First Round

First Round, founded by Nick D'Ambrosio and operating as First Hired, is a career advisory service based in Irvine that has been helping technology professionals reach their career goals for over 25 years. The company evolved from First Round Search, a retained search firm that scaled to over $10M+ with 15 full-time employees, giving the founder unprecedented insight into the hiring practices of hundreds of technology companies.

First Hired specializes in career coaching and advisory services exclusively for technology professionals navigating today's challenging job market. With over 25 years of experience both as a retained recruiter and career coach, founder Nick D'Ambrosio leverages his extensive background working with founders, CEOs, department heads, VCs, and top talent to make a measurable impact on individual careers.

The company was established in 2008 after D'Ambrosio's successful experience building First Round Search, which provided him with front-row insights into technology company hiring practices. This unique perspective allows First Hired to offer proven strategies that have been employed and tested by technology executives for over two decades.

First Hired addresses the reality that the technology job market is the most competitive it has been in over 25 years, with the average job-seeker taking 6-9 months to land a new position. The company recognizes that even experienced professionals struggle to secure quality interviews and that traditional strategies no longer work in today's highly competitive environment.

The firm offers three comprehensive packages ranging from a 3-hour starter plan to a 12-week intensive coaching program. Each package includes personalized resume and LinkedIn reviews, custom job search strategies, interview preparation, ongoing support, and access to curated company lists with hiring manager contact information and proven messaging templates.