SalesHungry

Sales Manager

Applying to leadership and IC roles at the same time (not at same company)

I'm starting to look for new roles after a sabbatical, and I'm open to both leadership and IC roles. Does it look bad that I'm open to both or should I stick to one path?

For context, I've been a sales manager for the past 3 years. I've always started as an IC whenever I've joined a new company, but have always proved myself and have naturally been promoted into leadership.

🗣 Interviewing

12 comments

Sort by:

SaaSguy

Tycoon

Account Executive

Look bad to who? Are you applying to both roles at the same organization?
If you have both experiences it wont "look bad" - just explain you've had success in both roles and talk through it.
The sabbatical probably looks worse to companies on paper, depending how long it was.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

☝️ This. Nada mas.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

You nailed it. I love seeing good advise. You miss all of the shots you don’t take. Find the best fit and sometimes ICs make more than leadership.

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Doesn’t matter which one you pursue especially if you have experience in both

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Doesn't matter. Do what you want. Fuck the man.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

No second opinion - as far as you have exp and can speak in depth about your role during your interview.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

All good to apply to both - nobody will know.
You might want to tailor resumes to each goal, though. Keep your LinkedIn neutral.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Open to both, apply where you feel you'll fit in, regardless of which role it is. Good luck!

GDO

Politicker

BDM

You can apply for both and weigh the offers. Just use a tailored cv

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Chase the $$. That's what I do. Sometimes being a leader = more $$, sometimes being an IC=more $$.

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

Strategic Sales

I have played both roles too and here is how I would approach it. If I still have chops to be IC, why would I want to be on leadership role? There are very few leadership roles there that add value to career without adding risk of stagnation and middle manager’s ops grind. Most managerial roles are manufactured to offload reporting responsibility and ops.

On the sprit of trying, I agree that you miss the shots you didn’t take, so I am not suggesting to close doors on it, but having a hard look at what I want in leadership role will help you segment and attract the right ones.

I can guarantee, there are just the companies you should only take IC role (because you don’t want to waste your time in corporate in-efficiency ) and then there are companies where you are right fit to drive the ship in meaningful way and have path to showcase leadership outcomes without the middle management grind.

ASalesCoach

National Director of Sales

I have been a player coach for the last 13 years, and much more heavily doing both over the last 6. What a hiring manager might be concerned about is if you really want to be an IC or if you are looking for a leadership role but willing to take the IC while still looking. to turn that around into a positive, I would go in with the honest attitude that you want to be an IC, but have the skills and experience to be in a leadership support role. in other words, you are willing to be a team player and help the hiring manager as the experienced leader on the sales team. Sell you value to the team that you can bring.
You will have to be upfront with the hiring manager about your desires as an IC vs. leadership role. that is the elephant in the room and the blocker you must get through.
good luck. hope this helps

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.

SalesHungry

Applying to leadership and IC roles at the same time (not at same company)

12 comments

Related posts

Take mgmt promotion or outside EAE offer

I Quit Sales Leadership for an IC Role

Shifting from an IC to management/leadership position