My top advice would be to go for a company that is doing something a little different from the rest. Do you really want to put your blood, sweat, and tears into developing the 1000th photo sharing service? Find a company that is pursing something unique and interesting and that seems like it has real business potential.
Make sure the founders / executive team are on the same page. Make sure they have the same vision about what they are looking for in a new employee. If you pick up on signs that they are not quite in unison then your time working at their company will probably not be happy.
Ask yourself what is so special about the founders. What special skills or knowledge do they bring to the table that will crush the competition? If you don't think they have an edge then don't join their team. Try to find founders with some type of deep domain expertise.
As an employee you are investing your time in a company. Ask yourself if you want to work day in and day out with the people who are interviewing you. If you get a bad personality vibe from the people you're talking with then don't join. All personal conflicts will get blown up in the pressure cooker startup atmosphere.
Take this into consideration: remember that all that glitters is not gold. The odds of success are decidedly not in your favor at a startup. Startups are the trendy thing to do (especially here on HN) but know that they have their downsides just like any other company. Often times the downsides to startups can be particularly brutal. Good luck!
Make sure the founders / executive team are on the same page. Make sure they have the same vision about what they are looking for in a new employee. If you pick up on signs that they are not quite in unison then your time working at their company will probably not be happy.
Ask yourself what is so special about the founders. What special skills or knowledge do they bring to the table that will crush the competition? If you don't think they have an edge then don't join their team. Try to find founders with some type of deep domain expertise.
As an employee you are investing your time in a company. Ask yourself if you want to work day in and day out with the people who are interviewing you. If you get a bad personality vibe from the people you're talking with then don't join. All personal conflicts will get blown up in the pressure cooker startup atmosphere.
Take this into consideration: remember that all that glitters is not gold. The odds of success are decidedly not in your favor at a startup. Startups are the trendy thing to do (especially here on HN) but know that they have their downsides just like any other company. Often times the downsides to startups can be particularly brutal. Good luck!