Risk vs. Reward - Choosing Your Startup #5

For the next few weeks, we're going to be featuring a five part series by Sally Bolig, Head of Talent Acquisition at Yotpo. Stay tuned to learn more about how to decide if the startup life is for you!


Don’t ask
1. Is this co-founder the real deal?
Use Glassdoor to explore CEO approval ratings. Look directly below the star rating for “Approve of CEO” to see what previous and current employees are saying. Do your due diligence in regards to looking through the CEO’s experience and reading articles he or she has been featured in or written.

It’s a silly question to ask in an interview because there is so much research you could have done in advance, and it’s also a nearly impossible thing to concisely answer.

Absolutely ask questions around the CEO’s involvement with the company and on an individual basis, or even about his or her personality, but avoid asking whether they’re capable of running their own company well.



At the end of the day, these are not rules. For every example given above, I’m certain you can find a company that defied the typical trends. Will asking these questions guarantee you a risk-free transition into a startup opportunity? Absolutely not.

It’s impossible to know the reality of startup until you’ve graduated and begun working at one. The hope is that by utilizing this guide, Fordham students will be able to make the most informed decision possible and to effectively demonstrate their dedication to joining this ever-growing, ever-changing community.