12 Strategic Moves to Land Your Next Tech Startup Role From TLDR's Recruiting Director Brandon Jeffs

In our January 2025 "Ask a Recruiter" webinar, we had the privilege of hosting Brandon Jeffs, the Director of People and Talent at TLDR. Drawing from years of experience in startup recruiting, Brandon shared practical strategies for tech professionals navigating today's competitive job market. With a self-described role as a "professional connector," Brandon offered candid advice on everything from profile optimization to networking tactics that help candidates stand out in a crowded field.

Wellfound's "Ask a Recruiter" series brings job hunters face-to-face with real tech recruiters who share honest advice on how to get hired.

Follow these 12 strategic moves to land your next tech job:

1. Develop a Personal Mission Statement

"Create a personal mission statement. Know why you do what you do and who you do it for," Brandon emphasized. Having this clarity not only guides your job search but also helps you communicate your value proposition more effectively to potential employers.

2. Rethink Your Approach to AI and Job Applications

"AI is not your savior," Brandon noted frankly. Instead of using ChatGPT to rewrite your resume, he suggests: "Start prompting ChatGPT to prompt you. Then you'll be able to communicate in your own words, your experiences and stories that I will never be able to tell."

3. Don't Blame the ATS – Outsmart It

"Companies aren't out to get you. When it comes to your resume, it's all about achieving one thing: getting that first call," Brandon explained. His tactical approach: "Identify the major applicant tracking systems that are used by startups, and then create custom search engines in your Google Chrome browser to apply directly through the ATS links, bypassing search tools like LinkedIn and careers pages."

4. Master Your Personal Brand as a Thought Leader

"I think everybody in a company should and can be equipped to be an active thought leader in their category," Brandon advised. For job seekers, developing thought leadership in your niche can significantly increase inbound opportunities from recruiters and hiring managers.

5. Implement a Strategic Networking Process

"Each day, identify and fine-tune your algorithm in your news feed so that you're able to chime in on the comments with an educated perspective on a topic that you're passionate about," Brandon suggested. "If you have notifications on, for these 10 to 15 industry thought leaders that you're passionate about, and you comment early and often on their posts, you'll amplify your own personal brand and people will start clicking on your profile."

6. Embrace the "Rule of Thirds" for Network Building

"I spend a third of my time with folks ahead of me in their career, a third of my time with my peers, and a third of my time giving back," Brandon shared as his personal formula for effective networking.

7. Evolve Beyond T-Shaped Skills

"A lot of early-stage and growth-stage startups are looking for either pie or cone-shaped skill sets," Brandon explained, referring to professionals with deep expertise in multiple domains. "If you're a really good engineer, what's another competency within the business that you can own in an early-stage startup?"

8. Reframe Your View on Assessments

"Don't think about it as free work. Think about it as positioning value," Brandon advised about pre-interview assessments. "A great chef leaves just enough sauce on the plate to leave you wanting more. You can leverage an assessment to make a founder feel like they would be crazy not to hire you."

9. Create Profile Context That Speaks to Hiring Managers

"Your profile on Wellfound is a marketing document. It's not a book report," Brandon stressed. "When recruiters review profiles, whether it's on Wellfound, LinkedIn or a resume, they scan vertically." He noted, "There are no bonus points for synonyms," recommending that candidates use consistent terms like "lead" throughout their profiles rather than 'spearheaded' and other buzzwords.

10. Tell Your Story Using the Four P's Framework

Brandon recommends structuring your experience with "Your profile, the problem, the process, and the people." This approach helps you articulate not just what you did, but the context in which you worked, the challenges you addressed, how you approached them, and who you collaborated with.

11. Handle Rejection Strategically

Brandon outlined three possible responses to rejection: "Number one, overcome the objection. Try to sell them to overcome why they said no—usually doesn't work. The other one is to cuss them out... The other and final is to nurture the relationship for the future." His advice: Say, "Thank you. Be gracious. Send them a referral. Six months later, that recruiter will remember you for being friendly and helpful."

12. Find Where Recruiters Hang Out

"I would encourage all of you to spend some time getting to know recruiters, hang out where we are hanging out," Brandon advised. "This is the same way we find you as engineers. We go into your communities, we get genuinely interested about your work products. We ask you for referrals. It's a two-way street. Please do the same for us."

Navigating today's tech job market requires more than technical skills—it demands strategic thinking about how you position yourself, build relationships, and communicate your value. By implementing Brandon's practical advice, you can transform your job search from a frustrating exercise into a more deliberate and ultimately successful career advancement strategy.

This article summarizes key points from Wellfound's 'Ask a Recruiter' live Q&A event featuring Brandon Jeffs. To find out more candidate tips, check out other 'Ask a Recruiter' sessions on the YouTube playlist here.