Your Next Tech Startup

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 Rasmussen   / isabelrasmussen  

Guest: Giuseppe Morgana:   / gmorgana  

Main Topics: The increasing prevalence of AI and impersonation scams in remote recruitment Key signs of fabricated candidates: suspicious resumes, synced tech stacks, and predictability Group tactics behind fake applications, including coordinated interview responses Tools and techniques for detecting fake profiles on platforms like LinkedIn and GitHub Best practices for organizations to protect their hiring process from AI fraud The importance of continuous awareness and evolving security measures in recruitment

What We Actually Saw Fabricated resumes — fake experience at well-known companies, tech stacks perfectly mirrored to your job posting. Mixed in with other types of embellishment like spending the past few years as a “Founding Engineer” at one of the largest consulting organizations in the world

Identity theft — real people's names, experience, and LinkedIn profiles attached to fake applicants

Hijacked LinkedIn profiles — not just fake ones, but real accounts that had been taken over

They showed up — these weren't just spam applications. They responded to emails, interacted naturally, and came to phone screens

Quality improved over time — phone screen responses got noticeably better as you went

How We Fought Back / Recommended Steps

Resume pattern detection — cross-referencing tech stacks against what companies actually use. Doesn't prove fraud alone but flags where to dig. High reliability signal even if not definitive.

Public profile forensics — checks on LinkedIn history, GitHub history, etc. for consistency

Video call tactics — asking candidates to turn off virtual backgrounds, wave hand in front of face. Acknowledge these feel absurd but they work as a first filter (at least for now). Ask them about hometown questions

The in-person step — ultimately added a required in-person touchpoint for remote roles as the most reliable verification Identity Proofing Tech - Traditional background checks focus on things like criminal history; what’s needed is a step that makes sure the person is who they are

The Human Cost It's exhausting — every applicant now starts under a cloud of doubt about legitimacy, not quality It changes the hiring experience for legitimate candidates too

The recruiter's evolving playbook — what worked six months ago doesn't work now. The arms race is real. Emotional weight of knowing real people are being impersonated and harmed

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 Rasmussen   / isabelrasmussen  

Guest: Giuseppe Morgana:   / gmorgana  

Main Topics: The increasing prevalence of AI and impersonation scams in remote recruitment Key signs of fabricated candidates: suspicious resumes, synced tech stacks, and predictability Group tactics behind fake applications, including coordinated interview responses Tools and techniques for detecting fake profiles on platforms like LinkedIn and GitHub Best practices for organizations to protect their hiring process from AI fraud The importance of continuous awareness and evolving security measures in recruitment

What We Actually Saw Fabricated resumes — fake experience at well-known companies, tech stacks perfectly mirrored to your job posting. Mixed in with other types of embellishment like spending the past few years as a “Founding Engineer” at one of the largest consulting organizations in the world

Identity theft — real people's names, experience, and LinkedIn profiles attached to fake applicants

Hijacked LinkedIn profiles — not just fake ones, but real accounts that had been taken over

They showed up — these weren't just spam applications. They responded to emails, interacted naturally, and came to phone screens

Quality improved over time — phone screen responses got noticeably better as you went

How We Fought Back / Recommended Steps

Resume pattern detection — cross-referencing tech stacks against what companies actually use. Doesn't prove fraud alone but flags where to dig. High reliability signal even if not definitive.

Public profile forensics — checks on LinkedIn history, GitHub history, etc. for consistency

Video call tactics — asking candidates to turn off virtual backgrounds, wave hand in front of face. Acknowledge these feel absurd but they work as a first filter (at least for now). Ask them about hometown questions

The in-person step — ultimately added a required in-person touchpoint for remote roles as the most reliable verification Identity Proofing Tech - Traditional background checks focus on things like criminal history; what’s needed is a step that makes sure the person is who they are

The Human Cost It's exhausting — every applicant now starts under a cloud of doubt about legitimacy, not quality It changes the hiring experience for legitimate candidates too

The recruiter's evolving playbook — what worked six months ago doesn't work now. The arms race is real. Emotional weight of knowing real people are being impersonated and harmed

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 statements, we focus on practical interview questions that reveal how teams handle mistakes, conflict, feedback, and leadership pressure.

You’ll learn: How to spot healthy vs. toxic startup culture Interview questions that reveal how teams really operate Warning signs of poor leadership and unsafe environments What engineers should look for before joining an early-stage company

This episode is for software engineers considering a startup role and anyone who wants to make a smarter career decision before signing an offer.

Topics: startup culture, engineering interviews, workplace culture, toxic startups, leadership, team dynamics, career advice for software engineers

Guest: Dr. Matthew Jones Startup Executive Psychologist, Cofounder Clarity https://cofounderclarity.com

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/, Giuseppe Morgana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmorgana/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to New Harbor and Its Mission

02:12 The Need for a Senior Engineer

04:37 Technical Requirements for the Role

05:17 Building Team Culture in a Remote Environment

08:30 The Importance of Mission Alignment

New Harbor

We founded New Harbor to bring foundational cybersecurity to organizations of all sizes. Today, we serve customers operating globally through our software platform and expert support. We're advancing this mission by launching a self-service platform that automates the deployment and management of security measures - making it easy for any organization to benefit from the protections proven to stop most attacks without being overwhelmed.

Organizations today face an impossible problem: employees use hundreds of SaaS apps, but enforcing consistent security across them means manually configuring each one. Enterprise SSO only works if you pay premium tiers everywhere.

We're building a platform that lets you approve a rule once - like "enforce multi-factor authentication" - and have it enforced everywhere possible without having to configure every application. We combine API integrations with an AI-assisted browser extension to automate security controls in any application.

We're building towards our public launch. The technical challenges are real: reliably automating security controls across hundreds of different applications, building a rule engine that works across varied APIs and browser interfaces, and doing it all in a way that scales. If you're excited about building something from the ground up that solves a problem security teams actually have, we'd love to talk.

Full JD https://app.dover.com/apply/New%20Harbor/6918753a-76ce-491d-8f9e-aef5918afd82/?rs=76643084

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

#NowHiring #StartupJobs #RemoteJobs #SoftwareEngineering #EngineeringCareers #TechCareers #StartupLife #RemoteWork #WorkFromHome #CareerGrowth #SeniorEngineer #SREngineer #NewHarbor #TechStartups #HiringNow #CareerOpportunities #PodcastInterview #EngineeringJobs

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: [email protected] Or connect on LinkedIn: /www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Luxury Presence and Roles

01:38 Technical Lead Manager Role Overview

03:39 Senior Product Manager Role Overview

05:20 Team Dynamics and Culture

07:07 Management Styles and Expectations

09:41 Candidate Profile and Ideal Qualities

Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, she brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments. Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world.

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺

🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/exiBw46n 🎧

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4🍎

❤️ iHeartRadio: https://shorturl.at/NI3sq❤️

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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 understanding how teams are now working differently puts unemployed candidates at a significant disadvantage. We discuss the transformative impact of AI on engineering teams, hiring practices, and the evolving roles of engineers. Sid emphasizes the importance of adaptability, business acumen, and the integration of AI skills in the hiring process. The discussion also highlights the significance of collaborative learning through hackathons as a means to upskill and stay relevant in the industry.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Siddharth Parakh https://www.linkedin.com/in/parakhsiddharth/

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of AI on Engineering Teams at Startups

05:20 The Evolution of Engineering Skills

08:02 The Importance of Business Acumen

10:28 Outcome Over Output in Engineering

12:56 AI in the Interview Process

15:40 The Need for Adaptability

18:22 Networking and Hackathons

Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, she brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments. Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world.

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺

🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/exiBw46n 🎧

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4🍎

❤️ iHeartRadio: https://shorturl.at/NI3sq❤️

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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 resulted in a disastrous hire, emphasizing the complexities of relying on referrals and the importance of thorough evaluation processes. Throughout the discussion, themes of groupthink, the significance of written feedback, and the balance between team input and managerial authority in hiring decisions are explored.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Sven Delmas https://www.linkedin.com/in/svendelmas/

Chapters 00:00 Navigating Hiring Experiences

15:42 The Impact of Recommendations on Hiring Decisions

18:48 The Consequences of Poor Hiring Decisions

23:12 The Role of AI in Hiring

23:55 Key Takeaways on Hiring Practices

26:39 New Chapter

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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 within a company and the adaptability required in today's fast-paced work environment.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Guest: Ibrahim Abouhashish https://www.linkedin.com/in/ihashish/

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Job Market: Ibrah's Journey

Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, she brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments. Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world.

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺

🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/exiBw46n 🎧

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eYsCN4y4🍎

❤️ iHeartRadio: https://shorturl.at/NI3sq❤️

Music by: https://www.bensound.com

Artist: Marcus P.

License code: 4YKVHGTNVRLVH3BV

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 sensitive topics like layoffs and the significance of maintaining a positive energy during interviews. The discussion also touches on the importance of aligning management philosophies and the flexibility required in startup hiring.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Chapters

Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, she brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments.

Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world.

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺

Music by: https://www.bensound.com 

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 collaborative nature of hiring and the importance of creating a positive candidate experience.

Host: Isabel Rasmussen https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelrasmussen/

Check out Erwin's Medium articles! https://medium.com/@erwinalberto

Sell Call 

Chapters

Isabel is a Fractional Head of Technical Recruitment who works directly with engineering leaders to hire top talent — from Senior Software Engineers to Directors of Engineering. With over a decade of experience recruiting for high-growth startups, She brings a strategic, hands-on approach to scaling technical teams that thrive in fast-paced environments.

Isabel is also the host of Your Next Tech Startup, a weekly podcast where she interviews founders, engineering leaders, and software engineers about what it really takes to build and grow teams in the startup world.

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournexttechstartup 📺

Let’s connect if you're growing a team or want to talk startups, recruiting, or tech hiring trends.