Whether you were fresh out of college, out of the army, out of high school, or even out of the shower, your vocational opportunities were limited to various different entry-level positions. While a few may have gotten that glamorous consulting or finance job, most of us started at the bottom. With the popularity of the Internet, it is easier for college students and graduates to find interesting and meaningful educational and vocational opportunities in the exciting World Wide Web.
Before you start thinking that you are the next Jeff Bezos or Jerry Yang, you need to understand a few things. Most of the time, you only hear about the companies that do extremely well. For people who are firmly entrenched in the industry, the Internet industry is not about becoming a millionaire overnight (although that would be nice). There are more companies that go out of business than those who reach the initial public offering (IPO). Therefore, you have to realize that an Internet job will most likely not make you rich.
Other than the fact that you may not become a millionaire, the benefits of working in the Internet industry far outweigh the disadvantages. While the hours may be crazy and companies may not pay competitive wages (but pay you generous stock), you get to work with some of the hardest working, brilliant and energetic group of individuals anywhere. Furthermore, since most of the decision makers are relatively young, they will be more receptive to your work and input. In some of the better companies, you may even work directly with the CEO, manage a project, and help in the hiring and training.
But there are some things about the Internet industry that you should be wary of. First, it is not for the weak-hearted. During a typical week, there are more ups and downs than a slo-mo Baywatch shot of Pamela Anderson running on the beach. You may have nothing to do for a couple of days and a week later have to pull all-nighters. Also, the culture within an Internet start-up is definitely not normal. Some have masseuse come on Fridays and give its staff a full-body (I have been pressured to have one on staff). At CampusNut.com, for example, we cook our own meals and work past dinnertime. The idea of normal hours is a foreign concept.
If you are interested in working for an Internet start-up, you may find that this is easier than you think. There are plenty of job opportunities. A good place to start would be www.jobdirect.com or www.jobtrak.com. Companies like Hot Jobs and Monster have plenty of jobs but generally seek individuals with some relevant working experience. Other websites such as www.startupnetwork.com and www.techies.com offer jobs but they lack the selection of other websites. Also, you can gain a good understanding about each company by visiting www.vault.com and www.hoovers.com.
The great thing about most Internet companies is that they are always looking to hire energetic individuals. And if you have no luck, you can work for us. We are like the catfish of the Internet companies. We are bottom feeders; contact us at jobs@campusnut.com.
