words by Mauhan
We have been receiving heaps of job applications lately as CollegeCraig picks up steam. In addition to blushing at the interest, we typically respond to the applicants with a simple preliminary query: “Why do you want to work with our swashbuckling gaggle in the first place?”
The question doesn’t seem to really have a right or wrong answer, but that is not to say that I don’t have a favorite response in mind when we ask. So allow me make it a tad easier on any future CC applicants and explain my preference.
Throughout my own professional life, my career mentors have always stressed the significance of the quality of people with whom you work. In the past, I always thought that was just a cute interview response to our question. However, the process of bootstrapping this start-up exposed a newfound understanding for the value of a great team. The importance of which is only magnified when working on a new business.
Working on a start-up requires an unyielding amount of dedication and self-motivation. There’s no one cutting you a check at the end of the day, no ladder to climb, and no brand name to bolster your resume. Instead, there is a group of people and – if you’re lucky – an idea that they all collectively believe in.
That is what we have at CollegeCraig; we are a team of five full-timers who truly buy into the idea of building safer, stronger, and more efficient online university communities. A lot of our group-effort mentality comes from an incredibly flat organizational culture. We appreciate the importance of taking advantage of each of our own distinct talents, and we make sure that everyone’s opinion is solicited and considered. It has become our second-nature to get an internal second-opinion.
That sense of constant collaboration is a point of pride and a source of creativity for our business. You will see the constructive results in the frequent reimagining of our site, development of additional features, and application of innovative marketing campaigns. Those positive outcomes are the product of a stellar starting five. And frankly, as a founder, I could not be more proud of our team. I am honored and fortunate to work alongside a group of brilliant coworkers/friends.
For that reason, I have a strong recommendation to any future CollegeCraig interviewees when asked why on earth they would want to work at CC: It’s all about the people that you would work with.
Read more about our team on our team bio page found here.