Curran Daly + Associates’ Post

"And then in my second year, I took on the project again." Great hires do the hard work that stymies others. One of the reasons I love being a search professional is that I get to hear about the exceptional work done in orgs that are already considered quite high-performing. Just today I spoke to a candidate who took on a technically complex project. This project was so complex, that in past years other people had led it once and burned out. But she wasn't going to be stopped by the challenge -- she wanted it to get a forecasting engine a highly impactful state where it could be useful year after year, rather than needing to be rebuilt from scratch. So the first year taught her all she needed to know about how hard it was. And when the second year came up, she volunteered to lead the initiative -- and this time take it from accretive gains to a transformative reworking. As founders aim to hires who can inflect the growth curves at a company, this is the kind of example that stands out as extrordinary. Amidst a team of ambitious high performers, what made someone go the extra mile? Knowing a project could lead to failure, what led someone to take it on? Not having to do something, why would someone excitedly volunteer for the tougher challenge? How a candidate speaks to all of this gets at their core DNA and motivations, and gives a peek at how they might tackle similar situations at their next startup. So in the end, it comes down one simple thing: It's not always about what someone did. It's about what someone did that made them exceptional, especially in the company of impressive peers.

My client just got asked to interview to be the CEO of a new startup - a job she didn't apply for. These guys reached out to her. How? Her strategy was to make connections with investors. She would share her story, share her value prop, and talk about their pain points. All of these investors have a portfolio of companies they work with. And she fit the bill for one of them. My takeaway: The typical moves (online applications) may not get you where you want to go in your career. But a clever strategy sure as hell will! #leadership #careers #careerdevelopment #jobsearch #hiring -- Need a different strategy for your search? We'll be discussing tools for a faster senior-level search in our next webinar TOMORROW, 10/21 at 12pm ET. Register today and be in a new role by the end of the year: https://loom.ly/U3ywOK0

I get asked a couple of the same questions over and over again ("how do I break into VC?", "what start-ups should I target with my job search?", "how do I make the transition from consulting into tech/product management"). Here's my attempt to summarize my answers (and I'm quite happy to add other people's thoughts to these answers as well). https://lnkd.in/e2qysZrB

Advisory is embedded in everything we do. We focus on talent acquisition strategies that remove roadblocks to your startups growth, not just fill roles. Navigate the intricacies of search with our deep Climate Tech and early-stage expertise. We make sure you are solving for the right problem before you try and solve it, delving into market dynamics and industry supply and demand to guide you through a comprehensive understanding of the jobs landscape before going to market. Leave transactional recruiting behind with an all-encompassing approach that transforms your startup’s recruiting practices from board to bench. Learn more about how we de-risk hiring for early stage companies and their investors: https://lnkd.in/drqUXfcA Ready to get started? Get in touch with our team: https://lnkd.in/gmrqW7Vc #executivesearch #technicalsearch #professionalsearch #energy #mobility #infrastructure #climatetech

“Work directly with the founders”—sounds familiar? These days, it's becoming more common to see this highlighted in job descriptions at early-stage or growth-stage companies. And let’s be honest, it’s a pretty attractive selling point! The chance to help build something while working closely with the founders can be incredibly rewarding. You’re not just on the sidelines; you’re in the thick of it, right there with them, sometimes even stepping into their shoes. But before you jump at this opportunity, it's important to understand what you're signing up for: 👉 Constant Change: Priorities shift quickly as the company evolves. 👉 High Accountability: Founders expect the same passion and commitment they bring to the table. 👉 Tough Decisions: Founders are deeply invested, making decisions more intense and crucial. For those ready to embrace the challenge, the personal and professional growth can be game-changing. Just be sure you know what you're getting into! Just sharing some Friday thoughts to help candidates make informed decisions. #startup #founderlife #growthstage #careermoves #recruitment #beyondcc

Great advice on how to break into VC or tech from Eric Rosenblum, a friend and colleague who is smart, curious, helpful, and who has done this well. Worth reading if you’re asking this question!

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu Today marks one of the biggest steps in my career journey. After 18 years on the in-house corporate side of recruiting, working with a variety of incredible global firms—and gaining countless priceless experiences—I am excited to begin a new chapter. Recruiting began at a pivotal moment in my career, as I sought an outlet and pivot after a transition from professional sports. It has since given me invaluable exposure to the many ways organizations and teams thrive through their people—whether by shaping culture, amazing leadership, or ensuring the right talent aligns with the right roles. This next chapter is a culmination of everything I’ve learned and a fresh opportunity to grow, challenge myself, and make a meaningful impact alongside people I deeply respect. It centers on what energizes me most: connecting top talent with exceptional organizations and applying the evolving diligence needed to ensure success—all with the competitive edge to deliver. With that, I am thrilled to announce that I am joining Scalrr — an executive search and talent advisory firm specializing in leadership recruiting and talent program development for early and growth-stage startups, and Private Equity . This opportunity is especially meaningful as it gives me the chance to partner with a lifelong best friend and Founder, Steve Fogarty, whom I’ve known since kindergarten. I’m also thrilled to work alongside Steve Bonomo, Matt Welton, and Marlin Plank—three recruitment SME's I deeply respect. As a team, we are going to congeal our collective experience to deliver exceptional value to both our clients and candidates. Recruiting itself is a journey—an ever-changing space that requires constant learning and adaptation to stay ahead of the curve. With this group of forward-thinking pros, I am confident we’ll thrive in building trust and delivering excellence for our clients. #executivesearch #venturecapital #founders #privateequity #recruiting #norisknoreward

Unlocking potential is the key to sustainable success in the ever-evolving job market. Explore the valuable insights in this article, which highlights the importance of looking beyond the resume to see candidate’s true potential. As Momentum Ventures explains, embracing potential can drive long-term growth and resilience. Check it out now! #Recruitment #Potential #Growth #Resilience.  https://lnkd.in/epekM-hq

If I were brave enough to *really* speak my mind to job applicants weighing the risks vs. rewards of moving from a later to an earlier stage company like ours (I'm not), I would tell them, "if you have doubts, you definitely shouldn't do it". Only 1% of venture-backed early-stage startups meaningfully survive, let alone thrive, into the late stages. To have a shot at being in this 1%, the team collectively has to be: * Top X% in grit, and * Top X% in perseverance, and * Top X% in creativity, and * Top X% in speed, and * Top X% in listening, learning and adapting, and * Top X% in managing chaos, and * Top X% in storytelling, and.... These are not "Or"s. These are "And"s. All of them are needed. And this list goes on and on. And it still may not be sufficient in the end. I'm not glorifying or celebrating this at all. It doesn't feel positive or natural or sustainable to be this way, many times to yourself and most of the time to your loved ones. But it is unfortunately necessary. You can't "want to become" this kind of a person- no one in their right minds should ever want this. You're certainly not paid enough to want to try and become this person. You either are this person, or you aren't. If you aren't this person, there is just too much risk for you to worry about and plan for. If you are this person, the biggest guaranteed reward of working at a company at this stage is that you will find yourself surrounded by a high density of (perpetually unhappy) weirdos like you.

Why my client left a high-paying job at a Fortune 50 company to join a startup—and why it was the BEST decision ever. "Are you out of your mind?" That's what people asked my client when they announced they were leaving a secure, well-paying job at a Fortune 50 company. On paper, everything was perfect: - Six-figure salary - Generous benefits - Prestige But deep down, they felt unfulfilled. They missed the thrill of innovation. They wanted to: - Be agile, not bogged down by bureaucracy - See the direct impact of their work - Be part of something bigger than just profits So, they took a leap of faith. We helped her join a startup with a bold vision and a handful of passionate people. The journey so far: - Steep Learning Curve: Every day brings new challenges. - Wearing Multiple Hats: From strategy to execution. - Direct Impact: Seeing how their decisions shape the company's future. - Reignited Passion: They're more excited about work than ever before. Was it risky? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Without a doubt. Sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow. Has anyone else made a bold career move? I'd love to hear your stories.