Your Next Tech Startup

Is This Startup Toxic? Interview Questions That Reveal the Truth

How can you tell if a startup will be a healthy place to work or a fast track to burnout? In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen, Host and Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment, and Dr. Matthew Jones, Startup Executive Psychologist and cofounder of Cofounder Clarity, explain how software engineers can evaluate startup culture during the interview process. Instead of relying on vague culture statements, we focus on practical interview questions that reveal how teams handle mistakes, conflict, feedback, and leadership pressure. You’ll learn: How to spot healthy vs. toxic startup culture Interview questions that reveal how teams really operate Warning signs of poor leadership and unsafe environments What engineers should look for before joining an early-stage company This episode is for software engineers considering a startup role and anyone who wants to make a smarter career decision before signing an offer. Topics: startup culture, engineering interviews, workplace culture, toxic startups, leadership, team dynamics, career advice for software engineers Guest: Dr. Matthew Jones Startup Executive Psychologist, Cofounder Clarity https://cofounderclarity.com

Now Hiring: Sr Founding Engineer @ New Harbor (US Remote)

Isabel Rasmussen speaks the founders of New Harbor about the US Remote Sr Engineering Engineer role. We go beyond the job description to discuss great opportunities at startups in our Now Hiring episodes. Interested in this role? email Isabel at newharbor.co   Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/] Guests: Jonathan Edward https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanedward/, Giuseppe Morgana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmorgana/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmorgana/]   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to New Harbor and Its Mission 02:12 The Need for a Senior Engineer 04:37 Technical Requirements for the Role 05:17 Building Team Culture in a Remote Environment 08:30 The Importance of Mission Alignment   New Harbor We founded New Harbor to bring foundational cybersecurity to organizations of all sizes. Today, we serve customers operating globally through our software platform and expert support. We're advancing this mission by launching a self-service platform that automates the deployment and management of security measures - making it easy for any organization to benefit from the protections proven to stop most attacks without being overwhelmed. Organizations today face an impossible problem: employees use hundreds of SaaS apps, but enforcing consistent security across them means manually configuring each one. Enterprise SSO only works if you pay premium tiers everywhere. We're building a platform that lets you approve a rule once - like "enforce multi-factor authentication" - and have it enforced everywhere possible without having to configure every application. We combine API integrations with an AI-assisted browser extension to automate security controls in any application. We're building towards our public launch. The technical challenges are real: reliably automating security controls across hundreds of different applications, building a rule engine that works across varied APIs and browser interfaces, and doing it all in a way that scales. If you're excited about building something from the ground up that solves a problem security teams actually have, we'd love to talk. Full JD https://app.dover.com/apply/New%20Harbor/6918753a-76ce-491d-8f9e-aef5918afd82/?rs=76643084 [https://app.dover.com/apply/New%20Harbor/6918753a-76ce-491d-8f9e-aef5918afd82/?rs=76643084]   Music by: https://www.bensound.com [https://www.bensound.com] Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV   #NowHiring #StartupJobs #RemoteJobs #SoftwareEngineering #EngineeringCareers #TechCareers #StartupLife #RemoteWork #WorkFromHome #CareerGrowth #SeniorEngineer #SREngineer #NewHarbor #TechStartups #HiringNow #CareerOpportunities #PodcastInterview #EngineeringJobs

Now Hiring Remote: Sr Product Manager & Tech Lead Manager

In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen discusses two key roles at a Series B startup with Zach, the Director of Engineering, and Will, the Director of Product. Open Roles: Technical Lead Manager and Senior Product Manager   Interested in these roles? Please reach out directly to Isabel: isabel@procesotalent.com Or connect on LinkedIn: /www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Luxury Presence and Roles 01:38 Technical Lead Manager Role Overview 03:39 Senior Product Manager Role Overview 05:20 Team Dynamics and Culture 07:07 Management Styles and Expectations 09:41 Candidate Profile and Ideal Qualities   Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, she brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments. Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world. 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺 🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/exiBw46n 🎧 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4🍎 [https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4%F0%9F%8D%8E] ❤️ iHeartRadio: https://shorturl.at/NI3sq❤️ [https://shorturl.at/NI3sq%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F]   Music by: https://www.bensound.com [https://www.bensound.com] Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

Laid Off Engineers: What AI Changed in the Workplace with Sid Parakh

In this conversation, Sid Parakh, a Director of Engineering, and Isabel Rasmussen, Technical Recruiter and host of Your Next Tech Startup discuss the changes engineering teams have experienced over the last year. Many engineers have been laid off and have been job hunting for 6-18 months. Consequently, they're missing out on day-to-day changes happening in the fast-paced startup world. Not understanding how teams are now working differently puts unemployed candidates at a significant disadvantage. We discuss the transformative impact of AI on engineering teams, hiring practices, and the evolving roles of engineers. Sid emphasizes the importance of adaptability, business acumen, and the integration of AI skills in the hiring process. The discussion also highlights the significance of collaborative learning through hackathons as a means to upskill and stay relevant in the industry.   Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/] Guest: Siddharth Parakh https://www.linkedin.com/in/parakhsiddharth/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/parakhsiddharth/]   Chapters 00:00 The Impact of AI on Engineering Teams at Startups 05:20 The Evolution of Engineering Skills 08:02 The Importance of Business Acumen 10:28 Outcome Over Output in Engineering 12:56 AI in the Interview Process 15:40 The Need for Adaptability 18:22 Networking and Hackathons   Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, she brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments. Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world. 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺 🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/exiBw46n 🎧 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4🍎 [https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4%F0%9F%8D%8E] ❤️ iHeartRadio: https://shorturl.at/NI3sq❤️ [https://shorturl.at/NI3sq%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F]   Music by: https://www.bensound.com [https://www.bensound.com] Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

500 Hires!! Do Referrals Always Equal A Great Hire With Engineering Leader Sven Delmas

In this conversation, Isabel Rasmussen speaks with engineering leader Sven Delmas about his extensive hiring experience, focusing on two significant hiring stories. The first story highlights the challenges of hiring a former colleague, where concerns about culture fit and interview performance led to a contentious decision. The second story discusses a referral from within the company that resulted in a disastrous hire, emphasizing the complexities of relying on referrals and the importance of thorough evaluation processes. Throughout the discussion, themes of groupthink, the significance of written feedback, and the balance between team input and managerial authority in hiring decisions are explored. Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/] Guest: Sven Delmas https://www.linkedin.com/in/svendelmas/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/svendelmas/]   Chapters 00:00 Navigating Hiring Experiences 15:42 The Impact of Recommendations on Hiring Decisions 18:48 The Consequences of Poor Hiring Decisions 23:12 The Role of AI in Hiring 23:55 Key Takeaways on Hiring Practices 26:39 New Chapter   Music by: https://www.bensound.com [https://www.bensound.com] Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV