How to Get a Job in Venture Capital

I was checking on on Brad Feld’s blog, as I always do, and got this great old link to his partner Seth’s post on ‘How to get a Job in Venture Capital ‘.

My first question is why would you want to be a venture capitalist?

I am an entrepreneur, hedge fund manager and angel investor. I could never be a venture capitalist, although I work with partners that now give me some VC cred . I don’t think big enough or early enough and I hate spreadsheets. I like porn too. That takes a lot of free web surfing time :) . (I kid)

I like to think of sports analogies when thinking through this stuff.

The best golf ball strikers will tell you that the ball gets in the way of their swing. They are not thinking about hitting the ball, they are focused on mechanics through practice and repetition. Muscle memory.

So, the best way to get into the VC business (other than breeding and connections) is to just get in it’s way. Roll up your sleeves and start a company, social network and make things happen. Don’t think about it so much.

Seth’s post is just the reality. Rarely are there shortcuts. If you do all the things he says, venture Capital will be in your life and the right VC job will just get in the way.