Coastal_crusher

Sales Director

Canadians: Selling into US?

While considering territories on my job hunt I'm strongly hoping to find something that includes US territory. Namely because its a much larger market and easier to hit quota if it's in USD

A lot of recruiters/teams, even small ones don't seem to want to hire someone out of Canada, or prefer they stick to only Canada if that. It's a bummer since for example if I'm in Toronto NYC is much closer and lucrative than Winnipeg lol

Curious to know what others international/cross country selling experience has been like?

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

@LordOfWar

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

Thanks for the tag Foxy :)

Recruiters are dumb and don't know the first thing about selling or running cross-border sales, so don't get disheartened. If the company is hiring both US and Canada-based reps then I can see them dividing territories that way, but once you're in you can always request a transfer.

You can also try reaching out to companies directly that you know are selling into the US and tell them you're interested. Without some good experience selling the US though they are likely to keep you focused on "local"

Your quota will likely be adjusted based on FX tho, so its not as easy as getting a free 30% thanks to the US dollar. If anything, the larger market will mean a larger quota, at least that is how it works here.

Coastal_crusher

Politicker

Sales Director

Some good stuff to think about @LordOfWar - huge thanks for all the insight you’ve given me/us recently 🙏🏽

Yeah I’ve heavily been trying to ‘prospect’ my way into these companies - esp since I’m trying to get into something that excites me

Funny enough my past two gigs didn’t translate FX - same USD quota if you’re in SF or Toronto. 😒 That hurt but at least I know to flag it now lol

SADNES5

Politicker

down voters are marketing spies

After a year you can ask for L1 visa to transfer to USA. @Coastal_crusher

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

I've sold to the US from Canada, but always at a Canadian company. Look for organizations with all its employees here.

Coastal_crusher

Politicker

Sales Director

Thanks boss! Just curious would to take selling into Canada over the US or vice versa?

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

I never had any issues. Did a bunch of travel down the the Midwest. Americans tend to make decisions faster and are generally more willing to try something new

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I sell to the US as well. We don’t have any reps there. USA is the biggest market for us in North America.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

^^ Diablo proving it can be done!

Coastal_crusher

Politicker

Sales Director

Legendary! And yeah much bigger pie fosho

Maximas

Tycoon

-1

Senior Sales Executive

Yup.

sketchysales

Politicker

Sales Manager

I am Canada based and I primarily sell into the US and we are a 100% Canadian company. The market is a lot bigger and more lucrative in the US but for me it means a shit ton of travelling but I dont mind that so much.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

If you're getting the deals done and the travel is on someone else's dime, why not?

What are you selling?

Epad

Executive

Snr Business Development Executive

I sell to the US for a European company, living in Canada. Haven't really even dipped into Canadian market yet

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

And another example of how it can be done!

slaydie

Big Shot

Account Executive

I work for American companies and sell into the US despite living in Canada. Its worked well for me as like you said, there is a much larger market. I personally would never work for a company where my territory was only Canada.

Coastal_crusher

Politicker

Sales Director

True say - they generally have a bigger budget and like @jefe said US are much quicker to make decisions

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I'd say you're much more likely to get Canadian territories when you're in Canada, because a US company, if they cover Canada, will either have a rep already in the country or expand a rep from PNW up into BC and Alberta, for example. When I did PNW + BC and Alberta, the lions share of my sales were in the US. Once they hired a Sales Manager who lived in Canada, the territories were separated by country, and our company was thrilled to have local reps who could focus on the geo.

That said, it's not impossible to get that job, you just might have to be that much more persuasive.

Coastal_crusher

Politicker

Sales Director

For sure!! Just to clarify I’ve sold into the US before but like you said those opps are far/few in between. Gotta be on your A game and sell yourself!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Well, we have at least two savages here proving it can be done. I had worked for a large US based global company, and for a while Canada was an afterthought. But it definitely can be done!

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

I guess recruiters are considering the background for a better awareness of the targeted customers, apparently they assume that being in the same country would let you have the upper hand to deal with people at the same state for better knowing their customs and traditions.

And I guess the preference still continues to hire people from the same city rather than applicants in the same country with a different region.

It's stupid I know but it could be the case with you though .

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Coastal_crusher

Canadians: Selling into US?

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