A few months ago I was laid off from JPMorgan in Glasgow. Today I work at a well-paying job in Dubai. I did not get it through job portals or by mass applying. I got it by finding startups that had just raised money and messaging their founders directly on LinkedIn.
In my video I promised to share the exact steps and the messages I sent. Here is the full playbook. Save it, and share it with anyone who is job hunting right now.
Why this method works
- Funded startups are hiring. When a startup raises money, it expands, builds new teams and hires fast.
- Founders read their messages. At an early-stage startup the founder is often the hiring manager. One good message can skip the whole HR queue.
- Less competition. Thousands of people apply on big job portals. Very few people reach out to a founder with a clear, short message.
- Good pay. Well-funded startups often pay competitively, and sometimes more than big tech. Many listings show the salary range, so check for yourself.
Step 1: Go to Work at a Startup
Open workatastartup.com. This is Y Combinator’s official job board, and every company on it is a YC startup. Create a free profile, because you get more filters once you are logged in.
Click Jobs and describe your ideal role in the search box, for example “Data engineer” or “Frontend developer”.
Step 2: Use the filters
Filter by role type (Engineering, Design, Product, Sales and more). When you are logged in you can also narrow by location, remote work, experience level and visa. Pay attention to the visa line on each job, because some roles only accept candidates who already have the right to work in that country.
Step 3: Shortlist startups that recently raised money
Open each company that looks interesting. On the job page and the company page, look for:
- The YC batch (for example S23 or W24) and the team size
- Recent funding mentioned in the description (Seed, Series A, Series B)
- Open roles where you are a genuinely good fit
Make a simple spreadsheet with the company name, role, founder name, date you messaged and status. It keeps you organised and makes follow-ups easy.
Step 4: Find the founder’s LinkedIn
Every company page has a section called “The founders”, with a LinkedIn link for each founder. Pick the founder closest to your role. For an engineering job, the CTO or technical co-founder is usually the best choice.
Before you message, spend two minutes on their profile and the company website. Find one specific thing you can mention, like a product launch, a recent raise or a problem they are solving.
Step 5: Send a connection request with a note
Keep the note short (LinkedIn limits it to about 300 characters, and free accounts can only send a limited number of notes). Here is a template:
Hi [Name], congrats on the [Series A / recent launch]! I’m a [your role] with [X] years building [what you do best]. I saw you’re hiring a [role] and would love to help [company] with [specific thing]. Happy to share my resume.
Step 6: Message after they accept
Once they accept, send a slightly longer message with your resume attached. Keep it under 120 words.
Hi [Name], thanks for connecting!
I’m [your name], a [role] with [X] years of experience. At [previous company] I [one strong, specific achievement with a number, e.g. “built a real-time pipeline processing 1M+ events a day”].
I saw the [role] opening at [company] and I think I can help with [their problem or product area]. My resume is attached.
Would you be open to a quick 15-minute chat this week?
Thanks,
[Your name]
Step 7: Follow up once
If there is no reply after 4 or 5 days, send one polite follow-up. Founders are busy, and many reply to the second message.
Hi [Name], just following up on my note about the [role]. I’d still love to help [company] with [specific thing]. Totally understand if the timing isn’t right. Thanks!
After that, move on. Never send more than two messages to the same person.
More message templates you can use
Pick the template closest to your situation and personalise it. Always replace the brackets with real details, and keep connection notes under 300 characters.
1. For students and freshers (connection note)
Hi [Name], I’m a final-year [degree] student at [college]. I’ve been using [product] and built [small project related to their space]. I’d love to contribute as an intern or junior [role] at [company]. Can I share my resume?
2. For students: message after they accept
Hi [Name], thanks for connecting!
I’m [your name], a [year] student at [college]. I recently built [project] using [tech stack], which [result, e.g. ‘is used by 200 students’ or ‘cut processing time by 40%’]. Here’s the link: [GitHub / live demo].
I’d love to help [company] as an intern or junior [role], even on a small trial task. My resume is attached. Would you be open to a quick call?
3. After a layoff
Hi [Name], congrats on the recent raise! I was recently affected by a layoff at [company], where I [key achievement]. I’m now looking for a team where I can make an impact, and [company] stood out because [reason]. Happy to share my resume.
4. When you already applied on the platform
Hi [Name], I just applied for the [role] at [company] on Work at a Startup. I wanted to reach out directly because [specific reason you’re excited]. In my last role I [result with a number]. I’d love to chat if you think there’s a fit.
5. Show, don’t tell (send something useful)
Hi [Name], I’ve been using [product] and put together a few quick ideas to improve [feature / onboarding / performance]: [link to a short doc, Loom or prototype]. I’m a [role] and would love to help build this with your team. Open to a quick chat?
6. For career switchers
Hi [Name], I’m moving into [new field] from [old field]. My background in [old field] helps me [specific advantage for their product]. I recently completed [project / course] and built [small proof of skill]. I’d love to bring that mix to [company].
7. Email to a founder (when you can find their email)
Subject: [Role] at [company]: [your name], [one-line hook, e.g. ‘built X for 1M users’]
Hi [Name],
I saw [company] is hiring a [role]. I’m a [role] with [X] years of experience, and I recently [most relevant achievement].
I’m excited about [company] because [specific reason]. Resume attached, and I’m happy to do a short take-home or trial task.
Thanks for your time,
[Your name] · [LinkedIn] · [Portfolio]
8. When the founder says there is no opening right now
Thanks a lot for getting back to me, [Name]! Totally understand. Would it be okay if I check in again in a couple of months? And if you know any founders in your network who are hiring for [role], I’d really appreciate an intro.
9. Thank-you message after an interview
Hi [Name], thank you for your time today. I really enjoyed learning about [topic you discussed] and I’m even more excited about [company]. If it helps, here is [link / quick note] on [something you mentioned in the interview]. Looking forward to hearing from you.
10. Asking for an internship (very short)
Hi [Name], I’m a [year] [degree] student who loves [their domain]. I’d love to work with [company] as an intern, even for a short project. Here’s what I’ve built so far: [link]. Can I share my resume?
Golden rules for every message: keep it short, mention one specific thing about their company, show one real result or project, and end with one simple question.
Step 8: Also apply on the platform
Always apply to the role on Work at a Startup as well. Your LinkedIn message makes your application stand out, and the formal application puts you in their hiring system.
Tips that made the difference for me
- Quality over quantity. Ten personalised messages beat a hundred copy-pasted ones.
- Lead with results. Founders care about what you built and what it achieved, not your job title.
- Make your LinkedIn profile ready before you start: a clear headline, a good photo and two or three strong achievements.
- Be consistent. Send a few messages every day and track everything in your sheet.
- Keep learning while you search. Practise interviews and keep your skills sharp.
Mistakes to avoid
- Sending only “Hi, please refer me” with no context
- Writing long paragraphs about your whole career
- Messaging every founder at the same company at once
- Ignoring the visa or location requirements on the job
- Following up again and again after no reply
Does this work outside Dubai?
Yes. YC startups hire in India, Europe, the US, the Middle East and remotely. The same steps work anywhere. Just check each job’s location and visa details before you reach out.
Final words
A layoff shakes your confidence, I know that from experience. But don’t stop. This method worked for me, and it can work for you too. Don’t take startups lightly: many of them have raised millions and are hiring right now.
Tell me in the comments which field you work in and which country you want a job in. And if this helped, share it with a friend who is job hunting.
Written by Kaish (@theengineerguy_), a data engineer based in Dubai.
