pizzasavage

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

Anyone uncomfortable with "Case Studies" for a Sales/AE?

I am totally a bit torn. I finally received the case after about 2 weeks of waiting/crickets (red flag), after the second interview. They asking very obvious questions in the case to help their startup scale within sales and better handle rejections. It seems like they are struggling and they shared this during the interview-slower growth than planned.

For what they are asking I would charge a fee for. I mean I really do not like knowing they can take my best work for free. I have another company asking for a mock sales call which I am actually more comfortable with verse written presentation documents, easily to be used for training and etc. I have told them I will consider the case presentation if I can have an answer with 5 days, which I feel is more than enough-waiting to hear back today.

Curious to hear some stories and some tips on these darn case studies/aka free strategy's! Gosh so annoying..

Has a case study for a job interview landed you the job offer?

Attached poll

Yes No Ghosted after the case was shared.. They used my ideas and did not hire me..

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

19

32 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

13

🦊

I've never been asked to do one. I also would not turn in real work for free.

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

100%

pizzasavage

Contributor

1

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

Seems like we are similar on this thought...Does this imply that if asked you would decline-even if it was a cool start-up you liked?

funcoupons

WR Officer

6

👑

I would decline.

AlphaCharlie

Arsonist

9

Account executive

I have done one that was clearly a fake exercise, not sure if I would do a real one for free.

pizzasavage

Contributor

0

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

I do not know how to fake one..

funcoupons

WR Officer

5

👑

I think they mean that the company gave them a fake product/data to work with. This is the only way I’d do one, because it allows the company to see how I approach problem solving but they can’t use it for their own purposes.

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

7

Account Executive

Never did a case study for an interview before but I would be open to it for the right opportunity. I say trust your instincts and invest as much effort into pursuing any given opportunity as is commensurate with the value you believe can be extracted…

It doesnt sound like you’re super stoked about this opportunity and the red flags seem valid… However, depending on your situation and qualifications, maybe you have limited options…

If you’re really torn, why not leverage your sales skillset and have a brief follow-up with the hiring manager so that YOU can qualify/disqualify this opportunity and address your concerns?

I’ve started actively looking for a new opportunity for the last 2 weeks and one employer’s interview process has been so one-sided that I’m likely to turn it down if they decide to make an offer.

Know your worth!

pizzasavage

Contributor

2

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

Cleary you are a super sav, I mean this is a very thoughtful and helpful message you shared.

I am stoked about the opportunity-love the ppl and the SaaS product. I feel I would be more stoked if I knew the salary etc, before giving away my best tips.. and just like that I think I just answered my own questions... we have not discussed salary.. maybe they forgot lol. But if there's so much interest in me, why has this not been confirmed. I have already had to turn down 2 offers in 1 week, because of low ass salary and wack comm/bonuses.

Thank you again-truly appreciate everyone, here..

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

5

Account Executive

@pizzasavage I don’t want to be THAT guy but I see that you’re new to Bravado so, just a quick tip: It’s customary to upvote comments / posts that you like. 😉

pizzasavage

Contributor

2

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

I am embarrassed to say.. I can't seem to find the option for this...I have looked.. silly to ask you to tell me how to upvote lol? :)

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

4

Account Executive

@pizzasavage you see that little number next to each comment with an arrow pointing up on top and down underneath? Click the up-arrow to upvote.

pizzasavage

Contributor

1

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

Ha! Yahhh. Yes, got it now, thanks to you-super hidden button or maybe I am just slow..

SaaSMaster

Politicker

5

Strategic Partnerships Manager

Not sure about the case study itself but if there are already signs of the startup struggling big time before you get there, I’d probably steer clear of it

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

4

Account Executive

100% agree with @SaaSMaster on this.

pizzasavage

Contributor

1

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

@CadenceCombat thank you for sharing..

pizzasavage

Contributor

0

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

Good point.. I was thinking similar

funcoupons

WR Officer

5

👑

If I really wanted the opportunity and felt good about it up until that point I'd participate in a mock exercise only. If they wanted me to run a demo presentation to show off my skills, I'd be happy to do it about a topic of my choice - I would not be doing it about their product/service.

That said, I don't work for free and the ask needs to be reasonable. Spending 30 min putting something together? Sure. Hours? Ain't nobody got time for that.

pizzasavage

Contributor

1

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

Yes, I do not have time, true! But they are asking for the data and case on their product. Unfortunately, I think I might remove myself from the process.

funcoupons

WR Officer

3

👑

Go with your gut. It sounds like they’re trying to get your work and ideas for free with no promise that you’ll get anything from it.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

4

War Room Enthusiast

The mock sales call sounds resonable the rest does not.

pizzasavage

Contributor

1

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

Agreed, good feedback..

TheOverTaker

Politicker

1

Senior Account Executive

Never had to do a case study before. Have had to do work for companies before. When I was applying for Ad/Pr jobs my mock tweets and blogs seemed to magically appear later on

pizzasavage

Contributor

0

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

wow, that's pretty low.. What's with ppl these days. Geez.

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

I have done it and enjoyed doing it. I will refrain from doing it because though it takes time, the CS wasn't discussed at all during the other rounds.

pizzasavage

Contributor

0

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

I am sorry, can you explain this further..? I received another one today.. 4 now in under 2 weeks-this might be the new norm...

pizzasavage

Contributor

1

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

And I just received another "task' as part of another interview process at a startup.... helppppppppp

funcoupons

WR Officer

3

👑

What’s the task?

pizzasavage

Contributor

2

Account Executive, Partner/Client Success

I am sorry for my late reply! Thank you dearly for sharing this with us. I have actually decided to remove myself from the process due to very inefficient communication- which is a red flag for me.

If you are so interested in :hiring me: you would keep your word, they have lied too many times-"we promise to get back with you on the question in the morning, etc" then 5 days past.. I am just so over these faulty type of people. Going forward I will swipe left on this type of behavior.

funcoupons

WR Officer

1

👑

Good for you. I’d do the same thing.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

0

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Knowing your worth is a big part of success in this process.

And they are showing you just how disorganized they are.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

0

Retired Choirboy🪕

I would say no to that.

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