Incubators- Are usually sponsored programs to help startups with capital, resources, workspaces, business advice, and networking opportunities.
Venture Capital Firms- These are professional investment firms who invest in startups and growing companies. There are many different VCs that invest at different stages and in different verticals across the globe.
Crowdfunding– Becoming ever so much popular with companies like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but there is a lot more startup focused ones like Fundable and Seedinvest. Thanks to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act — Startups and small business are able to seek small investments from a large number of investors.
Loans– Definitely not the most traditional format of seeking capital for startups, it is very much a viable option to receive a loan from a bank or the Small Business Administration. In fact mattress startup Tuft and Needle essentially bootstrapped their business with bank loans until they were profitable ($170 million in revenue 2017) and eventually merged with Serta Simmons.
Private equity firms, hedge funds, banks- Really the only time these larger financial institutions get involved is in late-stage funding when there is less risk associated with the startup OR if the company is fintech related.

Now that we know the different options for funding/raising money for startups we can get to the fun stuff! Aka how do different rounds of funding affect a company and, in turn, your job search…

Pre-Seed

10 years ago the term “pre-seed” was virtually non-existent or known as a “friends and family” round, but with the influx of money coming into the startup ecosystem startups are consistently raising pre-seed rounds. A pre-seed is usually the first time founders will seek outside capital or investment. For the most part, founders have been bootstrapping their company to this point and need an influx of capital in order to reach the next critical milestone, such as hiring a key team member or developing the first iteration of the product.

At this stage, a startup is really just starting… The founders are most likely the only ones working on the project, but they have invested enough time to create an initial concept/product/business that is worth investing in. This is about as true silicon valley as you can get, just a couple of people huddled around some computers in an apartment or co-working space. If you’re really trying to get into the ground-level/hands-on atmosphere with serious ownership, then this is the stage of a startup you should be joining. You’ll experience a lot of sleepless nights and eating a lot of ramen, but in the end, if you believe in the mission and product, it will all be worth it.

Size of company: Founders maybe 1 employee (1-5)

Average Funding Amount: <$1 Million

What the company is valued at: $1-3 million

Where is the money coming from: Friends and Family, early-stage angels, accelerators/incubators, crowdfunding, loan

Seed

A seed round is where you really start to see some traction within a startup, the team is growing, the product is getting off the ground, there are a decent amount of users/customers. In the past, a seed round usually meant that you were reaching out to angel investors, people in the industry who are willing investors/mentors. Though within the last 5 or so years, more and more early-stage VCs have joined the fray and really increased the size of seed rounds. The median angel-funded seed round is around $250k with the median VC-led seed size well over $2 million. With the inclusion of VCs in the seed stage, these rounds of funding are making more and more starts viable/sets them up for the long run.

At this stage, the company is starting to see a market fit and has really jumped its first big hurdle by securing a somewhat sizable amount of funding. If a company has raised a seed with quality angels and early-stage VCs there will be a bit more job security, yet a sense of urgency to really get to a Series A or other milestone. The core team outside of the founders is starting to be assembled, maybe they join an accelerator or incubator, this is really the first major portion company building. Probably not the best time to join if you are a bit risk-adverse that being said this stage is incredibly exciting, and all tasks accomplished here will be incredibly rewarding in the long run.

Size of company: 5-25

Average Funding Amount: $2.2 million

What the company is valued at: $3-10 million

Where is the money coming from: Early-stage angels, accelerators/incubators, early-stage venture capital firms, crowdfunding, loan.

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Series A

Only 46% of startups who raise a seed round ever make it to a series A. At this point, most startups are very much focused on generating revenue, this is where marketing and sales become critical to the business to ensure that there is accelerated growth within the business. For some startups, this is where institutional investments start to come in from VCs, this is also the point where some of the larger household/brand name VCs begin to make serious investments.

At this the point where the startup has essentially come out of infancy, it is very much a real company with serious goals and ambitions. The team has expanded outside of the core group members and now they are poised for growth. With a series A, many companies will begin to rapidly grow their team and build out new organizational structures to support the team. This is no longer your typical bootstrapped company, a startup at this stage while still small is beginning to build out the infrastructure to support growth. A great time to join a startup, it is somewhat stable but still growing super fast, where one can gain a lot of very hands-on experience.

Size of company: 20-50

Average Funding Amount: $7.65 million

What the company is valued at: $10-20 million

Where is the money coming from: VC’s, “super angels”, crowdfunding

Series B

Series B startups are now starting to look less and less like “traditional” startups and more like full-fledged companies. A series B is less about looking at the potential of a company more looking towards how they can take that investment and scale the business into new sectors, markets, and verticals. Investors are expecting to start seeing a company make efforts/forays into progressing that investment. Raising a series B is no small feat, with massive quantities of money being thrown at companies growth is the name of the game since there is little excuse given how large some of the check sizes are.

With every round of funding, the team, company, and culture at a startup change drastically. New challenges arise with every expansion or acceleration of growth. That being said, a series B startup usually receives such a large cash infusion that the startup sees a large shift in the way it operates. With more investors and more eyes on the business, the return on investment becomes critical. The company expands faster, and with such a large infusion of cash, the company has new and exciting opportunities for expansion that early stage companies don’t have. Series B startups are a great transition for someone who is coming from a large or Fortune 500 company and wants to transition into a smaller company, but not one that is a massive culture shock.

Size of company: 25-100+

Average Funding Amount: $24.9 million

What the company is valued at: $30-100+ million

Where is the money coming from: VCs

Series C and beyond

Series C and beyond, this is where investors are starting to look at the exit strategy, whether that is an acquisition or public offering. This is also where the big money rounds start coming in, the ones you see in the news. This is for large-scale expansion, such as going international or purchasing other business. At this point, the startup has raised enough money and has a strong business model where more traditional financial institutions like PE shops and banks are willing to invest in a startup.

By far the safest/most stable startup you can join, that being said, it is well out of the scrappy stage and more into an established business. While it is probably more relaxed and innovative than the typical company, there is far more established teams and business practices involved. That being said, like any startup there are always growing pains and at this stage, certain things are not going to fly. That being said these companies are still on the verge of cutting edge. They are also still an incredibly interesting place to work with very strong opportunities.

Size of company: 100-500+

Average Funding Amount: $50+ million

What the company is valued at: $100-200+ million

Where is the money coming from: VCs, private equity firms, hedge funds, banks

The startup ecosystem is booming, at the time of this blog, 2018 is on pace to hit over $100 Billion dollars in venture funding. With so many different types of startups and various stages in their growth, it is important to know which one is the right fit for you, regardless of how much money they have raised. Be sure to check out Scouted to find an amazing job at startups across the spectrum.

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Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

How to Resign From Your Job Without Burning Bridges

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published October 19, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published October 19, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Unless you plan to stay with the same company for 30+ years, everyone will need to write a resignation letter at some point in their career. Doing that right as well as handling the transition period well could be an important factor in whether you’ll be able to add your current employer to your list of references. Do it wrong, and you may end up burning some bridges.

Don’t be too hasty

Say your current work environment is, well, less than pleasant. Even if you just had a great interview at a new company, don’t pack your bags just yet. Make sure your new job is finalized in writing. Meaning: the company has formally offered you the position, you’ve negotiated and accepted, and you’ve set a start date. Then and only then should you have all the green lights to quit your job. Things can often happen during a hiring process and you don’t want to find yourself out of a job or having that awkward conversation to ask for your job back. Just make sure your new job in set in stone before saying “Sayonara!”

Let your manager be the first to know

While you might be good friends with your coworkers and eager to tell them about your new job, hold off until you communicate with your manager. You don’t want them hearing through the grapevine that you plan to leave before you have a chance to talk with them yourself. Also be sure that what you tell your coworkers, your reason for leaving, is consistent with what you tell your boss. Don’t risk your boss finding out the reason you’re leaving is because you don’t like his or her management style rather than that your new company has a shorter commute like you told them.

Also read: How Important is Autonomy and Meaningful Work to Millennials?

After a conversation, resign in writing

Keeping with the theme of getting things in writing, you’re going to want to take your resignation a step further than just having a chat with your boss. However, it’s important that your written resignation doesn’t come as a surprise to your manager, but rather as a formality. After you’ve had a conversation about your intent to leave, send an email with your intended last day of work and thank them for having you at their company. While explaining your reasons for leaving aren’t entirely necessary, you can include this as well if you like. Here’s an example of a resignation email or letter you can write to your employer:

Dear [BOSS],

Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation. My last day of employment will be April 9, 2019.

I have enjoyed my time with [COMPANY] and am grateful for the skills I’ve learned as well as the relationships I’ve formed during my time here.

Please let me know how I can be of assistance during the transition.

All the best,

[YOU]

Even if you resign in writing, you’re going to want to follow up with a conversation, just to make sure you and your current employer are on the same page. And if you first have a conversation with your boss, be sure to follow up with a written resignation letter, just to seal the dale and make sure everything, including your last day, is clear.

Give your employer at least 2 weeks notice

Many employers will have a written policy on how much notice you should give before resigning, commonly two weeks but it could be more. Do your best to stick with that at the very least in order to give them enough time to bring someone in and start training in your position. If you don’t leave enough notice, it could burn bridges and leave you with a not so happy job reference in the future.

Of course, you may out of good will give your employer a whole 8 weeks notice. Be careful to not make your notice overly long if you don’t have to. If you do and you find yourself restless to start your new jon, you’re going to end up resenting your current job and not motivated to get anything done. Also not a great way to leave on a good note. Try to time something that’s quick and painless for both you and your employer, allowing them to transition as best as possible but also allows you to move on bigger and better things.

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Have a transition plan

Want to leave your job but still want your boss to like you? Come up with a transition plan. Coordinate who will take on your responsibilities or unfinished projects during the transition and who, if not you, who you recommend for training your replacement.

Which brings us to our next point…

Train your replacement

In order to keep things smooth and peachy between you and your current employer, why not offer to train your replacement? If you do this, start by creating a master list of all your responsibilities, key documents and files, and write down instructions for using specific software or completing certain tasks. For example, if your job is to write a monthly newsletter, outline how to use the email service provider, the style guide you use when formatting the email, who is responsible for approving the email, and who to send it to. As you work through your notice, keep a document open where you take notes on your day-to-day tasks that may be helpful to your replacement. Your replacement will be able to use this as their playbook or user manual when coming into your role.

Refer someone to take your place

What’s better than training your own replacement? Finding one! Of course, you’ll probably still have to train them, but if you previously had a good relationship with your boss and you’re looking for ways to maintain that, why not recommend who you think would fill the job well? Of course, only recommend someone if you actually think they could do your job well. If they end of being great, you can bet your boss will be your next best job reference!

If you’ve had a good experience resigning from a job in the past, leave your best tips in the comments below!

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Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

Inside the Mind of a Major Tech Company Recruiter

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published October 31, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published October 31, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Any interview can be intimidating. Don’t you wish you had the chance to peek into the mind of your interviewer?

Well, today, you can.

We wanted to interview a recruiter for one of the top tech companies in the world. In our interview, we asked questions that we thought would be helpful for candidates, especially those seeking roles in the tech industry.

Karesa helps us look into what hiring managers are looking for and even thinking during your interview. She gives tips on how to impress your interviewer and go the extra mile in order to make a great first impression.

Check out our talk with Karesa below and learn more about how you can ace your interview and land the job of your dreams!

If you were to give a candidate the shortest pep-talk ever, what would you say?

Any interview is a learning opportunity and a chance to showcase your strengths. It is normal to interview for multiple jobs before receiving an offer so don’t be discouraged when you’re starting your job search. With that in mind, control what you can control- PREPARE for any interview, be positive, and express interest/passion for the job

Is there anything you love to see on a candidate’s resume?

First of all, I love when resumes are organized and easy to read. Besides that, I really love to see special awards/honors- this shows me you are a top performer. It’s also fun to see interests/hobbies at the bottom of a resume too.

Do you have a pet peeve when it comes to interviews?

Do I have to choose just one?? Just kidding! 🙂 My number one pet peeve is when candidates treat the interview/ phone screen with a recruiter as a formality. A recruiter can end up being your champion to hiring managers. If a hiring manager is on the fence about whether to hire you or not but you treated the recruiter really well, the recruiter is way more likely to go above and beyond to ensure that you are selected for the job. Another pet peeve: when a candidate is negative in an interview. Do not talk negatively about a previous employer under any circumstance.

Another pet peeve is irrelevant messages on LinkedIn- see the last section.

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What questions do you wish candidates would ask you during an interview?

Questions on things actually curious about! Get curious about the job! Some people pick the first question they see when they Google “questions to ask interviewer” but make sure the questions you ask are relevant to the job/company. The questions you ask reveal more about yourself and where your interests lie than you might realize.

Does a candidate typically come off as more desirable if they are currently employed?

Yes! With the unemployment rate where it is, I am usually skeptical about candidates that are not currently working. I definitely recommend interviewing while you are employed if possible.

What could a successful candidate do to “go the extra mile” during their interview process without overdoing it?

Send thank you notes!

Do your research on the company: anything happening in the news? Any blog posts you can mention?

Give honest feedback after your interviews- follow up with the hiring manager or recruiter with feedback on your experience interviewing. What did you enjoy, what confused you, what surprised you, etc. This will show your thoughtfulness and is really helpful

Be responsive and available- Respond quickly to emails and set aside time during business hours for interviews/phone calls. I love it when a candidate proactively sends me times they are available to talk without having to ask them.

What research do you do about a candidate before they come in for an interview?

It depends. At the very minimum, I will have read through the resume and LinkedIn profile. When possible, I’ll review references (Has anyone I know worked with the candidate previously? Can they speak to the candidate’s skills? Where did they go to school?) I also might simply Google a person’s name to see if they have any relevant publications, awards, blog posts, websites, or presenting at an upcoming event.

What technical skills do you ask a candidate to demonstrate during their interview?

I personally don’t conduct any technical interviews but any engineering candidates should spend plenty of time preparing and be ready to code from scratch. Here are a few resources I recommend for practice coding problems:

We loved hearing Karesa’s side of the story when it comes to hiring candidates! Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below and let us know what follow up questions you would have for an interview at a major tech company!

Karesa is a Sofware Engineer Recruiter at one of the largest tech companies in the world. She has several years experience in the recruiting sphere and loves connecting with engineers who have a passion for solving complex problems at scale.

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Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

What Are Soft Skills and Why Are They Important?

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published November 8, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

4 min read • Originally published November 8, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

More and more companies are weighing soft skills heavily in the job interview process. While one candidate may have looked great on paper with all the right education and work experience, a company may have come to find that they didn’t mesh well with the rest of the team. Or they may have had little understanding of how to communicate about their work to outside teams or even customers.

That’s right, young job seekers or career changers are in luck because these days, companies are tired of making hires that simply don’t function well within their workplace. And with cool job platforms *cough* Scouted *cough* that take your soft skills into account and advocate on your behalf to hiring managers, why not put a little more effort into flaunting what you’ve got?

But first of all, let’s answer a few questions.

What are soft skills, exactly?

While hard skills are learned, soft skills are the things you bring to a job naturally. Things like your personality, natural talents, personal attributes, and insights. They shape how a person interacts with others effectively and cooperatively as well as how they go about solving new problems. However, that’s not to say that a person can’t improve on their soft skills (more on that below).

Here’s a list of some of our favorite attributes:

Emotional Intelligence
Problem-solving
Communication
Creativity
Curiosity
Goal-orientation
Intellectual horsepower (one’s processing speed)
Organization
Tenacity
Analytical thinking
Self-starter
Professional/Mature
Adaptability

Why employers care about soft skills/why are they important?

According to ICIMS, “Ninety-four percent of recruiting professionals believe an employee with stronger soft skills has a better chance of being promoted to a leadership position than an employee with more years of experience but weaker soft skills.”

Soft skills can be the differentiator between whether or not you or someone slightly more qualified lands a job. If you have all the job requirements on paper, but lack the skills to connect with your team and communicate your ideas, the job may go to someone who can. Using your soft skills, you’ll also hopefully be able to build a rapport with the hiring manager during your interview. However, these skills aren’t just important for intercommunication.

Different roles will require different types of soft skills that are extremely important for customer-facing positions as well. For examples, a sales representative will use their communication skills daily on the job while a product manager will use many technical skills as well as soft skills like organization, communication, problem-solving, and even evangelism.

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Can I improve on my soft skills?

Although soft skills are considered to be those useful on-the-job traits that come naturally to us, we can improve them. Anyone can practice and improve their written and oral communication skills. Other skills like emotional intelligence, being a self-starter, or adaptability may take more effort to improve, but if you’re able to commit to developing a new habit that will enhance your job-related skills, then go for it! Skills like tenacity, energy, and creativity, on the other hand, may be harder to develop; instead of trying to gain more soft skills, try working on improving the ones that come naturally to you.

How to show off your soft skills

If you’re a young job-seeker that doesn’t have much by the way of experience yet, your shining personality may come in handy, especially if a company is looking to fill a role and is willing to train “the right person.” First, narrow down the soft skills you believe you’re best at and confirm your list with a friend or colleague (the soft skills you’re not so great at may be examples of what to mention when the question “What are your weaknesses?” comes up. Because it will). Instead of simply including a bulleted list on your resume of your soft skills, during an interview try to reference times when you used them in past work environments. In your cover letter, allude to some of the soft skills you use regularly in your current position.

Overall, you’ll want to talk about your soft skills in a way that highlights what you can bring to a role and how they’ll help you improve the company. Give real-life examples and don’t try to convince anyone you have personality traits that you really just don’t. Sooner or later, someone will be able to tell.

What are your top soft skills? Have you ever tried to improve them? Leave your tips in the comments below and share the post with someone who may need an extra oomph to their cover letter.

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Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

Three Ways to Keep Learning in the Workplace

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published November 14, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published November 14, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

People ask me occasionally for advice when it comes to working for a startup or what is it like working for a startup. I usually give the same answer: “I am always learning and always make time to learn.” I would say on average, I spend at least 30% of a work week learning, whether it’s reading, listening to podcasts, talking to people, etc… 30% of a week sounds like an awful lot right? But in reality that 30% of my week is incredibly critical in ensuring that I become a more effective and efficient member of our team! It’s not a lot of time to dedicate when I know that learning now will save me time and effort later on, as well as keeping my mind fresh and refreshed.

So how does one “learn” in the workplace and how do can you apply your learnings to your work and personal life? I will break down the 3 key areas where I attempt to spend the majority of the time when it comes to learning.

Reading

I spend at least 30 minutes to an hour every morning reading. By carving out a time to read in the mornings I am ensuring that I am learning in a structured manner daily. This to me is a very sacred time to me, much like CEO’s or other key executives lock off an hour in the mornings to deal with emails, I ensure that my morning ritual of reading is never double booked or sacrificed. By doing this I am effectively setting myself up for the rest of the day with additional knowledge and knowing that I won’t be pressured into having to “learn” later in the day.

I usually have a couple of key websites, publications, and books that are my go-to’s. I usually break it down between the current news/events, startup news, startup/career/workplace advice, marketing publications, and sports/soccer (eh gotta have some fun reading as well.) I always try to read the same set of sources, again just comes down to the whole routine thing. That being said I am always looking for new places to read (send them if you got them!) But I always try to read something new or “unknown” to me daily, whether that be a publication, subject, or random fact. I usually head to Medium or Wikipedia just to learn something new and unexpected. Some of my favorite reads include.

So why is reading important? Honestly, it sounds like I just waste an hour a day on reading miscellaneous stuff. This is true unless you apply/incorporate the knowledge that you are reading into real-world scenarios. For example, things like applying new marketing techniques to my digital campaigns or trying out a new method of planning out my week’s schedule. Knowledge is only as powerful as the user who wields it. So hey, why not step outside of your comfort zone and try something new based on some random thing you read on the internet? Sometimes you should trust the internet.

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Listening

Listening isn’t just about listening to podcasts, in reality, listening is more about making sure that you don’t let the world pass by you without acknowledging the nuggets of information that may befall your ears. This could mean conversations with coworkers, friends, at meetups, etc. The importance of listening skills might sound cliche, but it’s something that I find to be critical when comes to learning in the workplace. Listening to people around you, especially those that are smarter than you, is always a great way to learn and is easily accessible. It’s an easy way to get a daily dose of learning.

Beyond listening to coworkers and people alike, podcasts are a great source of learning. As a media format, podcasts have really exploded with a variety of topics and genres readily available. I could talk endlessly about podcasts and how revolutionary they are, but most people already know that…

So what podcasts do I listen to while at work or commuting? Again, very similar to my reading habits, my podcast listening habits really vary. From How I Built This to Pardon My Take, I try to listen to a variety of things to keep my horizons open!

Talking

Very similar to listening is talking. That being said, I separated the two formats mainly because it requires a different set of skills and time commitment in order for it to be worthwhile. Being able to listen is one thing and an important skill in its own right. Being able to respond and foster additional conversation is another skill. By prompting further conversation and engaging with people in conversation/debate, you are able to discover additional viewpoints and understandings of a topic.

This is easily the most important format of learning, by talking with others you are ensuring that you are not in an echo chamber of your understanding of a topic. You can selectively choose what you want to read or what you want to listen to, and to an extent, the people you are talking to. That being said, with talking with others you are always giving yourself additional viewpoints and continuing to learn through conversation and engagement.

So who should you be conversing/talking with? The easiest people are ones that are readily available to you, co-workers, friends, family, etc… Though as I mentioned above about echo chambers, the best set of people you can learn from are strangers or new people outside of your current network. These are the people that are going to give you the best value in being able to understand their point of view for a certain topic. Try going to meetups or free conferences in your area, there are a variety of different options that you can find on Meetup or Eventbrite. Try following a couple of different email lists that constantly keep you updated on events, one of my favorite here in TechNY Daily. Experiencing and talking with new people allows for you promote your ideas but also hear new ones. There is no greater format of learning while you are working than engaging in conversation with new people and your peers.

Also read: 4 Insightful TED Talks For Job Hunters

Conclusion

There are plenty of different ways to learn and grow. That being said, in the workplace it can be difficult to expand your horizons with the day to day work. Make sure you carve out a niche of time to grow and prosper. Hopefully, with those three key areas of learning, you can help yourself out even for 30 minutes a day!

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

The Email Template We Use to Stay Accountable at Work

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

2 min read • Originally published December 5, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

2 min read • Originally published December 5, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Accountability.

What does that word make you think of? Does it scare you? Make you want to work hard?

It can be really easy to lose track of the tasks you have to accomplish at work. Especially if you work for a small office where every member of the team is their very own department. And, if you’re anything like me, it can be all too easy to let the less fun things on your to-do list fall to the wayside, unnoticed.

Which is why I’ve grown to love our approach to accountability here at the Scouted office. Each Monday, we write an email with a list of things we plan to get done this week or goals we hope to meet. Every Tuesday, we have an office-wide meeting where we go over how the previous week went with hitting those goals. Throughout the week, each of us has a “sync-up” meeting with the head of our team. Since I work remotely, I have a meeting with my team lead on Mondays as well as Fridays, one meeting to align on our goals for the week and another to see how we did. Then, the next Monday, we outline our next goals for the new week as well as where we’re at on the things we had hoped to accomplish the week before.

This post was originally featured in our weekly newsletter. Sign up to get awesome job advice sent right to your inbox!

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That email usually looks something like this:

[Summary, 3-5 sentences] This week is a pretty typical week. I’ll be continuing my work on X project and picking up a new project where we hope to be implementing Y.

Last week:

Write and send newsletter -done
Write a blog post -done
Collaborate with guest bloggers -in progress
Post to Instagram -pushed (waiting on photos)

This week:

Write a blog post
Write weekly newsletter
Create next month’s content calendar
Collaborate with guest bloggers

Our summary and bulleted lists can contain as much clarification and description as we feel the team might need to understand our objectives for the week. While it might feel intimidating at first for your boss to see line items in the red, what makes a huge difference is our team’s value of transparency. Things come up and sometimes goals aren’t met, but if we’re transparent about it, we can keep everyone on the same page with where we’re at as well as hold ourselves accountable to our own work.

What do you think of the way the Scouted team stays accountable to each other? Could you see yourself implementing a system like this in your own workplace? Reply to this email and let us know what you think!

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

How to Work Remotely and Stay Productive

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published December 6, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published December 6, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

What does it mean to work remotely?

Working remotely is a work situation where an employee carries out their work responsibilities from home and communicate with their team via email, video and voice calls, and instant messaging. Employees may choose to work from home to save on commuting expenses, to work out of the comfort of their own home, or because they live in a different location entirely than their company. Some startups have entirely remote or “distributed” teams including companies like Aha, Invision, and Buffer.

Whether you’re looking to find a remote job or simply hoping that your current boss will start letting you work from home, working remotely, at least some of the time, is almost everyone’s dream. Sure, there are many who would say that they work better in a structured office environment, but many would love the choice to work from home or a local coffee shop here or there.

But while a remote job might be your dream, how on earth does one get one of those? Or harder yet, if you’re working a regular 9-5, how do you convince your boss to start letting you stay home?

Here are a few of the tips we’ve found that might help you pop the question to your boss or help you find a new work from home gig.

What type of job can you do from home?

First, it should probably go without saying that you’ll need a job that can relatively easily be done from anywhere. If you work mainly from your computer, then you’re probably good to go.

Here are a few great jobs you can do working from home:

Digital marketing
Writing jobs
Web or graphic design
Engineering and IT roles
Sales representatives
Customer service and support
Account management

How to get a remote job

Of course, unless you’re a freelancer, it probably won’t be easy to get your very first remote job unless you’ve had your fair share of experience working from home in the past (and were good at it). So let’s talk about a few ways you can enter the world of remote work:

Freelance

One simple way to gain experience working from home is, you guessed it, becoming a freelancer. The nice thing about freelancing, of course, is that you determine your own schedule, work load, and clientele. The downside is lack of job security, you’re on your own when it comes to finding clients, and it difficult to start out with little experience. However, if you are able to build a productive work ethic while doing some freelance jobs (whether that’s your full time gig or you do it on the side) experience freelancing can be a great way to help convince your boss that you’re able to bring your work home with you.

Prove that you’re an excellent communicator

While working remotely has its share of upsides, one downside is that it can be difficult to communicate with and stay in sync with your team. Before you begin to look for remote work or ask your boss if you can work from home more often, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’re an excellent communicator. Make sure that you respond quickly to all emails and office chat communications. Make it a point to be at every meeting you’re expected to attend (this shouldn’t change when working remotely).

When a company called Bynder decided to test a “Remote Week” for all of their employees, this is what they said about communication during that time: “A sizeable number of our employees felt the key to building trust with team members was to communicate and be readily available… Our employees also felt daily virtual meetups and regular check-ins were essential, and served as an alternative for the invaluable face time that usually occurs in the office every day.”

It requires a lot of trust for a manager to let an employee work remotely and that trust won’t come without earning it. Use your regular office time to first prove that you’re an excellent communicator and readily available, then put it to the test during a trial run (more on that below).

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Also read: Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills so You Can Land That Marketing Job

Stay organized and be accountable

As important as it is to keep the lines of communication open while working remotely, it won’t matter one bit if your work goes untouched. Before pitching the idea of working from home to your boss, come up with a plan for how you intend to stay organized and hold yourself accountable with your new found freedom. Offer to have weekly sync-ups with your manager to get on the same page about your work for the week. Then, have another sync-up at the end of the week to talk about what got done, what didn’t, and why. Whether or not your team already has ways of staying accountable week by week, your boss will probably like the initiative you took to come up with a game plan despite whether or not they allow you to actually work from home.

Do a work from home trial run

Whether you’d simply like to work from home a couple days a week or find a new remote job, you’re going to need to build up a good track record of being able to stay on task even when no one’s watching. Have a conversation with your boss and let them know that you’re interested in working from home more often. Ask them if it would be ok, for about a month or so, to work from home every Friday. At the end of that time, ask your boss for feedback on how they thought you did communicating with your team and getting your work done. Then, you may potentially have better reason to ask for more work-from-home time, or simply to make WFH Friday’s more permanent.

Whether or not you’re simply hoping to work from home more often or find a completely remote position, it takes a lot of groundwork to build up trust with your employer. If you’re able to prove that you’re an effective employee no matter where you’re working and you have the gear and tech that’ll help you communicate consistently, then the doors of the remote working world are wide open for you.

Have you ever worked remotely? What were some struggles you faced while working from home? What were your favorite parts? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and share with a friend who dreams of working at their kitchen table.

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

How to Get a Job at a Startup

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published December 13, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

6 min read • Originally published December 13, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

I’m not going to be the first to say it, but I’ll say it anyway: Startup jobs are fun. They’re exciting. AND, they’re hard work. Maybe you’ve always wanted to get a job at a startup but you weren’t sure who was hiring or who to even talk to. We might be able to help with that.

We wrote this post to give you some tips on how to network with startups, get yourself noticed, and ultimately land your dream job. Ready to dive in?

Network at tech events

Even with so many niche startups out there, many of them fall within the tech sphere. What’s good news for you is that early stage startups need and love networking events. These will be your chance to introduce yourself, stick out in the mind of a startup founder or employee, and lay the groundwork for joining the team. You’ll probably want to consider reading the rest of this post and following our advice before you go, though.

Check out this blog on networking: How to Network (Like a Boss)

Look for startup-specific job boards

*shameless plug*

There are several job boards out there that either cater specifically to startups or startups simply seem to flock to. While Scouted isn’t exclusively for startups, we do work with a lot! Not only that, but being a startup ourselves, they have a special place in our heart and it really makes our day when we’re able to send a great hire to one of our startup companies. If you haven’t already, why not sign up and see what startup jobs we have to offer?

Read the news

Say there’s a startup you’ve had your eye on in the past but there wasn’t previously a position for you. If they just finished a new round of funding, chances are they’re growing and looking to expand their team. Why not try either following up again or making your first move? Techcrunch is a good place to start when keeping up with the latest startup news and funding.

Do your homework

Once you finally get the chance to have a conversation with someone from a startup, now is your time to stand out. Don’t just ask questions, ask the right questions. Show that you know the industry, you know the company, and you’re very interested in where it’s going. Stay up to date on latest company news and releases. If you can, familiarize yourself with the product or service. Here is your chance to prove that you’re someone who brings something to the table, not just another employee.

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Have an entrepreneur mindset

Acting like an owner, or better yet, an entrepreneur is one of the best things you can do if you want to get a job working at a startup. That type of character will be noticed by any startup founder or employee. If you’re the type of person who picks up slack when you see it, stays late or comes in early when a job needs to get done, or simply asks the right questions, you’re bound to stand out a great candidate for a startup.

Always be learning

The thing about startups is that each team member probably wears multiple hats. That being the case, and the fact that as your business grows, your responsibilities will too and you’ll constantly need to be in a state of learning. If this is something you already love to do, then you’re pretty much set.

One of the great things about working at a startup is that in most cases, you probably won’t be expected to be an expert in your field on your first day. There will, however, be high expectations that you take it upon yourself to be continuously growing, asking questions, learning how to do your job better, and gradually improving as time goes on. Since the number one goal of any startup is to maintain growth, that principle applies itself to each employee as well.

If and when you do get an interview with someone from a startup, be ready to talk about the ways you’re constantly trying to learn and improve yourself, even if they don’t necessarily have to do with the job itself. Willingness to learn is an attitude that should show up in many areas of your life and startup founders understand this very well.

Humility

When it comes to working at a startup, humility almost goes hand-in-hand with learning. If you work at a startup, you may be the first and only person on your team. If that’s the case, you can be sure there’ll be a lot of “learning as you go.” And what often comes with that is mistakes. But don’t let that scare you. Founders will probably expect you to make mistakes from time to time.

If that’s the case or if you’re simply not seeing the growth you hoped to see, you’re going to need to be willing to learn from it. Report honestly on the work you’ve been doing and get ready to be transparent about what’s going well, and what isn’t. One of the things our founders at Scouted, Jax and Robin, say is that we’ll never improve if we only focus on the things that are going well.

So be ready to be transparent with startup founders. If you get an interview, be able to give examples of past problems or inefficiencies you noticed and were able to change for the better.

Initiative

Startups are famous for their “all hands on deck” and “everyone wears multiple hats” cultures. What’s great about working at a startup is that there is typically a level playing field. Founders and employees are much more open and receptive to ideas. So if you talk to one, try to have a few!

Say you’re going after a marketing position for an early stage startup and you notice their email marketing could use some help. Why not come to the conversation with a few ideas in your back pocket for what you could do to make it better?

Bring something to the table

Elena of Skillcrush says, “Just like any job, it’s important to show that you have the skills and capabilities necessary for the position. Companies hire because they need someone to come in and solve a problem. You need to show why you’re the person who can solve their problem. Know what you’re best at and offer that to the team’s mission.”

Keep the relationship warm, even if you don’t get a job

Even if you didn’t get hired this time around, there could be a hundred different reasons for that. Do your best to maintain a relationship with the startup and its founders. You never know if their first decision was simply based on or not having the right role for you the first time around. It might even be work sticking around in a consulting or freelance capacity for a few months. Showing your worth and what you bring to the table can only be to your advantage at this point.

Also read: How to Use a Side Hustle to Get the Experience You Need for Your Dream Job

Looking for your next dream job? Check out open roles on Scouted here!

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Climb the Ladder

How to Manage Your Job Search While Working Full Time

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published December 19, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Scouted

Scouted was a hiring marketplace that matched candidates to roles based on potential, serving clients from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies.

5 min read • Originally published December 19, 2018 / Updated March 19, 2026

Job hunting is no easy task. Some even say that searching for employment is a full-time job in and of itself. Pair that with already having a full-time job? You’re in for a handful when it comes to coordinating your current schedule with job applications, phone interviews, work samples, second interviews, and the possible third interview.

So how can one manage their job hunt while working full-time? We’ve come up with a few tips for that.

Yes, start your job search while you still have a job

Despite the fact that you may be jumping at the bit to quit your current job (read: How Long Should You Stay at a Job?) don’t jump the gun and quit your job before you start your next search. Right or wrong, employers can sometimes see candidates who are currently employed as more desirable than candidates who are unemployed.

In an interview we had with a recruiter from a major tech company, we were told, “With the unemployment rate where it is, I am usually skeptical about candidates that are not currently working. I definitely recommend interviewing while you are employed if possible.”

Do your best to schedule interviews outside work hours

You might be feeling “done” at your current job and attending an interview during the day might be a nice change of pace. Even so, you don’t want to arouse suspicion or give your boss a reason for reproach. Instead, do your best to schedule interviews early in the morning or after work. Depending on your company, you may want to take caution if scheduling your interview during lunch as it may run longer than expected. Many hiring managers will understand that it may come as a challenge to schedule an interview and will try to be accommodating.

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Be careful of how you handle your references

If you’ve been at a company for a few years, it makes sense to want to put down your current boss as a reference on your resume. Here, you have two options in order to avoid an awkward conversation if your current boss finds out about your job search before you want them to.

Option 1: Try putting “references available upon request” on your resume. While you may feel like you don’t want to make more work for your hiring manager, they’ll most likely understand your decision to keep your references to yourself until later in the hiring process. After all, references checks are supposed to be one of the very last steps of the interview process so holding on to them until later shouldn’t be a problem.

Option 2: There may be job postings that ask you to include references with your application. If that’s the case, include your references on your resume, but add the note “please notify me before contacting this reference.” Just like option one, the hiring manager will most likely understand your reason for adding this note.

Gerald Walsh suggests “In your cover letter, explain that you have not included your current boss as a reference, for confidentiality reasons. You could then state you would be pleased to provide their name and contact information once a conditional offer is made. Offers are often made subject to satisfactory references from your current employer.”

During an interview, letting your prospective employer know that your current company doesn’t know you’re looking for a new job is also a fine way to keep your search on the DL. Many hiring managers may already assume this but you’ll rest easy knowing you’re on the same page.

Make your job as easy as possible

And by “job” we’re talking about your second job of searching for jobs.

Make sure you create a great resume and cover letter template that’s easily editable for each new company and application (also read: How to Edit Your Resume Based on the Job You’re Applying For). Do your best to respond quickly to recruiters’ emails as a faster response rate will ultimately make the process go faster (ie. less time hiding and sneaking around your current job). Also, keep an Excel sheet to keep track of the companies you’ve applied to, interviewed with, who you might need to follow up with, and what tasks you still need to complete.

Grab our founders’ preferred resume template here.

You’ll also want to make sure that your LinkedIn account is up to date. Since so many use LinkedIn as a professional social network, it shouldn’t raise too many flags if you decide to update it. As a precaution, however, you may want to consider turning off notifications so your connections don’t see any new updates to your profile in their feed.

Keep up your work ethic

While keeping up your motivation to work as hard as you used to might be difficult, you’ll want to do your best to keep things amicable at your current company. To take things a step further, if you plan on using your current boss as a reference, this could be a great chance to remind them how great of an employee you are. Better they’re sad to see you go than happy you’re someone else’s problem now.

Tell your boss and coworkers at the right time

Even if you just landed an interview for your dream job, you might want to wait on sharing the news with coworkers. You DON’T want your boss to hear about your new job through the grapevine. For the most part, it’s probably a good idea to keep the fact that you’re looking for a new job to yourself. Once your new job is set in stone, your supervisor and/or boss should be the first person you tell. (Read: How to Resign from a Job Without Burning Bridges). Not only should your boss be the first person you tell, but this should happen during a face-to-face conversation as well. Then, of course, your letter of resignation will follow. After this conversation, you can feel free to let the rest of your coworkers know you’ll be moving on.

Have you had to handle searching for a job while employed full time? How did you balance work life with your job hunt? Leave your tips in the comments below and share with a friend who’s currently adding their boss to their references list.

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Things to consider when negotiating your salary:

Cost of living

Experience

Manager of… what?

Be honest about what you currently make

If you decide to negotiate and ask for more compensation:

If you choose to take the lower salary:

Things to negotiate other than compensation:

Key takeaway:

First, who is investing in startups?

Also read: The Pros and Cons of Working at a Startup

Pre-Seed

Seed

Series A

Series B

Series C and beyond

Don’t be too hasty

Let your manager be the first to know

After a conversation, resign in writing

Give your employer at least 2 weeks notice

Have a transition plan

Train your replacement

Refer someone to take your place

If you were to give a candidate the shortest pep-talk ever, what would you say?

Is there anything you love to see on a candidate’s resume?

Do you have a pet peeve when it comes to interviews?

What questions do you wish candidates would ask you during an interview?

Does a candidate typically come off as more desirable if they are currently employed?

What could a successful candidate do to “go the extra mile” during their interview process without overdoing it?

What research do you do about a candidate before they come in for an interview?

What technical skills do you ask a candidate to demonstrate during their interview?

What are soft skills, exactly?

Why employers care about soft skills/why are they important?

Can I improve on my soft skills?

How to show off your soft skills

Reading

Listening

Talking

Conclusion

Accountability.

That email usually looks something like this:

What does it mean to work remotely?

What type of job can you do from home?

How to get a remote job

Freelance

Prove that you’re an excellent communicator

Stay organized and be accountable

Do a work from home trial run

Network at tech events

Look for startup-specific job boards

Read the news

Do your homework

Have an entrepreneur mindset

Always be learning

Humility

Initiative

Bring something to the table

Keep the relationship warm, even if you don’t get a job

Looking for your next dream job? Check out open roles on Scouted here!

Yes, start your job search while you still have a job

Do your best to schedule interviews outside work hours

Be careful of how you handle your references

Make your job as easy as possible

Keep up your work ethic

Tell your boss and coworkers at the right time

Sara Padgett