Alright, so I decided to dive into the Los Angeles venture capital job scene. Figured it was time to see what’s out there, you know?
Step 1: Getting Started
First things first, I needed to, like, actually find these jobs. So I just went to plain old job search. Just a really basic initial sweep to get a feel for things.
I did a quick search and entered the field I wanted to search for, and I set the location for Los Angeles.
Step 2: Refining My Search
Okay, after that initial look, I realized I needed to get a bit more specific. “Venture capital” is pretty broad. I mean, are we talking entry-level analyst roles? Partner-track positions? Something in between? I started thinking about what I actually wanted.
- Analyst roles: Seemed like a good starting point, lots of research and due diligence.
- Associate roles: A step up, maybe more deal sourcing and interaction with founders.
- Specific industries: Did I want to focus on, say, tech, biotech, or something else entirely?
I started messing around to narrow the search results. I’ve been leaning towards tech lately, so I threw that in there.
I did some more detailed filtering of the search, which made the results much better.
Step 3: Exploring the Results
Now for the fun part – actually checking out the listings. I didn’t just skim; I actually read through the descriptions. Gotta know what they’re really looking for, right?
I paid close attention to:
- Required experience: Did they want someone with years in finance, or were they open to people with different backgrounds?
- Skills: Financial modeling, obviously, but what else? Communication, market research, networking?
- Company culture: This is huge. Did they sound like a stuffy, traditional firm, or a more laid-back, innovative one?
I saw a bunch of different stuff. Some places wanted MBAs, others were more flexible. Some emphasized deal experience, others were all about having a strong network. It was a real mix.
Step 4: Keep myself posted
It’s clear I should keep searching, and I’m getting a better sense of what kinds of roles are out there and what skills I might need to brush up on.
So, I started doing more research. I should keep doing this, and I’ve realized I need to think about how my current skills translate. Like, sure, I don’t have “venture capital” on my resume, but I’ve done a lot of project management and analysis, which has to count for something, right?
I’ve got to keep at it. This is just the beginning, but I’m feeling pretty good about the direction I’m heading.
