Your Next Tech Startup – Details, episodes & analysis

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Your Next Tech Startup

Isabel Rasmussen

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/4d. Total Eps: 23

Hiring is tough — software engineers hate job searching, hiring managers are stretched thin, and interviews? They suck for everyone. But finding the right people is critical for building a great startup. This podcast is for software engineers navigating startup hiring. We dive into real stories from startup leaders, uncover what makes a great (or terrible) hiring process, and explore how to make finding and landing startup jobs suck less. Each episode features a founder, hiring manager, or software engineer sharing their journey, hiring philosophy, and lessons learned. We’ll also break down hiring pain points—job descriptions, resumes, interviews, negotiation, culture screening, and more. Expect real talk, expert insights, and the occasional resume roast.

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🇬🇧 Great Britain - Careers
20/08/2025
#91

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/
25 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen
3 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-chong/
2 shares

https://www.bensound.com
21 shares

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Score global : 63%

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Avoid this Rejection Reason by Asking Questions in Interviews: with SVP of Engineering, Maher Hanafi

Episode 23

Friday, July 25, 2025 • Duration 41:10

In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen and Maher Hanafi discuss the intricacies of the interview process, focusing on the importance of candidate questions and the dynamics of bi-directional interviews. Maher shares insights from his extensive experience in engineering leadership, emphasizing the need for candidates to research their interviewers and the company culture. They explore how to handle sensitive topics like layoffs and the significance of maintaining a positive energy during interviews. The discussion also touches on the importance of aligning management philosophies and the flexibility required in startup hiring.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ Guest: Maher Hanafi https://www.linkedin.com/in/maherhanafi/

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Interview Dynamics 00:42 Understanding the Role of Candidates 02:37 The Importance of Candidate Questions 06:37 Leveraging AI in Interview Preparation 09:50 Memorable Candidate Interactions 11:52 Assessing Work Environment Fit 12:28 Asking Difficult Questions 15:48 Navigating Layoff Conversations 17:49 Handling Glassdoor Feedback 21:26 The Energy of Interviews 26:06 Communication Skills and Candidate Behavior 28:20 Red Flags in People Management Interviews 33:15 Aligning Management Philosophies 38:13 Hiring for Flexibility in Startups

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🍎 ❤️ iHeartRadio: https://shorturl.at/NI3sq❤️

Music by: https://www.bensound.com Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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Hiring Manager Guide: The Offer Call with Director of Engineering, Erwin Alberto

Episode 22

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 • Duration 24:43

In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen and Erwin Alberto discuss effective hiring strategies, focusing on the offer stage and the importance of the sell/ offer call. They explore how hiring managers can better prepare for and conduct sell calls, the significance of onboarding, and the need for clear communication about growth opportunities within the company. The conversation emphasizes the collaborative nature of hiring and the importance of creating a positive candidate experience.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ Guest: Erwin Alberto https://www.linkedin.com/in/erwin-alberto-5226b15/

Check out Erwin's Medium articles! https://medium.com/@erwinalberto

Sell Call - Vision and Mission - Team and Culture - First Day 30/60/90 - Growth Opportunities

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Hiring and Offer Stage 01:50 Understanding the Offer/Sell Call 03:44 Preparing for the Sell Call 09:20 Company Vision and Mission 11:27 Team Culture and Dynamics 14:02 Onboarding and First Impressions 19:49 Growth Opportunities and Career Development

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.

Let’s connect if you're growing a team or want to talk startups, recruiting, or tech hiring trends.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

How We Score The Coding Interview at Counterpart with Director of Engineering Derrick Franco

Episode 21

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 • Duration 13:12

In this conversation, Isabel Rasmussen and Derrick Franco discuss the take-home coding test and the evolving landscape of engineering interviews, particularly focusing on how to set candidates up for success. They explore the importance of clear communication, the role of AI in coding challenges, and the need for candidates to engage actively during the interview process. Derrick emphasizes that asking questions is a positive sign and reflects a candidate's problem-solving abilities. The discussion also highlights how AI tools have raised the bar for coding standards and the necessity for candidates to demonstrate their understanding of the code they produce.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ Guest: Derrick Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrickfranco/

Chapters 00:00 Setting the Stage for Success in Interviews 02:33 The Importance of Communication and Questions 05:21 Navigating AI in Coding Challenges 08:02 Evaluating Candidates Beyond Coding Skills 10:42 Understanding the Startup vs. Big Tech Mindset 13:04 Leveraging Content for Interview Preparation

Music by: https://www.bensound.com Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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A Software Engineer Interviews a Tech Recruiter for Once!

Episode 20

Monday, July 21, 2025 • Duration 38:36

In this episode of Your Next Tech Startup, the tables have turned and Dan Johnson interviews Isabel Rasmussen on the recruitment process in the tech startup landscape. They explore the challenges faced by recruiters and candidates alike, the impact of AI on hiring, the importance of ATS systems, and how to craft effective resumes. The discussion also touches on the significance of referrals, trust issues in interviews, and the need for constructive feedback in the hiring process. Ultimately, the conversation aims to provide insights for both job seekers and hiring managers to improve their experiences in the recruitment landscape.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ Guest: Daniel Johnson https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielljohnson/

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Conversation 02:51 The Dynamics of Recruitment 07:00 Navigating the Hiring Process 15:19 Crafting the Perfect Resume 21:47 The Power of Referrals: Warm vs Cold 23:52 Trust Issues in the Hiring Process 25:37 The Challenge of Interview Standards 26:46 The Need for Feedback in Rejections 34:17 Advice for Job Seekers in Today's Market

Isabel Rasmussen 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, I bring a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments.

Let’s connect if you're growing a team or want to talk startups, recruiting, or tech hiring trends.

Music by: https://www.bensound.com Artist: Marcus P. License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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Now Hiring: Remote Senior Software Engineer at Anyreach

Episode 19

Friday, July 18, 2025 • Duration 17:32

In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen interviews Richard Lin, CEO and Co-founder of Anyreach, about a remote senior software engineer role. They discuss the unique aspects of the position, the evolution of Anyreach's AI technology, the technical challenges faced by the development team, and the interview process. Richard emphasizes the importance of curiosity, planning, and the opportunity for engineers to grow and learn in a startup environment focused on voice AI technology.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ Guest: Richard Lin https://www.linkedin.com/in/linrichard/

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Anyreach and the Role 01:00 The Vision Behind Anyreach 04:23 Technical Challenges and Development Approach 09:31 Engineering Culture and Team Dynamics 12:52 Hiring Philosophy and Candidate Expectations 16:24 How to Apply and Engage with Anyreach

Here is the Job Description: (watch the episode to learn how to apply) Senior Software Engineer at Anyreach

The Role That Will Define the Next Decade of Engineering Are you the kind of engineer who sees AI not as a replacement, but as the ultimate power tool? Do you spend more time thinking about elegant solutions than writing boilerplate code? At Anyreach, we're building the future of Voice AI, and we're looking for a rare breed: a 100x engineer who combines deep technical mastery with product intuition and leverages AI to move at lightning speed.

What We're Looking For 🎯 The Product-Minded Engineer You understand that the best voice AI solves real communication problems You can translate business requirements into conversational experiences that users love You think in voice interactions, user intents, and conversation flows beyond individual features 🤖 The AI Whisperer You're already using AI tools daily and know their strengths and limitations You can prompt-engineer your way to better voice solutions faster than most people can Google You know when to lean on AI and when to roll up your sleeves and code voice systems from scratch ⚙️ The Technical Powerhouse When AI hits its limits, you don't—you're a skilled engineer who can solve hard voice AI problems You have strong fundamentals in system design, algorithms, and software architecture for real-time systems You care deeply about code quality, performance, and maintainability in voice applications 🚀 The Velocity Multiplier You're not just fast—you make everyone around you faster in shipping voice features You build tools, processes, and systems that scale beyond yourself You see inefficiencies in voice AI workflows and can't help but optimize them Technical Superpowers We Need AI Tooling Mastery: Cursor, GitHub Codex, Claude, ChatGPT, and whatever comes next Voice AI Understanding: You get the nuances of conversation design, speech processing, and real-time audio System Design: You can architect voice solutions that won't break under conversational pressure Product Thinking: You build voice features users actually want to talk to Documentation Excellence: Your docs are so good, people actually read them (even about complex voice systems) Quality Obsession: Scalable, reliable, secure, observable—no compromises for voice AI

JUST HIRED How to Become a Lead Engineer Candidate: guest Afshan Martin

Episode 18

Friday, July 11, 2025 • Duration 34:40

In this episode, host Isabel Rasmussen speaks with Afshan, a lead software engineer who shares her journey of navigating the job market after experiencing a layoff. They discuss the challenges of job searching, the importance of crafting an effective resume, and strategies for mastering the interview process. Afshan emphasizes the significance of building confidence, overcoming anxiety, and the value of networking in her career development. Through her experiences, she highlights personal growth and the lessons learned along the way.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Afshan Martin https://www.linkedin.com/in/afshan-aman/

Chapters 00:00 Navigating Job Applications in a Changing Landscape

09:44 Crafting an Impactful Resume

14:58 The Interview Process: Challenges and Strategies

17:26 The Journey to Effective Interviewing

24:06 Overcoming Introversion in Interviews

31:39 Networking and Building Connections

33:09 From Candidate to Lead Engineer

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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Pre-Seed Startup Hiring - Founder Interview with Preston Lee

Episode 17

Wednesday, July 2, 2025 • Duration 18:08

In this episode, host Isabel Rasmussen interviews Preston Lee, the founder of Tribe Money. They discuss the unique aspects of hiring and building a startup team at the pre-seed stage. Preston elaborates on his strategy of hiring friends or friends of friends within the U.S., the importance of having multiple eyes on complex FinTech code, and the significance of passion and curiosity in engineering, aside from technical skills. The conversation delves into Preston's unconventional hiring approach that emphasizes project-based interviews over traditional coding tests and explores his experiences and insights on building a robust engineering team from the ground up.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Preston Lee https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonwlee/

00:00 Welcome to Your Next Tech Startup 00:26 Building a Team in the Pre-Seed Stage 01:09 The Importance of Hiring Friends and Local Talent 02:27 Challenges in FinTech Development 04:12 Hiring Philosophy and Vetting Process 05:43 Technical Deep Dives and Real-World Problem Solving 13:33 Unexpected Learnings from Hiring 15:56 Future Hiring Strategies and Conclusion

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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Startup Interview Advice from a VP of Engineering

Episode 16

Friday, June 27, 2025 • Duration 11:03

In this episode, we speak with Sameer, the VP of Engineering at Tellius, about the current challenges in hiring engineers with AI experience. Sameer shares his experiences as a hiring manager, discussing the evolving expectations and skill gaps caused by the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. He highlights the importance of core engineering fundamentals and provides advice for early-career software engineers on how to effectively grow and prepare for roles in AI-focused companies. The conversation includes tips on self-improvement, learning key AI concepts, and the importance of in-depth understanding despite the availability of advanced tools.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Sameer Mangalampalli https://www.linkedin.com/in/sameermangalampalli/

00:00 Introduction to the Interview

00:29 Challenges in Hiring AI Engineers

03:53 Core Fundamentals for Engineers

05:19 Advice for Aspiring AI Engineers

07:31 Understanding AI Tools and Concepts

10:00 Final Thoughts and Interview Tips

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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Recruitment Strategies to Boost Women in Tech

Episode 15

Friday, June 20, 2025 • Duration 12:53

In this conversation, Isabel Rasmussen and Kelly Kaplan discuss the importance of fair and consistent hiring practices, particularly in the tech industry. They explore the challenges of building diverse teams, the necessity of intentional hiring efforts, and the impact of unconscious bias in interview processes. The discussion emphasizes the need for structured interview environments and effective debriefing practices to ensure fairness in hiring decisions.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Kelly Kaplan https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-kaplan/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Fair and Consistent Hiring 01:08 The Importance of Diversity in Tech 02:56 Building Diverse Teams: Strategies and Challenges 05:06 Creating Inclusive Hiring Processes 06:51 Addressing Unconscious Bias in Interviews 10:21 Structuring Fair and Consistent Interviews 12:52 New Chapter

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

Keywords

fair hiring, consistent hiring, diversity in tech, women in tech, intentional hiring, unconscious bias, interview processes, recruitment strategies, engineering teams, hiring practices

Now Hiring: Chicago Full Stack Engineer (Javascript) at Cameo

Episode 14

Friday, June 13, 2025 • Duration 14:32

In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen interviews Dom Scandinaro, the CTO of Cameo, discussing the current hiring for a senior full stack engineer role. Dom shares insights about his journey to Cameo, the company's growth and stability, technical challenges, unique engineering culture, and the interview process. The conversation highlights the exciting opportunities at Cameo and the importance of understanding the product for potential candidates.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Dom Scandinaro https://www.linkedin.com/in/dom-scandinaro/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Role at Cameo

01:07 Dom Scandinaro's Journey to Cameo

04:21 Core Values and Growth Opportunities

05:32 Current Landscape and Challenges at Cameo

07:23 Technical Challenges and Engineering Focus

10:08 Engineering Culture and Onboarding Process

11:17 Interview Process and Candidate Preparation

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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Your Next Tech Startup – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Your Next Tech Startup – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

LinkedIn18

Other5

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

LinkedIn18

Other5

Youtube1