Looking For The Right Person
We recently posted the news that our analyst Charlie O'Donnell is leaving us to join one of our portfolio companies. We are now actively looking for someone to fill his position.
We noticed while working with del.icio.us that their best hires were part of the extended del.icio.us community long before anyone in the company met them. The del.icio.us team first became aware of these people through their work on the web. Several had created useful del.icio.us extensions that demonstrated their understanding of the service and its potential. So when faced with challenge of filling Charlie's shoes, we thought we would reach out to see if there was someone out there who is already part of the Union Square Ventures community because they follow this blog, but who might now want to become an active member of our team.
The analyst position at Union Square Ventures is a two year rotational assignment. We hope that after working with us, that person would move, as Charlie has, to one of our portfolio companies or pursue an advanced degree. The primary responsibility of the analyst at Union Square Ventures is to help us manage the day to day activities of the firm including,
* Deal Process Management
* Due Diligence
* Research/Market Awareness
* Limited Partner Interface
* Quarterly and Annual Reporting
The position requires technical skills including light web development skils and fluency in web services, blogging, excel, word, and powerpoint. But we also expect our analyst to be an integral part of the investment process, and someone who can bring the perspective of a potential user to our evaluation of web-based services.
So while skills are important, we are also looking for a candidate who has a passion for the transformative potential of the Internet. We expect that the successful candidate will be "net native" in the sense that they use web services daily in both a personal and a professional capacity. We assume that this person already has an online presence such as a service or site they have created, a social network profile, a personal homepage, or a blog.
If you are interested in being considered for this postition, please leave a comment to this blog post with your name, a link to your online presence, and a way to reach you. Please do not send us an email or a resume. We can not promise to respond directly to every inquiry. We do promise to follow the links and to get in touch if your passion for the Internet and your facility with web services is expressed through your online presence.
July 12, 2006 06:22 PM, By Fred Wilson
Tags: analyst hiring
Comments (38)
I think its a great way to get a new higher... ...it will certainly be interesting to see down the line what net outcome will be?
Posted by Michael , July 20, 2006 09:18 AM
Great hiring method. Finally someone who understands the best people are not necessary those with the gold embossed resumes. Wish I were in NY to take advantage.
Posted by Jon Engler , July 20, 2006 10:14 AM
Very very clever approach. That's why I love you guys.
Posted by Fraser , July 20, 2006 10:15 AM
To Dan,
I do a lot of career mentoring with students and I always tell them that they should aim for creating an open and honest relationship with their bosses at all times. When I left to join Oddcast, the first thing I did was talk to Brad and Fred about it. My next steps and whether they were at USV, at a portfolio company, or somewhere else, were discussed openly and I was encouraged to explore. I genuinely felt supported in my career development. If you have a boss that you can't tell that you're applying for a new job and why, because you might get fired, that job probably isn't worth having.
Posted by Charlie , July 20, 2006 01:12 PM
www.varsitynotes.com
www.echeat.com
www.blogtopia.com
www.scoresummit.com
www.arcadeport.com
gil (at) sitehub.com
Posted by Gil , July 20, 2006 04:19 PM
Eric Mattson
Blog/Podcast: www.marketingmonger.com
Email: eric (at) ericmattson.com
Posted by Eric Mattson , July 20, 2006 05:50 PM
you should totally hire the echeat.com guy..."ecollaborating.com" must have been taken.
Posted by rob , July 20, 2006 06:12 PM
Go to google.com
Type Shawn DuBravac
Hit "I'm feeling lucky"
Posted by Shawn , July 20, 2006 06:45 PM
I already have a great job, but I'll still post:
Mathew Johnson
http://www.judysbook.com/members/mathew/
mathew (dot) johnson (at) alumni (dot) brown (dot) edu
I don't know why I bother writing my email like this, it's not like I don't get a lot of spam already.
Posted by Mathew , July 20, 2006 07:41 PM
"If you have a boss that you can't tell that you're applying for a new job and why, because you might get fired, that job probably isn't worth having."
Maybe that's why I would like to apply! But I don't feel like getting fired - and it's not worth a chance at a job interview to get fired. Yes, I may not be in the ideal job - but I would prefer to keep my income looking for the right job rather than causing a huge disruption in my life.
I agree with Dan that you are cutting off a lot of good candidates who don't want to be entirely open. But let's take this to the next step - if you want candidates to be open, let the search be open. Please post full details on compensation, benefits etc. Things have to cut both ways.
Posted by Anon Coward , July 20, 2006 10:08 PM
"If you have a boss that you can't tell that you're applying for a new job and why, because you might get fired, that job probably isn't worth having."
Maybe that's why I would like to apply! But I don't feel like getting fired - and it's not worth a chance at a job interview to get fired. Yes, I may not be in the ideal job - but I would prefer to keep my income looking for the right job rather than causing a huge disruption in my life.
I agree with Dan that you are cutting off a lot of good candidates who don't want to be entirely open. But let's take this to the next step - if you want candidates to be open, let the search be open. Please post full details on compensation, benefits etc. Things have to cut both ways.
Posted by Anon Coward , July 20, 2006 10:08 PM
"If you have a boss that you can't tell that you're applying for a new job and why, because you might get fired, that job probably isn't worth having."
Maybe that's why I would like to apply! But I don't feel like getting fired - and it's not worth a chance at a job interview to get fired. Yes, I may not be in the ideal job - but I would prefer to keep my income looking for the right job rather than causing a huge disruption in my life.
I agree with Dan that you are cutting off a lot of good candidates who don't want to be entirely open. But let's take this to the next step - if you want candidates to be open, let the search be open. Please post full details on compensation, benefits etc. Things have to cut both ways.
Posted by Anon Coward , July 20, 2006 10:08 PM
http://www.alexkrupp.com
alex.krupp (at) gmail (dot) com
Posted by Alex Krupp , July 20, 2006 10:09 PM
Incase my comment wasn't taken as a raising of a hand...
Fraser Kelton
www.disruptivethoughts.com
fraserkelton[at]gmail[dot]com
Posted by Fraser , July 21, 2006 12:02 AM
Chris Herbert || cpherbert-at-gmail-dot.com
Old site & blog: cph19.tripod.com (yes, Tripod is lame, that's why I'm migrating to Typepad)
New blog: herbert.typepad.com
Posted by Chris Herbert , July 21, 2006 01:28 AM
I am interested in the position and you can check out my blog here:
http://andrewbfife.blogspot.com
-Andrew
Posted by Andrew Fife , July 21, 2006 02:32 AM
Founder of Two Minute Television and Snack Mobile.
http://www.snackmobile.tv/index.html
Posted by lshapiro , July 21, 2006 02:00 PM
Chris - You were lucky to work for people like Fred and Brad (and no, I don't know them personally). My point is that not everyone is. See the comment by 'Anon Coward' who makes the argument.
I know this didn't come out in my original post, but I do think this is the right way to go about hiring someone.
The only issue I have is that there should be an alternative way of applying - one that is more private. Maybe via del.icio.us... or linkedin... or heavens forbid, email.
Posted by Dan , July 21, 2006 04:37 PM
Chris - You were lucky to work for people like Fred and Brad (and no, I don't know them personally). My point is that not everyone is. See the comment by 'Anon Coward' who makes the argument.
I know this didn't come out in my original post, but I do think this is the right way to go about hiring someone.
The only issue I have is that there should be an alternative way of applying - one that is more private. Maybe via del.icio.us... or linkedin... or heavens forbid, email.
Posted by Dan , July 21, 2006 04:37 PM
http://chikkman.blogspot.com
Posted by Mike , July 21, 2006 04:56 PM
chris, talk about sanctimonius
and of course this only gets you the interview - gold embossed resume to follow
Posted by link monger , July 21, 2006 09:33 PM
http://just.in
blog at just dot in
Posted by Justin Smith , July 22, 2006 03:35 PM
My background is in interactive marketing at ad agencies. I'm currently employed in NYC.
Posted by so , July 23, 2006 08:51 PM
A strategy consultant looking to transfer his skills of performing due diligence, providing strategic advice, and conducting primary research to the world of venture capital.
michael (dot) wolf (at) bain (dot) com
Visit my (albeit basic) web presence:
www.friendster.com/michaelwolf
Posted by Michael Wolf , July 23, 2006 10:11 PM
Oh, this is soo wrong!
This is why VC's should stick to investing in the next "Monster.com" instead of trying to make it!
ha!
Posted by stiev , July 23, 2006 10:18 PM
pwoody.com
newflatness.com
pwoody.blogspot.com
-Cheers,
Patrick Woodward
Posted by Patrick Woodward , July 24, 2006 11:51 AM
Not sure if my comment didn't get through yesterday, or I just haven't been modded up yet! Apologies if I'm commenting twice.
I live at ispivey.blogspot.com
Posted by Ian , July 26, 2006 08:31 AM
Thanks for your consideration.
Posted by Zack Gordon , July 26, 2006 10:27 PM
John Besemer
http://opal.biology.gatech.edu/GeneMark/genemarks.cgi
besemer@gmail.com
Posted by John Besemer , July 27, 2006 01:08 PM
I am very interested in the position and consider it to be my dream job.
my blog:
http://www.attentiongrab.com
my email:
jimparker at attentiongrab dot com.
Posted by Jim Parker , July 27, 2006 05:17 PM
Scott Miller
Start-Up Ohio
www.startupohio.com
Posted by Scott Miller , July 28, 2006 08:08 AM
Andrew Parker
Site: http://www.webweavingparker.com/home/
email: andrew.parker@gmail.com
Posted by Andrew Parker , July 28, 2006 11:31 AM
Hari
vpdhari@gmail.com
http://www.impressions.ws
Posted by Hari , July 28, 2006 10:03 PM
http://nooler.blogspot.com
bharath1902 [[aT]] yahoo [[dOt]] com
Posted by Bharath , July 31, 2006 11:54 AM
personal/professional blog:
www.onliness.org/douglasprice
current businesses:
www.prosoundeffects.com
www.lastbamboo.org
www.creativenetworkdesign.com
music:
www.onliness.org
Posted by Douglas Price , July 31, 2006 12:53 PM
I can help recommend on 'passing' on a lot of 'opportunities'...
Posted by Skeptic , August 8, 2006 01:06 AM
Peter Kim
petekim [at] gmail [dot] com
http://pk9.blogspot.com
Posted by Peter Kim , August 10, 2006 04:03 PM
This may be a minor point, but if someone is interested in this position, but currently has a job, there is no way they are going to post their in a public forum.
Last thing they want is their current boss(s) stumbling on this.
Posted by Dan , July 20, 2006 08:45 AM