Entering StartUpLand: An Essential Guide to Finding the Right Job

Bussgang is eminently qualified to author a book directed at "joiners" (i.e., "the brave folks who want to join start-ups and figure out the best entry point"). After a brief stint in consulting, the author of Mastering the VC Game worked his way up the start-up ladder, cofounded an early-stage venture capital firm, and teaches business administration at Harvard Business School. This new book provides a concise description of six of the seven major start-up job functions: product manager, business development manager, marketing, growth manager, sales, and finance (omitting the seventh—engineering—which is "expertly covered in many other books"). Each chapter contains a description of the job function, the attributes of successful employees, brief profiles of one or two professionals, and recommended resources. The author addresses the difference in roles at start-ups vs. more mature companies and concludes with a chapter on the job search process, which highlights the importance of networking.