Isabel Rasmussen

Your Next Tech Startup

Business EN ↓ 30 episodes

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 hi...

Author

Isabel Rasmussen

Category

Business

Podcast website

IsabelRasmussen.podbean.com

Latest episode

May 27, 2026

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Episodes

The Fake Candidate Problem No One's Talking About 27.05.2026

In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen, Proceso Talent, and Giuseppe Morgana, CTO of New Harbor, discuss the rising challenge of fake candidates infiltrating remote hiring processes. They share their firsthand experiences and practical strategies to identify, prevent, and stay ahead of fraudulent applicants, emphasizing the importance of technical tools and vigilant interview practices.   Host: Isabel...

Is This Startup Toxic? Interview Questions That Reveal the Truth 23.01.2026

How can you tell if a startup will be a healthy place to work or a fast track to burnout? In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen, Host and Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment, and Dr. Matthew Jones, Startup Executive Psychologist and cofounder of Cofounder Clarity, explain how software engineers can evaluate startup culture during the interview process. Instead of relying on vague culture statemen...

Now Hiring: Sr Founding Engineer @ New Harbor (US Remote) 10.12.2025

Isabel Rasmussen speaks the founders of New Harbor about the US Remote Sr Engineering Engineer role. We go beyond the job description to discuss great opportunities at startups in our Now Hiring episodes. Interested in this role? email Isabel at newharbor.co   Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ Guests: Jonathan Edward https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanedward/, Gi...

Now Hiring Remote: Sr Product Manager & Tech Lead Manager 29.09.2025

In this episode, Isabel Rasmussen discusses two key roles at a Series B startup with Zach, the Director of Engineering, and Will, the Director of Product. Open Roles: Technical Lead Manager and Senior Product Manager   Interested in these roles? Please reach out directly to Isabel: isabel@procesotalent.com Or connect on LinkedIn: /www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/   Chapters 00:00 Introduction...

Laid Off Engineers: What AI Changed in the Workplace with Sid Parakh 12.09.2025

In this conversation, Sid Parakh, a Director of Engineering, and Isabel Rasmussen, Technical Recruiter and host of Your Next Tech Startup discuss the changes engineering teams have experienced over the last year. Many engineers have been laid off and have been job hunting for 6-18 months. Consequently, they're missing out on day-to-day changes happening in the fast-paced startup world. Not underst...

500 Hires!! Do Referrals Always Equal A Great Hire With Engineering Leader Sven Delmas 05.09.2025

In this conversation, Isabel Rasmussen speaks with engineering leader Sven Delmas about his extensive hiring experience, focusing on two significant hiring stories. The first story highlights the challenges of hiring a former colleague, where concerns about culture fit and interview performance led to a contentious decision. The second story discusses a referral from within the company that result...

JUST HIRED: How to Tell Your Story 29.08.2025

In this episode, host Isabel Rasmussen interviews Ibrah Abouhashish, a Senior Solutions Engineer at Arthur.ai, about his recent job search experience. Ibrah shares insights on navigating the job market, the importance of storytelling in interviews, and how to effectively resolve conflicts in a professional setting. The conversation also touches on the significance of finding the right cultural fit...

Avoid this Rejection Reason by Asking Questions in Interviews: with SVP of Engineering, Maher Hanafi 25.07.2025

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 sens...

Hiring Manager Guide: The Offer Call with Director of Engineering, Erwin Alberto 23.07.2025

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 collaborati...

How We Score The Coding Interview at Counterpart with Director of Engineering Derrick Franco 22.07.2025

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 a...

A Software Engineer Interviews a Tech Recruiter for Once! 21.07.2025

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...

Now Hiring: Remote Senior Software Engineer at Anyreach 18.07.2025

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 enginee...

JUST HIRED How to Become a Lead Engineer Candidate: guest Afshan Martin 11.07.2025

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 va...

Pre-Seed Startup Hiring - Founder Interview with Preston Lee 02.07.2025

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...

Startup Interview Advice from a VP of Engineering 27.06.2025

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 en...

Recruitment Strategies to Boost Women in Tech 20.06.2025

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...

Now Hiring: Chicago Full Stack Engineer (Javascript) at Cameo 13.06.2025

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 under...

Networking in Tech: Insights from a VP of Engineering 06.06.2025

Maximizing Networking for Engineering Hires: Insights from Randy Chong, VP of Engineering @ Healthcare.com In this episode, we sit down with Randy Chong, VP of Engineering at Healthcare.com, to discuss the power of networking in making successful hires. Drawing from his extensive experience with over 100 hires and countless interviews, Randy shares compelling stories and practical advice. Learn ho...

How to Hire People who Build Awesome Products 30.05.2025

How to Hire People who Build Awesome Products: Insights from SERV Founder Nickhil Bhave Blog: How to Hire People who Build Awesome Products https://bhave.substack.com/p/hire-product-people-that-build-awesome?sd=pf   Join Isabel Rasmussen as she sits down with SERV founder Nickhil Bhave to discuss his extensive hiring experiences across various stages of company growth—from Amazon to late-stage sta...

Now Hiring: US Remote Lead Engineer at Thrizer 24.05.2025

Now Hiring: US Remote Lead Engineer at Thrizer - An Interview With CEO Raunak Sharma. In this episode of 'Your Next Tech Startup,' we dive into the exciting opportunity for a Lead Engineer at Thrizer. Host Isabel interviews Thriver's CEO Raunak Sharma about their mission to make mental health services more accessible, their bootstrapped growth strategy, and the unique challenges and rewarding aspe...

Faster Hiring Through Trust with Amey Desai 16.05.2025

In this conversation, Isabel and Amey discuss the intricacies of the engineering hiring process, focusing on the importance of defining the ideal candidate, structuring take-home challenges, and fostering trust and transparency throughout the hiring journey. They explore how to evaluate candidates effectively while ensuring a positive experience, especially in a startup environment. Amey shares in...

Engineering Leadership Hiring Stories: Philip Gollucci 16.05.2025

Join host Isabel Rasmussen as she engages in an insightful conversation with engineering leader Philip Gollucci about hiring in the tech world. Philip shares compelling stories from his extensive experience, providing invaluable tips for both hiring managers and job seekers.  Isabel Rasmussen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/ Philip Gollucci: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgollucci/   Mu...

From Zero to 100: Startup Hiring with Michael Cioni 12.05.2025

In this conversation, Isabel Rasmussen and Michael Cioni discuss the intricacies of hiring and team building in startups, particularly as they scale from zero to 100 employees. Michael shares his experiences and insights on the importance of hiring versatile team members, the challenges of maintaining company culture, and the necessity of flexibility in both employees and founders. They explore th...

Why Engineering Managers Struggle with Hiring 03.05.2025

Join host Isabel Rasmussen and guest Daniel Schotland, COO of Linqia, as they dive into the intricacies of engineering leadership, hiring practices, and the distinctions between technical and non-technical interview processes. They explore the importance of soft skills within technical teams, the evolution of engineers into management roles, and effective interviewing strategies to assess both tec...

Founder Interview: AI and Entrepreneurship with Matthew O'Meara 25.04.2025

In this episode, host Isabel Rasmussen talks with Matthew O'Meara, founder with extensive experience from companies like OpenTable, Practice Fusion, and Sun Basket. They discuss how AI is reshaping the role of engineers and startups. O'Meara shares his extensive experience, the importance of learning to partner with AI, and provides practical advice for young engineers and entrepreneurs.  Isabel R...

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