I've relocated from SF to NYC. I'm interviewing for new EAE gigs particularly in cloud-infra / AI infra companies. Is it a good idea to take up a job that works west coast accounts, even if I am physically in east coast? Is it a good idea for my longer term career? (assume I will stay in NY forever) Why should I take it? Why should I not take it?

scienceofsales

Enterprise Account Executive

Fire Starter

Contributor

East coast AE with West coast accounts - bad or good?

I've relocated from SF to NYC. I'm interviewing for new EAE gigs particularly in cloud-infra / AI infra companies.

Is it a good idea to take up a job that works west coast accounts, even if I am physically in east coast?
Is it a good idea for my longer term career? (assume I will stay in NY forever)
Why should I take it? Why should I not take it?

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16 comments

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FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

I have worked with west coast companies while in NYC, and it means that I have the pleasure to work both east coast and west coast hours. You will most likely do something similar, and your evenings will be shot. Travel to clients will also be a pain.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Exactly what I was thinking. It'll be easier to reach people early in the day, but you'll also likely have to work longer than you want given the 3 hour difference.

You may also be at a disadvantage to competitors who can just swing by. If there are few visits involved, you'll be okay, the timing of your work day will just reflect the reality of working the West Coast.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

is it a good idea? depends on what you want your life to look like.

1. If it was me, i would try to work west coast hours only. this would shift how your life works but could be for the best.

As a married dad of 2 it would be really hard but have some benefits since the morning could be all family.

2. i dont think this will effect your long term career. the results you get will.
3. I would take it if:
- you are high on the company - the product is top shelf- the pay is legit- you dont have to be traveling to the west coast more than 1x per month.

I wouldnt take it if: - it would destroy your family life - the pay is not good enough - you have to travel all the time. - you could get a job that is not focused on West coast.

scienceofsales

Fire Starter

Enterprise Account Executive

thanks! appreciate the perspective, since I have a 1 year old.
What do you consider legit pay for an EAE in infra sales these days?

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

i wouldnt be able to say since im not in that field. if look at RepVue and see if there is any data there

BigShrimpin

Politicker

Account executive

itll make your schedule shit so if you want to have a life not the best option

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

I’d agree if they said EMEA hours, but PST is not a big lift from EST.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Working 12-8 seems fine in a city that doesn’t come to life till later. You can also get a ton of shit done early in the day that is usually busy on weekends.

Space_Ghost20

Executive

Account Executive

When I was an SDR I worked for a company based in California and I was at the time living on the east coast. Most days I worked until 6 or 7 pm, sometimes later if I booked a demo or something. My "territory" was all of the US and Canada as we had a small SDR team and everything was split up by verticals (until people started quitting, and then I got more and more of the verticals).

In any case, the nice part was because I was 3 hours ahead of everyone else, I could work for 3-4 hours in the morning without getting pinged or asked to jump on an internal meeting or something else. There was a bliss in being able to work for hours in a row completely uninterrupted. Amazing how much outbound prospecting can get done when you're left alone.

SalesBeast

Politicker

Sales Leader

Shouldn’t really matter.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

As a rep on the West Coast with prospects in all US time zones, my experience is that you’ll work your own hours + theirs. As long as you don’t mind working until 7 or 8 pm depending on your customer preferences, it could work. But you most likely will be working more overall hours to span the two time zones.

scienceofsales

Fire Starter

Enterprise Account Executive

thanks - makes sense. Do you think its realistic to limit meetings to PST mornings, so I can be done at a reasonable time on EST afternoon?

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

If you have control over your schedule, yes, as much as you can. But I won’t turn down a call that (for me) is early hours if I’m working a prime account and it’s what they have available. I just do my best to limit those as best I can, and still get the work done. As you’re building your pipeline, you might find you have longer days - I have streaks where I’m working 10 hour (or more) days. Then others where I can take a breath and have shorter days. It’s manageable; you’ll just have to be a little flexible.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Can’t say what’s good for you or not good.

But working 3 times a week zones apart is difficult. You’ll have plenty of time in the AM to do prep but you’re losing some good hours in the PM.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Long days but easy mornigns to take care of admin stuff

Juancallclose

Catalyst

Director