How I Ended Up in Startup Recruiting (and Why I’m Here to Stay)

Austin Thompson details their journey into startup recruiting, highlighting the fulfillment and challenges of being the first talent hire at Infisical, a company specializing in managing application configuration and secrets. Thompson's career path included experiences in bartending, a talent internship at Andreessen Horowitz, and agency recruiting before finding their niche in startups. They emphasize the unique aspects of startup recruiting, such as the direct impact on a company’s trajectory, the ability to shape teams, and the empowerment of designing processes from scratch. Despite the intense nature and lack of predictability in early-stage recruiting, Thompson finds it rewarding due to the responsibility and influence it offers. They argue that this path is ideal for those who enjoy problem-solving, strategic thinking, and building lasting systems, making it particularly appealing for new graduates or early-career recruiters looking for high-impact work. The role at Infisical allows Thompson to apply their accumulated skills and experience to help shape the company’s future, embodying the "It’s Time to Build" principle from their time at a16z.