bonez

Account Executive

Another bad sales gig and I need advice again...

Howdy all, long time no see.

So I'm in another bad spot with work - took a role at a large HCM company and it's been a god awful grind. Have genuinely hated most of this year and felt like I was not told the whole story around what this job is when I took it - even turned down other offers because I thought this logo would look that good on a resume. I've been in it about 11 months now and desperate to get out. No one in my territory wants to move forward and the deals I get into go nowhere since it's easier and cheaper to stay with your current provider. There is no good reason to move to a new platform in HCM unless you're insanely unhappy with your current vendor. And then the implementation is an extreme nightmare. Last but not least they changed comp plans for new folks so my starting quota is double what it normally is and if I were to hit my number I'll make 50K less than I made last year. I was told I'd easily pass $200k...

My problem is my previous 3 roles were only 1 year each thanks to Covid layoffs, downsizing, acquisition layoff. I'm basically closing barely anything in this role so if I don't quit I'll most likely be fired sooner than later. I need to get out but scared I'll look awful to recruiters even though I've hit quota everywhere I've gone and was even promoted before the layoffs last year.

Am I going to be ok to start applying again? My mental health has gone downhill massively thanks to this role. I really need to be somewhere I can actually win and don't feel like I'm bothering people with extremely dated technology and methods.

I know that I need to start applying but hoping some other savages have been in my exact spot and can offer some encouragement to the homie.

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💆‍♂ Mindset

14

28 comments

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Pachacuti

Politicker

7

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

that's a tough situation. My advice:
(1) Play with resume dates. Move them to Year - Year, not Month/Year format.
(2) Play with the jobs on your resume. If you can massage the dates correctly, you don't need to mention every job you've ever had. Your resume is what YOU want to tell people. Don't lie, but you don't have to tell people everything.
(3) Do what is best for you and yours. Don't just quit, but definitely start looking elsewhere. If you massage your resume correctly, its not as painful as you make it out to be.

oldcloser

Arsonist

5

💀

100% Co-signed. Why do we have to confess all when the company never does? They'll know what they know because you tell them.

Pachacuti

Politicker

5

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

you'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many people think they have to document EVERYTHING on their resume.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

4

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

It's amazing, but you're right. No need for all the details. Particularly immaterial ones.

bonez

Politicker

5

Account Executive

Great advice man. I'm bummed I didn't think to do it this way. Doing it this way I can take off one of those 1 year jobs and it still makes a lot of sense. In fact that job didn't serve me for most roles anyways so probably could have left it off to begin with.
It's not a great situation at all but one I found myself in. For the most part I've made great money but been unlucky with sticking around at a company that doesn't start to implode.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

3

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Best of luck to you this time around. I'm with Pachacuti on this one - brush up that CV and start applying.

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

I'm on it! Thanks my dude. Just updated and getting it back out there.

oldcloser

Arsonist

3

💀

I'm with this. I could make a second career out of the jobs that aren't on my resume. Good luck!

brazilianbucks

Valued Contributor

3

🇧🇷

I've found a lot of peace lately in realizing our job is to sell solutions not to make miracles happen. We can only control what we can control, and there's a lot more to making a success out of a company than sales talent.

FoodForSales

Politicker

4

AE

there's a lot in my life most people don't need to know.

HVACexpert

Politicker

2

sales engineer

@Pachacuti on point as always

GDO

Politicker

2

BDM

Year year is the way to go

kindagoodae

Executive

2

Account Executive

Love this advice. I'm in a similar spot with a company that is just an eye sore on my resume. Bascially wasted a year and did nothing notable. Thanks!

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

6

Sales Rep

Sorry to hear this, the HCM companies always oversell the role until your first day and make it seem like it's your fault if you aren't Presidents Club.
What you need to know and focus on is finding a role that you truly see as a long-term fit. So when you get asked, you have an honest answer about why you want to work there.
It's okay to mention some of the negatives you experienced in the roles, just dont talk to poorly about those ex-companies
Also 3 roles in 3 years, is becoming the new norm in tech sales with the amount of layoffs. And most Recruiters and Sales individuals have been laid off or worked alongside great people who have

bonez

Politicker

4

Account Executive

This is refreshing to hear. I hate to be the person who says it's not my fault but man this time it really hasn't been. I've been trying to stay put but layoffs and acquisitions have done me absolutely dirty. I've always made my numbers too which makes it harder.
And yeah I will never work in HCM ever again. This industry is awfully dated and the worst commodity I have ever seen. First time in my career I truly feel like I'm bothering prospects since they've been inundated with the same messaging from everyone. Never again. They really love to make the top performers out to be the norm but once you've been in it for a couple months you realize that's a load of shit.
Really appreciate this dude.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

2

Sales Rep

Unless you are at Workday, I dont recommend it

bonez

Politicker

3

Account Executive

Workday is the one I would honestly consider working at. They are winning all the business because they are actually modern and not just doing what everyone else is doing. At least externally it seems that way.

bonez

Politicker

4

Account Executive

And yeah, my goal is for my next role to be way longer term. Really want to be somewhere for a few years for not just myself but for my family. It's hard on all of us.

oldcloser

Arsonist

5

💀

Just a personal anecdote - may help. I was RIF'd in Feb of this year. I'm on my 3rd gig since. 1st one: Nice org. No PMF. 2nd one: IC role working for an absolute asshole. 3rd one: Absolutely freaking fantastic, proven market fit with a big picture dream attached. Got my title back. First 1 made the CV. I stretched the dates to eliminate the 2nd one. Now, they both fall off. I'm hopeful I won't need that document ever again, but if I do, it's been just 1 job.
Just dig harder than you've ever dug. You'll find a home. Wishing you the best, most unfair kind of luck in your search.

bonez

Politicker

4

Account Executive

That helps massively dude. Seriously feel like I’m not alone here.

oldcloser

Arsonist

4

💀

You are not. ✊

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

Sorry to hear this bb. Take care of you ❤🦊

Titanic

Opinionated

1

Senior VP - Sales

When work starts becoming a job, then it's no longer enjoyable and you will not perform to the best of your abilities. First, see if your colleagues are having the same issues (if possible). If they don't help you, then do the following; reach out to management to voice your concerns, struggles and create a personal engagement with them. While simultaneously show them what you've tried to do before contacting management (i.e. reaching out to colleagues for advice, taking different approaches, re-evaluating personal goals etc.) to show them you're not worthy of being fired because you've genuinely tried. Then, let them set a plan of action for you. Doing this will boost your manger's ego, demonstrate you're willing to speak out when help is needed, and lastly it (should) make them evaluate other employees who are having the same concerns. Making you the catalyst of something that could be completely beneficial for the company, with emphasis on how it will help the customer. Then stick it out for a bit to pad your resume, and see if they're willing to help you. That way in the next interview, you can be completely honest with them in the steps you took to be coached in your previous role when they ask the dooming question of "why do you want to leave." This doesn't trash your former employer, but shows that you genuinely tried multiple avenues to better develop yourself, the company, and most importantly the customer.

pirate

Big Shot

1

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Don't worry about your job history. Unhappiness is even worse. You deserve better!

bonez

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Thanks my dude. This is important to remember. Being miserable doesn't help me or my family.

HVACexpert

Politicker

1

sales engineer

If your mental health is suffering it’s time to leave you have to do right by you and your family. You can easily explain the situation and people will understand.

Good luck in the search.

1

Retired Sales Professional

I think the WR covered this well. All I'm going to add is that your mental health has to come first, your quality of life is priority, get the heck out of that toxic environment while you still have some sanity. All the best.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

-2

Business Coach

It continues to amaze me at the number of people who take a position already looking ahead to their next position. AND... then they wonder why they struggle...

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