Hey, guys!
I’ve an interview for a unpaid full-stack developer internship scheduled at a new start-up that still doesn’t have funding.
They’re trying to develop some kind of plataform that let you use AI to get reports and analyse on crypto currencies.
If i ended up working there, I’d like the company to be successful, so I want to make sure I’m working for smart and organised people that have a real plan. The co-founders are really young(I’m sure they’re not older than 30) and one for them have a business degree. They told me that it’s a 3 months internship and if they get funded within this 3 months, I’d become a staff member. They’re offering a % of the company, I think there are 2 or 3 employees(2 co-founders included), they have a single web page on WordPress and that’s it. I’ve seen some screen-shot with data analyse on their company profile on linkedin but I think they have nothing else prepared.
I’m on the middle of interview processes with other companies(all paid positions) and then, this one comes as last resource because it’s a great opportunity to learn tons of things. I know that working at a start-up requires you to be an all around player, and the idea actually excites me a lot, that’s why some of the others companies I’m interviewing with are also startups(But mid level ones, or at least with funding to hire me for a full time position).
Giving you a bit of my background: I’m on my first year of university and I don’t have any formal experience working for companies. I started looking for entry level positions or internships as a developer two and a half weeks ago. That’s it :)
So, what should I ask during my interview with the co-founder? How can I make sure that they have a real chance to succeed?
In the end nothing can guarantee that they have a real chance to succeed - you don’t know them well enough and even with the best knowledge, circumstances can shift due to changing priorities, the emergence of new opportunities, or personal events that shift the focus.
Nonetheless, I would recommend asking about the long-term vision of the company and how they plan to achieve it. Pay attention to their marketing plan because the product can be the greatest, but if no one hears about it, no one uses it. Just as with any job, ask about the company culture, work-life balance, and values. You want to make sure their values align with yours. Finally, what are their key performance indicators? How will they measure your performance as an intern?
Good luck!