pirate

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Arrogant SE 😤

SE= solutions engineer/ sales engineer

Went to ask SE for advice on a deal. He asked if I knew my predecessor. Irrelevant I thought but said yes. He spent the next 10 minutes talking about how my predecessor bought him a really fine bottle of bourbon when he helped my predecessor to close a deal. No relevant help for my deal and went to find a different SE.

Asked arrogant SE later to help with the same customer where he closed the deal and he said ask product, didn't give me names and didn't join the call or introduce me to anyone or detail down what he knew about the customer. I even asked for a handover email. Product and me had to do it from scratch and customer kept asking where's SE X, why couldn't he join, has something happened...

Another time — I went to where he sits, asked for help. He said he's busy and ignored me and then was caught chatting with coworkers. His manager was like hey look they've been waiting for a bit now, could you please come down and help. I was pissed.

Then I was talking about 3 different customers that all have potential for a new product Z. I said yes look the first one I have low confidence in but the second could be a gold mine. SE completely ignored me and started talking about how low maturity my first customer had and how he had so and so many customers with someone else and they're doing it right and how it's so good and what he did. After a few minutes, I was like yeah so you talked about first customer and I was talking about the goldmine possibility. He was like oh okay thought they were the same.

He recently went on a business trip to another country and he was so full of criticism about the food and customs. Which adds to my fume because I already dislike him.

And now it seems this dude's getting promoted??

Rest of the SEs are sweet wonderful angels except for this wolf in sheep's clothing and with red horns. And I know I need SE to close deals... Just not him thank you very much.

Anyone dealt with difficult SEs? Have I just been lucky I've not encountered this before?

😀 Sales Engineer

12

26 comments

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Pachacuti

Politicker

7

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Take it to your manager. That's about all you can do. DO NOT talk badly though about him - he obviously has a godfather of sorts protecting him.

GDO

Politicker

2

BDM

yeah don t badmouth. giv feedback to SM

pirate

Big Shot

2

🦜☠️ Account Executive

I shall plan my next move.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

5

🦊

Bring him a little treat of bran muffins and apple juice.

jefe

Arsonist

4

🍁

LMAO NOT BRAN!! THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF THE MUFFINS.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

You picked up what I was putting down 😏

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

Such a pointless breakfast item..

I'm sure this SE would be putting a little something down himself after consuming these abominations 💩

pirate

Big Shot

1

🦜☠️ Account Executive

I'll get him a big juice carton and tape expensive alcohol over it hehe

1

Retired Sales Professional

🤣😂🤣

butwhy

Politicker

3

Solutions Engineer

Sigh, these dudes always get promoted because for some reason that kind of shit attitude is correlated with being more "technical." I have never understood it, but have had it on my team numerous times.

Agreed with Pachacuti, do NOT shit talk him, but maybe check out the other SEs to see if there are some with just enough knowledge that you could bring into your deals. With extra guardrails, good learning experience and chance to elevate non-shitty people in the org. Also keep everything in writing with this dude - the part of the story you want to bring to the manager is if he is skipping customer meetings regularly. That is hard evidence that can give you leverage.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Yes, skipping client meetings is not acceptable. Also arriving unprepared. Those are detrimental to the business itself, and should be taken very seriously.

pirate

Big Shot

1

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Wow! I'm glad to hear it's not just me but annoyed that others like him exist...
That's solid advice thank you. Documenting everything seems to be the key to succeed.

BTQ

Politicker

2

Account Manager

What a dweeb that is frustrating...that said I would love to be an SE.

butwhy

Politicker

1

Solutions Engineer

Nothing stopping you, I always say SDRs make the best SEs because they have hustle and are unafraid to break shit.

pirate

Big Shot

0

🦜☠️ Account Executive

There's SDRs who are solution engineers in your org? Would you not need a different degree? @butwhy

butwhy

Politicker

2

Solutions Engineer

Nope - I have an arts degree and I was an SE for over a decade. Multiple startups I worked at had SDRs turned SEs - all you need is product knowledge and ability to lead discovery. Those can be learned without degrees.

pirate

Big Shot

0

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Nice! That's pretty cool

pirate

Big Shot

1

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Would be kind of cool to be SE! Reap the praise. But I'd miss commission too much.

Phillip_J_Fry

Opinionated

2

Director of Revenue

Have had a few of these in my time. Usually the other reps felt similarly about them, and we all collectively avoided booking them. Unless this guy is a tech god, lean on those that you have good relationships with.

1

Retired Sales Professional

👍👍

2

Retired Sales Professional

Surround yourself with like minded people! Don't bother with individuals like that, but don't throw jabs in return. You got this.

pirate

Big Shot

0

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Don't throw jabs or just throw them without getting caught is the question. Thanks!

1

Retired Sales Professional

🤣👍👍

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Difficult SEs, yes. Not impossible, like this dude sounds.
If you can avoid, do. And if he's getting promoted, may it be to a different division away from you!

pirate

Big Shot

1

🦜☠️ Account Executive

May he be well... In hell.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

My guess is to find out why people like that person, see if they can actually help you. And find if there are ways to wokr better with them

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