Armageddon profile picture
Armageddon profile picture

Armageddon

Enterprise Account Executive

Opinionated
Executive
Valued Contributor
+6

Hire Internal or external?

Curious for some feedback here, specifically from up-market hiring managers:


Do you all prefer to promote ICs from within to fill a spot on your team or bring in someone from the outside?


I am going to be interviewing for a seat on our large strategic accounts team shortly and I know they are planning to open the rec to external applicants as well. I am the only internal candidate being considered for geo reasons. I have achieved Winners Club multiple times at the company, had a blow out first half of '23 and am a consistent top performer.. But I fear that there is a stigma out there that selling experience to the largest enterprises trumps guaranteed product knowledge, culture fit, and proven success running the companies playbook / selling to our ICP.


Am I being neurotic here or rightful to feel a bit threatened by external applicants?

๐Ÿ‘ฅ Hiring
10

22 comments

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FranchiseSalesQB
Politicker
4
Franchise Sales QB
Insane Clown Posse?
Armageddon
Opinionated
2
Enterprise Account Executive
haha, Ideal customer profile. But ive also been known to sling some faygo to Juggalos on the weekend
FranchiseSalesQB
Politicker
1
Franchise Sales QB
Yikes! I've always wanted to checkout a gathering.
oldcloser
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ’€
Instant Crap Pusher... I've campaigned on this.
HVACexpert
Politicker
4
sales engineer
I mean, from a total cost standpoint and company perspective it typical costs less for an internal promotion when you take training and onboarding costs into the equation. Hopefully they understand that. I would hope youโ€™re the favorite for the role
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
๐ŸฆŠ
If I were an internal employee with excellent stats and got passed up for a promotion for some external random...
oldcloser
Arsonist
3
๐Ÿ’€
Foxtruth. Yep
Armageddon
Opinionated
0
Enterprise Account Executive
lol, agreed!
Armageddon
Opinionated
2
Enterprise Account Executive
for sure, plus base pay is lower by about 20k for internal with the same quota. Don't even get me started on that..
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
๐ŸฆŠ
Heard ๐ŸฆŠ
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Happens far too often.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
1
President/CRO
Sadly it depends on who's in their ear. If they've got a giant number to hit and profits don't matter, they'll take a big swing at an outsider. It rarely works out in the long run but round and round they go.
Armageddon
Opinionated
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Agreed, appreciate the insight!
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Does the company have a culture of internal promotion or outside hiring? Of course they want to see who else is out there, especially with all the market shakeups. And they may want you, a proven performer, in your current position to guarantee performance.

I have , and always will, advocate that to move up you often need to move out.
Armageddon
Opinionated
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Definitely have a culture of internal promos, but agreed- there is a lot of talent in the market right now making it more competitive and I work for a very "in-demand" company. Will just need to play to the whistle and try to win the spot on merit!
oldcloser
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ’€
I think you're the leader in the clubhouse. Reason being, the variables that come with any new outside hire... and the general resistance to the brain damage of a bad candidate from the onboarding folks.

You're wise to understand the possible landmines that a seasoned and slick enterprise pro can drop in your path. But the nuances between MM and Strategic for you are few. Navigating bigger buying teams and an extra decimal won't be tough. Learning the whole damn product and the mic drop moments in the pitch? I don't care who you are, it takes 6 months to arrive at the mastery you've already got.

Fight for that role. Sounds like you've earned it to me.
Armageddon
Opinionated
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Appreciate the thoughtful response and insight, it definitely helps boost my confidence!
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
2
President/CRO
Look around your org and see how they've handled filling these types of roles in the past. That will tell you how they prioritize their candidates.

In my experience the companies that have no real career paths and little genuine culture will favor an outside hire with exp. These are typically the same companies with tons of funding and insane growth. They're burning cash like crazy and need someone "proven."
Armageddon
Opinionated
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Great insight. Thanks!
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
Hopefully you'll be considered as a better match for the role since you know the nature of the product and your company more than anyone else from the outside!
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Own your success, your knowledge of the value of what you sell, and your tenure. Managers LOVE reps who can "hit the ground running" - you can do that, make sure they know that.

External hires are brought in sometimes when they've worked with the managers before OR they have competitive knowledge the company wants to exploit OR they presumably have a contact list longer than their arm of DMs at desirable logos.

But honestly, in today's market, you're comparatively inexpensive: no onboarding cost, no training, presumably little ramp (if any). They should be lucky to have you!
AnchorPoint
Politicker
1
Business Coach
You need the best available fit for the role... if that is internal, Done. If not, look elsewhere.

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