In a case where you’re selling or shutting down your startup but that news is not yet public. You need to start jobhunting but you can’t do it publicly for obvious reasons. It’s hard to network for jobs because many groups overlap – eg startup/tech/founder groups on FB contain the same people that may be hiring or funding or buying your co. What’s the best way to proceed? Use a different name for job applications and explain at the interview or when you get an offer?
Questions
What’s the best way for a founder to jobhunt secretly?
5 answers from the community
A· Aug 16, 2015
It may be premature if you haven't told your customers, investors and team and given them a chance to move on.
A· Aug 17, 2015
No investors, very small team (who know), time to tell customers has been scheduled for certain date around when sales/acq process is completed and ops are organized (ie no new long term contracts/sales being signed, etc).
A· Aug 17, 2015
You might try an executive hiring agency (these do charge up-front fees). They can search for you while being discrete.
D· Aug 17, 2015
<p>Been in this situation. I looked on AngelList for job opps and sent the founder a private message, asking for their confidentiality before engaging in a discussion.</p>
A· Aug 17, 2015
Thanks, interesting idea. Did you frame it like:
"Hi A,
Saw your ad for position B and would like to chat about it. I can I count on you for complete confidentiality on our discussion?"