Want to Succeed at a Startup? Focus on These 5 Qualities #sundayschool

Original post by ERICA BELL AND KATIE FINNEGAN via Entrepreneur

Working at a startup isn’t all ping-pong tables and free food. Though table tennis skills may help you stand out in the crowd (especially at Hukkster HQ), there are certain key qualities that will set you up for success in the startup world regardless of your level of experience or area of interest. Here are five key qualities for success at a startup. These tips will help you not just land the job, but become a driver of your company’s success.

1. Passion for the product. Do your homework. The founders are looking to hire people who are passionate about helping them build their vision into a reality. So you should come to an interview prepared with questions and feedback that really shows you have engaged with the product. Founders want to know that every applicant is genuinely interested in the product and the company.

For example, Hukkster is a platform that allows shoppers to track the specific products they’re interested in and find out the moment those products go on sale — so naturally every applicant is expected to have used the tool themselves (who doesn’t like getting great deals anyway?).

2. Roll-up-your-sleeves mentality. Are you comfortable juggling five giant boxes on the subway during rush hour in the middle of winter? Maybe not, but no job is too small at a startup. Since you’ll be working with a small team and always tackling new challenges as they arise, the phrase “that’s not my job,” should never be in your lexicon.

Come to the interview prepared to provide examples of past activities or work experiences in which you rolled up your sleeves to dig a little deeper into an issue or took on a task that wasn’t prescribed.