It’s winter in Washington, DC, and this last Sunday, I wore shorts and a t-shirt to grab dinner (which was lovely). I actually prefer winter here over summer; I don’t know how anyone can stand the humidity. Anyways, for those of you who read my prior blog, thank you (http://bocampo.posterous.com). With only 4 posts, and over 40K views, I was very happy (and frankly surprised) by the viewership and thank you again to all my readers. I’ve decided to migrate to Tumblr to start fresh and I plan to keep this one updated as much as I can so stay tuned. I figured that this would be a good way to start.

In short, we are looking to add to our team at Grotech. I’ve been here for over two years now, and it’s been quite a ride. Our funds have been performing very well and it’s frankly all thanks to me (just kidding). I was a really big fan of how Union Square did their hiring process and while we will be managing several channels to bring potential candidates in, this will be my channel and will be the most important for initial screening (also kidding, or am I?). We are looking to add an associate to the team; you can read the posting below:

Grotech Ventures, a leading, national venture capital firm headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia near Washington, D.C.,  is seeking an Associate to join our highly successful investment team. The Associate will be expected to hit the ground running, taking a proactive role in deal flow creation through networking and actively participating in venture/startup related events; conducting pre-investment due diligence, financial modeling and deal structural analysis; researching new potential investment areas and companies; and ultimately helping execute and manage the firm’s investments. The Associate will have the opportunity to get involved in every aspect of the investment process from sourcing to executing transactions to portfolio management. 

Candidates should have prior experience in investment banking, venture capital, private equity, management consulting, or a broad-based role at a technology company or startup. The Associate position requires strong analytical capabilities, financial modeling proficiency and excellent written and oral communication skills.  

Here are things I would add to the above.

1) Everyone says this but cultural fit is critical. We expect that whoever we do bring on is not only bright and hard-working, but will also fit in nicely with the team from a personality standpoint. There are a lot of quirky people in venture (myself included) so fit is crucial.

2) The new hire will absolutely hit the ground running; while we do a great job of mentoring and working with one another here, hand-holding is minimal and he/she will be expected to learn quickly. There’s really no playbook in venture and for those who need structure, venture probably isn’t the right job for you.

3) Obsession with technology is a must. I’ve met quite a few people who are interested in working in tech venture who haven’t heard of VentureBeat, TechCrunch, Mashable, Techmeme, etc.. Not to say this is required to be a good candidate, but it certainly helps to know what’s going on in the tech world right?

Once we’ve accumulated the first wave of folks we will filter for follow-ups, and conduct phone/in-person interviews as we continue. Here are some words of advice to those who move further down the process.

1) Do your homework (study our portfolio and our strategy). It’s amazing how many 4.0 GPAs from XYZ Ivy League school don’t read our portfolio page. I memorized Grotech’s portfolio page (and Don Rainey’s blog) when I was interviewing and it’s worked out nicely so far.

2) Know why you want to work here. It’s pretty unbelievable how many smart people can’t answer this question either.

3) Think of 3 companies that you think we should invest in (or 3 sectors worth investing in) and why.  

4) Don’t be a yes man/woman. Be respectful, but challenge me with your insights. For example, is there a company you don’t like in our portfolio? Why? What would you do to change its current trajectory?

So how do you apply? Pretty simple really. Email me at my work address, bocampo@grotech.com and cc our office manager, Jennifer Ports at this address, jports@grotech.com. In your subject line, please write “Associate Position.” I frankly hate resumes, cover letters, etc., but unfortunately, the powers that be are requiring a resume so please attach to the email. In the body, please write a very quick (QUICK) paragraph about yourself and why you’re interested in the position. I might DQ you if you write more than one paragraph (seriously). Also, not required, include links to your LinkedIn, Twitter, blog, etc. if possible. Bonus points to those who embrace social media! Frankly if you don’t have at least one of these set-up, you probably shouldn’t apply for a job at a tech venture firm. Anyways, I look forward to the responses. I will update everyone on the process in a few weeks after we’ve gone through the first screen. Have a great evening!