ColdCallPro profile picture
ColdCallPro profile picture

ColdCallPro

Account Executive

Valued Contributor
Opinionated
Fire Starter
+2

Big tech layoffs. What to do next?

Working in tech sales just doesn't feel safe these days. 

Whether you are in big tech, startups or something in between. 

Curious where others are looking during this current economy. 

Stay in tech?
Move into medical sales?
Security?
Finance?
Something totally different? 

Open my mind!
🧠 Advice
👀 job search
☁️ Software Tech
25

32 comments

Sort by:
Sunbunny31
Politicker
10
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Staying where I am. I don't just flee unless I have a good reason. Uncertainty isn't enough of a reason.

Most of the time, keeping your head down and working hard is the best thing to do rather than get caught up emotionally in what can seem like doom & gloom.
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
2
Rolling 20's all day
Same. I'll trust the devil I know for now rather than the devil I don't. When markets get better in the future I'll look around a bit harder. But why put myself under extra stress when the rewards aren't worth it considering the circumstances?
Sunbunny31
Politicker
6
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Right? Jumping ship when nothing tangible has happened makes no sense in my situation. Do I work for a tech company? Yes. Did they overhire and are they underfunded? Not really and no. Is my performance in question? No. Do I like my job? Yes.

Staying put for now makes absolutely the most sense.
ChumpChange
Politicker
0
Channel Manager
^ Sound advice here. Don't let emotions cloud your judgment. Stay the course... bust your ass and keep pushing till you get to where you want to go. The market has changed but the process never does.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
Medical sales is pretty fun...
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
2
sales
Healthcare is recession proof. I’ve sold $2.1M this year.
slaydie
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
Do you have some companies you recommend looking into? I'm curious to learn more about medical sales.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
I've been thinking about getting back into it 🤷‍♀️
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
Great question 👀🍿
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
2
sales
Get into the implant game. Surgeons need hardware. That’s where the money is at for reps.
tierra
Contributor
1
Director of Revenue Operations
Agreed on all of this, but good luck getting into the implant game. Better luck being a pharma rep. @CuriousFox - there are a ton of pre-seed / series A med device startups that are constantly looking for reps. They tend to turn to 1099 with strong territory connections, but I have come across a few more tech driven startups that are favoring newer names in the space.
ColdCallPro
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
This is an area I have been interested in but struggle sometimes to identify what an equivalent role would be for my skill level in medical sales. Currently have 3 years of SaaS sales. Been at two different companies and have been consistently the top AE. Selling an average deal size of 30k, but have sold 100k+. Do you have suggestions of titles to keep my eye out for?
braintank
Politicker
4
Enterprise Account Executive
Just don’t be in the bottom 20%
GreyButNotOld
Good Citizen
3
Director
23 Years Ago, I needed a change from "non-solution" selling and quota's being changed quarterly to manage earnings to a predictable income based on my performance.

Software or Medical Device Sales were my choices, as I wanted uncapped earning potential.

If I could handle being in a surgical room, I would have chosen Medical Device Sales.

I have seen many ups and downs in my software sales career. I have made a boatload of money in some years and have had some suck ass years of earnings (<225k).

One consistent that I have noticed over the past ten years is:

1. Companies care less and less about sales talent. They feel that we are easily replaced. Eventually, if the right work is being performed across a territory, someone will be "in the right place at the right time."

2. Companies will lie to you to get you on board, only to lose top talent when the truth is found.

3. More and more companies struggle to "payout" on windfall or HUGE deal wins. They will find a way to screw you rather than reward you fully for the hard work.

4. The executive teams don't understand that it takes time to build a business. They think their product sells itself and should be flying off the shelves.

5. Marketing teams do not understand how to sell. Salespeople fix problems; marketing people sell products. There is a HUGE difference.

IMO, If you can find a gig that addresses these issues, you have hit a gold mine!
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
2
Rolling 20's all day
Do what you can, build your network, and show perseverance which is important for sales anyways.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
Maybe its the optimist in me, but I am staying in tech
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I went through the dotcom crash - and got back into tech.

And it was better and stronger than it had been.
Nairobi
Politicker
2
AE
Staying in tech. It will rebound, it always does
kohlvemo
Executive
2
Account Executive
I've been looking in Climate Tech, lots of companies still receiving funding and they need good people!
BlueJays2591
Politicker
1
Federal Business Dev Director
I dont think anywhere is safe
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
1
Bravado's Resident Asshole
I think this sums up how things are today.
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
All industry is unpredictable- I would stick to where I am for now. Let’s see what is in store!
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
1
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
Stay put. Focus on building skillset and setting up foundation stronger. But also be prepared for whatever is to come.
Things happen, we'll bounce back.

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.
LordOfWar
Tycoon
1
Blow it up
Medical sales is TOUGH, lots of entrenchment and unseating incumbents is nearly impossible. I do not recommend moving into it if you are comfortable where you are.

Tech is so encompassing, whether it be cyber security, IT, SaaS, Social...I don't think one doom cycle can kill it all.
Blue_Turtle
Opinionated
1
sdr
I’m going to keep working hard where I am daily, but I’m also open to other opportunities. Why would I not be? Besides, I’d think most of the layoffs are just the result of over hiring for a temporary increase in demand at those companies. Covid was an outlier, not a new norm for most of these tech firms.
kitchennightmares
Contributor
1
Line Cook
It's funny that I'm trying to enter tech sales now.

A lot of life is timing, I'm just tired of cooking foood all the time. Besides if I enter now, I'll especially kill it when we're in good times.
goldengoal
1
Director Sales Engineers
Are businesses becoming more reliant on technology or less?
ChumpChange
Politicker
1
Channel Manager
Tech isn't in a downward spiral like the media is presenting. It's just correcting itself to the post-pandemic reality. The days of HYPER GROWTH are over and companies are coming around to this. IMO I would still be in tech solely because of the opportunities.
commissionaccomplished
Good Citizen
1
VP Sales and Account Management
I would stay in tech. Find a way to be successful and in a down turn it will accelerate your career.
RelationshipMaker
Opinionated
1
Head of Sales
I'd take the medium term into consideration. Where do you want to be in 5yrs/10yrs? What experience do you need to get there? What qualifications do you need?

In terms of what to do now, I'd start conversations with all good recruiters, chat with the competition, speak with talent scouts in aligned industries. Network your butt off during this time.
Pachacuti
Politicker
0
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Tech sales have never been safe.
Jaed
Executive
0
Inside Sales Rep
I found myself in CCTV sales. Tech is still involved, but hardware.

Related posts

2

What is the next big thing in sales?

Question
🏡
🚀
🏙
12
Will there be a "next big thing" in sales?
77% yes
23% no
26 people voted
6

Breaking into Big Tech

Question
🧠
👥
☁️
7
10

Tech Layoffs

Question
☂️
☁️
16
Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.
Apple Store logo
Products
The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U
Company
About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty
Contact
Press Careers
© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs
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.