u/Proper-Arugula-9439

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some honest career advice from founders, hiring managers, and people who have worked in startups.

A little about my background: I’m a graduate from a Tier 1 engineering college in India and also hold an international master’s degree in Supply Chain Management. I currently work in the Middle East as a Supply Planning Associate at one of the region’s leading omnichannel retail groups. My work involves supply planning, retail operations, ERP systems, cross-functional coordination, process improvement, and working with different business functions.

My long-term goal isn’t to build a career in corporate. I eventually want to start a company of my own. Because of that, I feel I should first experience a startup environment, ideally working closely with founders to understand how businesses are actually built, scaled, and operated. That’s why I’m particularly interested in Founder’s Office, Strategy & Operations, Business Operations, or Growth-related roles where I can learn the business beyond just my functional expertise.

I would really appreciate your honest opinions on a few questions:

1. Given my background, where do you think I would fit best in a startup?

2. Should I primarily target retail and consumer startups because of my experience, or would I have a realistic chance in tech, SaaS, fintech, AI, or other industries as well?

3. How competitive would I be for Founder’s Office or Strategy & Operations roles? What skills or experiences would I need to become a stronger candidate?

4. What is the best way to approach startups? Should I rely on LinkedIn, founder outreach, referrals, VC portfolio companies, startup job boards, cold emails, or some other channel?

5. I currently live and work in the UAE but I’m planning to relocate to India. Do Indian startups generally consider candidates applying from abroad, or is that a disadvantage?

6. I’m not attached to staying in supply chain. Since opportunities in my domain are relatively limited compared to other business functions, what other domains do you think my background could transition into successfully?

I’m looking for candid feedback. If you think my assumptions are wrong or that I’m overlooking something important, I’d genuinely like to hear it. Thanks in advance for your insights.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some honest career advice from founders, hiring managers, and people who have worked in startups.

A little about my background: I’m a graduate from a Tier 1 engineering college in India and also hold an international master’s degree in Supply Chain Management. I currently work in the Middle East as a Supply Planning Associate at one of the region’s leading omnichannel retail groups. My work involves supply planning, retail operations, ERP systems, cross-functional coordination, process improvement, and working with different business functions.

My long-term goal isn’t to build a career in corporate. I eventually want to start a company of my own. Because of that, I feel I should first experience a startup environment, ideally working closely with founders to understand how businesses are actually built, scaled, and operated. That’s why I’m particularly interested in Founder’s Office, Strategy & Operations, Business Operations, or Growth-related roles where I can learn the business beyond just my functional expertise.

I would really appreciate your honest opinions on a few questions:

1. Given my background, where do you think I would fit best in a startup?

2. Should I primarily target retail and consumer startups because of my experience, or would I have a realistic chance in tech, SaaS, fintech, AI, or other industries as well?

3. How competitive would I be for Founder’s Office or Strategy & Operations roles? What skills or experiences would I need to become a stronger candidate?

4. What is the best way to approach startups? Should I rely on LinkedIn, founder outreach, referrals, VC portfolio companies, startup job boards, cold emails, or some other channel?

5. I currently live and work in the UAE but I’m planning to relocate to India. Do Indian startups generally consider candidates applying from abroad, or is that a disadvantage?

6. I’m not attached to staying in supply chain. Since opportunities in my domain are relatively limited compared to other business functions, what other domains do you think my background could transition into successfully?

I’m looking for candid feedback. If you think my assumptions are wrong or that I’m overlooking something important, I’d genuinely like to hear it. Thanks in advance for your insights.