Got laid off in Jan and still cannot find a job

Got laid off from a SaaS company after 3.25 years with less than 2 years in AE role (was an Ops before pivot) and no promotion. How am I supposed to pitch myself?

💆‍♂ Mindset
☂️ Layoffs
15
Diablo
Politicker
3
Sr. AE
When you say you cannot find any job, are you being invited for an interview or your resume is not being picked up after applying? I assume it’s the former as you’re asking about positioning but just want to make sure so you get the relevant suggestions from savages here.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
^^^ where you are getting stuck is going to be helpful.
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
3
Account Executive
Yeah, I mean it's a rough market. I was laid off back in the fall and I've been interviewing with different companies but the only I've gotten was an entry level type AE role making significantly less than the job I was laid off from. I took it against my better judgement, but if I hadn't I'd still be unemployed, so in hindsight it was a good choice. And now that I'm hearing more and more about an economic collapse coming, I'm kind of reluctant to even entertain another job for fear of being laid off. Better to be making my $75k OTE for a year or two vs taking a $80-100k base, $150-200k OTE job and being laid off again in 6-12 months.

Anyway, I don't have any advice to give. Just know you're not the only one struggling.
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
0
Account Executive
You gotta do what you gotta do.
playTimeOn
Fire Starter
0
happilyUnemployed
Thanks a lot for sharing your story buddy i totally feel you. It will be better.
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
1
Sales Executive
You might want to explain that during your time off you were investing some time into learning new skills so that you could position yourself better in the market. I'd be prepared to explain how this time off added value-- either for you or to a potential employer-- or both. Having that much time off is a bit of a red flag unless you did it intentionally. Just some thoughts.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
@WheelofCheeseWhy do people consider this a red flag? I once took a few months vacation because a contract ended and was supposed to renew. Once they told me it was not being re-hired, I applied for roles, got hired.

Covid screwed a lot of people for a year or longer.

Lots of people are being laid off after 6 - 8 months, along with VP's and etc.

What exactly is considered the red flag? Getting a job has become consistently harder and harder since 2007. While salaries stay stagnant for many. Benefits erode. Etc, etc etc.
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
0
Sales Executive
I wasn’t implying there are any red flags. I’m saying regardless of others viewpoints, you do you! Sounds like you are a seasoned sales professional. You’re in a great spot to succeed in a long sales cycle environment.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
But you said "Having that much time off is a bit of a red flag unless you did it intentionally."

Why do you say that?
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
0
Sales Executive
I think I’m getting two different posts confused. My apologies! Getting back to YOUR post, some employers may think a large gap in employment is a red flag. I’d just be prepared to explain WHY there was a gap. You will undoubtedly be asked. You just need to spin it in a positive direction. It’s not a deal breaker. I personally had a gap in employment and explained the reasons why. I still got hired.
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
0
Sales Executive
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
0
Sales Executive
I posted an article that can help circumvent any issues (see below) but to better clarify what type of red flag might be brewing in an interviewer's mind-- it can be anything from "was this person a valued employee?", "were they fired for poor performance?" "are they having a hard time landing a job-- and if so, why?" etc.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
1
President/CRO
What do you bring to the table? That’s what you pitch. Be able to explain what happened in past roles but I want to know what you’ve learned from those experiences and how you’re going to help my company now.
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
1
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
It’s hard out there. I would try SDR/BDR roles to hold you over. Or try a fractional AE role while you look.
pirate
Big Shot
0
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Maybe change your mindset? Tell about the things you did and what you learned. I don't have the longest job history but I say I'm a problem solver and give examples
punishedlad
Tycoon
0
🧙‍♂️
Would you be willing to share your resume? (personal identifiables omitted)
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
0
Account Executive
If you haven't already, I'd use LI to in mail some of the hiring managers from the companies you're looking to apply.

Also, I would reach out to leadership at your old company and ask for a referral. That's how I recently got an offer for AE role that I accepted last week.

But also, realize it's a brutal market, but you need ways to separate yourself from the rest.
FoodForSales
Politicker
0
AE
focus on any acheivements you had
RelationshipMaker
Opinionated
0
Head of Sales
What do you want to do in terms of a job? What are the skills and attributes of a person in that role? What inspires you to be better? In the two years as an AE, what were your successes, what did you that made it all work?
Answer those questions and there’s your pitch.
You’re good at what you do and you need to believe that. I wish you the best.
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
You must have bright points in your job history,so pitch the best of it and talk those good numbers you made in any interview!
playTimeOn
Fire Starter
0
happilyUnemployed
Thanks for all the warmhearted support and advises here. It means a lot. This laid off deeply traumatised me and took my confidence. I often times think myself incompetent in the market and that could be a huge problem as I reckon.

Gotta groom my experience again and come into the market with a better positioning.
playTimeOn
Fire Starter
0
happilyUnemployed
Best wishes to all of you who suffered the layoff too. We will be back 💪🏻
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
Start reaching out to your network to see if you can get reffered to vetted companies after talking about the day to day at the company

Where are you stalling in getting an offer? Not getting the recruiter, you need to fix the resume? Not moving on during the HR interview, are you saying any red flags that you might not know of? Hiring Manager interview, how are you answering behavior questions or past performance
24
Members only

Got laid off, now what?

Question
34
22
Members only

Just got laid off

Advice
18
17

Just got laid off

Discussion
16