Find out what you would actually own

Ask what needs to be different after your first six months. Which decisions would be yours? Who would you work with, and where would you need support? A founding role, a product engineering role and a research role can overlap in title while offering very different day-to-day work.

Understand the team around you

Ask who sets technical direction, how decisions are made and what happens when people disagree. Find out who can review your work and how the team shares knowledge. If you would be the first person in your discipline, discuss what support and authority come with that responsibility.

Make the uncertainty visible

Ask about the company’s funding position, customer traction and the milestones it is working towards. Explore what could change your priorities and how the founders decide where to focus. You do not need every answer to be certain; you do need a candid conversation about the risks and trade-offs.

Compare the full working arrangement

Discuss compensation, the working model, location and expected hours before the final stage. Ask for any equity terms in writing and have anything you do not understand explained before deciding. Think about what you need now, as well as what you hope the company becomes.

Bring evidence of your own

Choose examples of work you can discuss without sharing confidential information. Explain what you built or researched, the decisions you made, what changed and what you would do differently. Products, open-source contributions, research, competitions and founder experience can all provide useful context; their relevance to the role matters most.

Use the process to assess the fit

Notice whether the interviews reflect the role and whether the team can explain what they are assessing. Ask how feedback and the next steps will be handled. Keep a short record of what matters to you so that an impressive title does not obscure the work, people and conditions you are choosing.

Check the compensation assumptions.

Our salary guide separates advertised pay, disclosed equity and bonus from planning estimates. Compare the role, location and company context before using a figure in a decision.

Explore the evidence and compensation planner

Questions founders ask

What should I ask before joining a startup?

Ask what you will own, who makes decisions, how the business is funded and what support exists. Clarify working arrangements and the complete offer in writing.

How should I compare equity offers?

Ask for fully diluted ownership, option or share count, vesting and cliff, exercise price and exercise window. Check the valuation basis and what happens if you leave. An equity grant is not guaranteed cash.

Does a later funding stage mean a better role?

No. Compare the actual work, team and conditions with your priorities. Funding stage alone does not establish role quality or a suitable compensation package.

Will Corellia send my CV without asking?

No. We will tell you which employer is being discussed and get your agreement before sending your CV or details.