ashilstone

Mid-Market Account Executive

Fire Starter

Contributor

Personal Narrative

>3 months unemployed - how do I get back on the horse?

500+ applications
30+ interviews
8 went to the final round

Top performer at my last company
First internal promotion BDR -> AE
First internal promotion SMB AE -> MM AE

You get the idea...I'm not the first rep that's been through this. My issue is interview burnout. I feel like my interviews are getting worse as time goes on since it's been so long. One of my final round interviews was on the 11th interview and it was a second demo.

Has anyone been through this? Any advice getting a new job that I align with at this stage?

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20 comments

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Coffeesforclosers

Notable Contributor

Director Sales and Market Development

Whats your main industy? That is a shit ton of work for little output, i feel for you

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

I do too. How's your vibes? Are you giving off desperation?

RealPatrickBateman

Politicker

🔪Amateur Butcher🔪

VIBE CHECK

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

You’re putting in the effort in the job hunt, that’s for sure. It’s tough looking for a job. And it’s a numbers game. You just need to keep grinding it out.

I have been in your shoes a couple times and it’s just been a matter of pressing forward despite the rejections.

Good luck in your search!

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

11th interview and doing 2 demo's, that is insane! I am really sorry to hear this, why advice would be in those situations where you make it to the final round. Get on a call with a recruiter and discuss other roles you are qualified for. You just made a final round, you are a good candidate, so why restart the process and apply when you can just talk to them

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

It is a brutal job market out there right now. You're probably doing everything right.
Do you have a network you can leverage? Or try one of those fractional sales gigs for coverage in the interim.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

It will pay off soon. I have been there before and I am telling you there might be something better coming your way.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

It's like the grind of sales - you go through a patch where nothing hits, the prospects have gone quiet, you lose a couple, there's a delay on others - and then all of a sudden, you start to get contracts in.
Keep at it. You're doing the right things.

Question: Are you getting any feedback on the reasons you aren't getting the positions?

ashilstone

Fire Starter

Mid-Market Account Executive

Yeah it’s a mixed bag. The only one I’ve gotten more than once is lack of industry experience

DataCorrupter

Politicker

Account Executive

My personal opinion, but I think that feedback is BS. If you're in sales, you adapt to selling whatever your selling now. Feels like the laziest feedback from a lazy recruiter/manager.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

It just sounds a bit like you’re getting just edged out - which means that you’re in the right job interviews. Something is going to tip your direction.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

wolfofmiami

Opinionated

🐺

when I was interviewing a ton on the final round, id always act like I had the job and forget I was interviewing, but what would happen was I really showing desperation and they could tell. I went to 5 final rounds and didnt get any. You just gotta trust in the process and that the right person is gonna see what you can do

Retired Sales Professional

I have got to confess, I have a new found respect (not that I didn't have it before) for your industry. What you all go thru on interviews is straight up insane and I have learned much from this platform about your industry and hope to continue learning. But 11 interviews and 2 demos is freaking way to much time to spend on one company. Your competition is just barely edging you out of the running, try to go thru the interview process you went thru and be critical with yourself to see if there is anything you can improve on and close the gaps. There is something there that your not noticing that they may be observing. Don't Quit.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Yes, it’s a pain in the ass. But you have to deal with it or just apply to fewer jobs.

AchillesOfAdTech

Valued Contributor

Account Director

Keep your head up man! The fact that you're getting so far in interviews proves you're on the right track. You just need to keep going!

When you don't have a job, finding a new job is your job. So treat it like that. Put in your 9-5 each day, but also take time to decompress / pace yourself.
Coincidentally, sales and recruitment are very similar. The more applications => more first round interviews => more final round interviews => more offers. You'll get one eventually, I can virtually guarantee it.

Every "no" you get brings you one step closer to a "YES."

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

Did you do an analysis of why the rejections? Are you applying to wrong companies? IS your resume incorrectly built?

Did you try finding out why this is happening? That's where you answer would lie. As to what you need to do better going forward. If you were a top performer, you'll find a job soon enough. Don't worry.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

What feedback do you get?

waterjugsales

Politicker

Account Executive @ Funemployed

All I will say I that I've been on the market for about 2.5 months - with about 3-4 weeks seriously searching back in August and then realizing I wanted to have a break anyways - keep pushing, I feel for you.
May be worth taking a few days or so off if you can afford to - a mental reset as interviewing can be a grind. I'm going back into this gauntlet of a job market so I'm right there with you.

SerialBiller

Executive

Account Executive

I had to do a double take as I thought this was my post.. I ended up on about 600 applications, 30+ interviews, 9 final stages.... I landed my dream job on the 10th final stage.
Do yourself a big favour, get a job offer lined up for a lower paid role that will cover the bills. Keep interviewing and use that to take the edge off.
You are almost there man, never give up.
Pay for a professional CV and linkedin revamp aswell.. pays off

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ashilstone

>3 months unemployed - how do I get back on the horse?

20 comments

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