Flooded Market

Hiring for an Account Executive role, there are a ton of AE's out there looking currently. Averaging over 800 resumes per day at this point for 4 days straight. We hired another AE about 1 year ago, and only received like 500 total resumes over weeks of searching. Major changes in the market currently.

๐Ÿ‘ฅ Hiring
21
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
13
โ˜•๏ธ
We know.

Now tell everyone what makes someone stand out in the pile of 800?
jefe
Arsonist
8
๐Ÿ
This is the key information..

Too many people here on the other side of it. Give us something interesting!!
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
3
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Iโ€™m surprised that I get so few direct follow-ups when posting. If you want a job, after you apply, follow up with a note to the hiring manager or someone else on the team to make an intro. Basic prospecting.
ExtremeVibeChecker44
Arsonist
1
Inside Sales
Every job I apply for now, I reach out to 5 people at the company via email / LinkedIn.
I at least get some replies even if they're still no's.
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
0
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Ugh, thatโ€™s a tough one
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
0
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Yup, it definitely helps
detectivegibbles
Politicker
7
Sales Director
Thanks for the insight...

How are your approaching picking the best candidate?
Phillip_J_Fry
Opinionated
10
Director of Revenue
I start by grabbing the stack of resumes and grabbing the top half of them (about 400) and throwing them all in the trash. After all, I wouldn't want to hire someone that is unlucky.
pirate
Big Shot
3
๐Ÿฆœโ˜ ๏ธ Account Executive
Lol because sales is all about luck, need Midas touch ๐Ÿคฃ
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
2
Account Executive
Reminds me of the guy who orders a flight of shots at the bar. Tosses the first one out because it always tastes terrible, then tosses the last one out because it always makes him throw up.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
This made me chuckle. Happy Monday to you as well.
HVACexpert
Politicker
1
sales engineer
Such a time saver too !
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
2
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Yeah, I have seen people do that. I also just randomly select apps to review and move along to interviews or decline as I review. Once I hit the number I need, I stop for the day/week. Same process ;)
detectivegibbles
Politicker
2
Sales Director
This was the only appropriate answer. A true candidate would be cold calling you anyway for the job.
Filth
Politicker
5
Live Filthy or Die Clean
In my opinion, being 1 out of 500 versus 1 out of 800 (0.2% versus 0.13% if my math is correct) doesn't seem that different to me or even statistically different enough to be "worse". I do know that it is flooded but certain positions for certain orgs will always be needle in haystacks opportunities, the key is to diversify and machinegun tactic. Apply everywhere and anywhere and if the name/want is big enough get surgical on the specific approach to that org.

UPDATE: I AM DUMB AND DIDNT NOTICE THE 500 PER DAY - leaving comment to ensure everyone knows I'm dumb. TY @unclespacejam !
unclespacejam
Politicker
6
ur dadโ€™s brother
Problem is the math is wrong here. They got 800 resumes a day โ€ฆ for 4 days. So youโ€™re 1/3200 so that makes the successful candidate 0.0003125%
oldcloser
Arsonist
4
๐Ÿ’€
The two of youโ€ฆ didnโ€™t even think to verify the control group. The JD said โ€œporntech sales, no experience necessary, $500k/yr, weโ€™ll get you prepared.โ€
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
4
โ˜•๏ธ
Youโ€™ll start as a fluffer, or what we consider an SDR, and before you know it youโ€™re an oil boy.
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
4
Account Executive
You know, back in 2020 I actually did interview with a company (unbeknownst to me at the time) where the hiring manager told me their key target industry was the adult film industry. I didn't go far enough in the interview process to know whether there were site visits required as part of the sales cycle or not, so you never know.
Filth
Politicker
3
Live Filthy or Die Clean
You are 100% correct @unclespacejam I def missed the per day detail...I'm stupid I'm sorry.
Filth
Politicker
3
Live Filthy or Die Clean
@poweredbycaffeine or a lube dude
Filth
Politicker
4
Live Filthy or Die Clean
One of my clients that makes/distributes foam apparently has a huge random subsidiary that just makes soundproofing equipment that almost specifically is used by the Adult Film production houses. He has no idea why or what makes their foam better than other options or specifically for porn and not for other films but it's a funny random point when I'm asking: OK what does dept X do? and he just starts laughing.
oldcloser
Arsonist
3
๐Ÿ’€
They're a sprayer in the porn industry. Saucy.
HVACexpert
Politicker
3
sales engineer
Maybe itโ€™s easy to clean? ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿผโ€โ™‚๏ธ
Filth
Politicker
3
Live Filthy or Die Clean
this may be the key lol
unclespacejam
Politicker
4
ur dadโ€™s brother
Donโ€™t you be talkin like that. Simple mistake dog.

Remember ur daily affirmations:
U is smart
U is kind
U is beautiful
Filth
Politicker
3
Live Filthy or Die Clean
Thanks Unc. U is the man.
oldcloser
Arsonist
4
๐Ÿ’€
totes. him be
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
This is something we're all interested in. As in, the balance has clearly shifted to the companies. In this flood of applications, what makes one stand out to you? How on earth are you downselecting?
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
๐ŸฆŠ
A follow up would be nice ๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿฟ
TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
thats a ton, do you think this is good? Bad? i feel like id want to make the requirements a bit more specific. how do you sift through that many resumes?
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
How do you choose who to downselect to?
SPT
Valued Contributor
2
Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances
I have a friend who is a very senior level General Manager at Microsoft. He has been there 10 years. He cannot help me get a job. He cannot get any of his friends or former colleagues jobs. He said they get an average of 1,500 outside applications per job. Not including all the internal applicants. It's a shit show.
SalesBeast
Politicker
0
Sales Leader
Thatโ€™s wild. One would think having a referral would go a long way. Crazy times these days.
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
My brother referred me to an AE job at the company he works at. I didn't even get a phone screen. He also got me in touch with the CEO at his old company, and while I did exchange messages with him, I also didn't get a phone screen.
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
3200 resumes in 4 days?!?!
SalesBeast
Politicker
1
Sales Leader
3,200 resumes in 4 days. Holy shhhhhhhhhhitt son.
Thatโ€™s wild. How does one even start to narrow that down!?!
LambyCorn
Arsonist
0
A mfkn E
jeez...didn't know the market was this screwed. Who can we blame it on? The president? The federal reserve? A foreign country? Ai?! Anyone but ourselves has to take the blame, god damnit
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Cheap credit combined with low savings rate is a recipe for boom-bust cycles.
bareknuckles
Valued Contributor
0
CEO of my kitchen table
Same state of play in AU market. Seems to be consistent globally.
Titanic
Opinionated
0
Senior VP - Sales
Dangle the carrot ๐Ÿฅ•
Ziarre
Contributor
0
Business Dev Manager
Sorry for the lack of follow up! I didn't expect this post to do anything. I have sense closed the position on LinkedIn and been sifting through resumes. For those asking for what has made someone(s) stand out, a few points, so far.
A select few applicants are treating the interview process, including getting my attention beyond just sending a resume, identical to a sales process. Tactful follow up, value driven messaging and touch points, personalized email/text and even video's.
Were also just being more selective than before. We are a Product Development company, so we sell software development services on longer term running product teams in the SaaS space. Before, we would have been accepting of resumes and profiles of individuals who just sold SaaS in the past, but now, with an influx of resumes, were looking specifically for someone who has sold Software development as a services, not just a SaaS product.
Ill try to update more here as we work through the interview process.
6

HOW IS SAAS HIRING MARKET RIGHT NOW ?!

Question
12
5

Bad market

Question
23
16

How to Stand out in an increasingly saturated market

Discussion
22