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Avon

Senior Account Executive

Politicker
Executive
Catalyst
+7

How bad is the job market for sales really right now?

I just hit my 2 year mark which was a milestone I wanted to hit, and my plan to start looking for jobs now. But Im not seeing a ton of jobs that intrigue me. The ones I do see have over 100 applicants on LinkedIn. My company isnt run great, leadership keeps bailing and that concerns me. But the work life balance we have is pretty great. Im not making a killing but should clear around 130-150 this year which certainly isnt bad. My manager isnt my favorite but Ive definitely had much worse. Part of me is getting complacent due to a perceived shitty job market.


Is it not as bad as it seems? Or is it pretty shitty and I should just hold on a little longer and build tenure?

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48 comments

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Gyro25
Notorious Answer
28
Account Executive
I just got hired last month and I'm still applying. If there's anything this past two years has taught me it's this:

1.) Your boss/manager is not your friend(You may be cool, but he's not your "friend" you open up to)

2.) Company loyalty is a myth(See number of layoffs and people who were considered "essential" and are now treated rather poorly.

3.) You really are just a number(This was hard to admit because I learned a hard lesson from the first point)

I think it's going to be shitty for a while, but that just means there's going to be some opportunities other people won't capitalize on. That's where you come in. Don't deny yourself the possibility of a better opportunity due to some sense of "loyalty". I had to get burned to learn that lesson.

I'm interviewing for an Enterprise role even though I've never been in an Enterprise role, but as BTQ says, always be applying.
Diablo
Politicker
16
Sr. AE
Point 2 100%. Don’t love your company, your company might stop loving you tomorrow
0
Thx
0
thx
SPT
Valued Contributor
3
Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances
Point #1 👆 I've been "friends" with my manager for the past 10 years, at 3 startups. When I shared some personal information about a close family member being hospitalized for a few months, he took my best Account away from me. Now he's looking to fire me. They are *never* your "friend." Find other friends.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
facts
1
Talent Acquisition Partner
As someone who was in recruiting for 4 years looking to transition to sales, I can confirm 1, 2, 3 are all very accurate.

I was laid off 2 weeks ago (my second layoff in a year) and my team along with others who were laid never were contacted by their team. My company apparently told managers not to speak to their laid off team members.

I was part of my company's second layoff, but during the first one it was due to an acquisition we no longer needed some of their team, underperformers, and business units being enhanced to no longer need certain roles.

Point 3 touches exactly that you'll always be a number and business is purely business. At the end of the day it's about the C-Suite executive team and the investor's pockets unfortunately.

Just my two cents coming from recruiting and wanting to leave into sales.
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
Spot on
0
Enterprise Account Executive
2 and 3 are 100% accurate.
0
Agree
0
Test
0
test
0
test
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
0
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
Lessons to live by ! Thank you.
BTQ
Politicker
13
Account Manager
Always be applying
RandyLahey
Politicker
6
Account Executive
Always be interviewing too...
Hifiwifi
Executive
1
Account Executive
Always be updating
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
9
Account Executive
Without a warm intro/referral, it's incredibly difficult to get interviews unless your resume is really good. I don't mean just written well, I mean you've worked at well respected places and have good tenure at most/all of your jobs.

I was laid off last year and best job I've gotten is my current one, which is a SMB AE making $50k base, $75k OTE. Down from $75k/$150k at my last place. I'm still applying for jobs, but I haven't been in tech long enough to have a good network to prospect into for referrals. I'm sure only being in my current job for 6 months doesn't make me any more attractive to hiring managers.

I say it doesn't hurt to apply and see what's out there. But just don't get too excited.
oldcloser
Arsonist
7
💀
☝️☝️☝️ If I were to receive my resume in a job application, I wouldn’t interview me either. There are lots of MBA sales types that look really good on paper circulating currently.

Even still- I send. I always send.
SPT
Valued Contributor
1
Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances
Those damn MBAs! Ugh!
Justatitle
Big Shot
9
Account Executive
Never get comfortable at any job and additionally be realistic. 130-150 isn't terrible for the bloodbath that has been tech sales for the past ~6 months. I don't say this to scare you but your org could literally decide today that they want to do a RIF of 10%, it's reality. Apply, interview elsewhere be genuine, and talk to the reps at those other companies to ask what it's like to be there. Trust your gut and only go if it feels right. Rarely will that steer you wrong.
punishedlad
Tycoon
6
Business Development Team Lead
Better to be looking and not need it! Everyone I know who is involuntarily on the market right now is having a hard time.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
5
Account Executive
Always apply but know it's a grind to find something new. It took me about 5 months to find a new role and that was including 150+ applications, and quite a few final round rejections.
MoreCompassion
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
Oh. That does seem hard.
Pachacuti
Politicker
5
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
It never hurts to see what’s out there but you have it pretty good right now too.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Especially the work/life balance statement.
Pachacuti
Politicker
4
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Yah. Very easy to land at a place where he makes the same but has to put in 2-3x hours with higher stress.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Stomach ulcers are real folks.
0
Facts
Diablo
Politicker
4
Sr. AE
Keep the flow going..
YoursTruly
Politicker
3
Account Executive (SaaS)
It’s easier to get a job when you have a job. Apply and keep your mouth shut about it.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
2
War Room Community Manager
start here @Rajan- https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/who-s-hiring-aes-6-13-23
0
thx
SPT
Valued Contributor
0
Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances
@Gasty Where is the latest list please? Thanks!
countingmyinterest
Politicker
2
Account Executive
It's fucking shitty. I got let go from my last gig couple months ago, still looking for work.

Have some contract work and commission only stuff I'm doing. My last few jobs I found within a 4-8 weeks easy with pay increase.

Now, companies are cutting costs and fundraising is hard.
SaaSsy
Politicker
0
AE
On my mind as well 🍿
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Keep on seeking jobs and applying!
JUST...
HoddyBomb
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
Always a believer in looking for new work here and there. Job market is hottest statistically in August - January and March. June and July normally are slow due to vacations etc. I’d 100% look if I were you but just take your time. Grass isn’t always greener
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
0
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
My company just put out offers for 2 AEs. But it is weird - lots of higher level/experienced positions open for those with management experience.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Shake and bake, baby!!!!
0
Thx
0
Thx
sora
Opinionated
0
RevOps Automation Consultant
My last org I had a feeling they wanted to trim some of that fat in the sales org. (Always trust your gut feeling) so immediately went on a short term disability leave for 4 months and kept applying at jobs and when I finally had to return I got let go next week but little did they know I had already a great offer I accepted and started two weeks after being let go… would have been screwed big time if I didn’t do that
0
Account Executive
I was laid off October 18, 2022 and finally received a job offer on July 1st, 2023. This job market is HORRIBLE
0
https://t.me/+R-y5u9BQLss0Y2U0
AnchorPoint
Politicker
-2
Business Coach
The market is ALWAYS good for serious sales professionals.
countingmyinterest
Politicker
7
Account Executive
I would argue this point
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
0
Account Executive
Samesies. This is just not true.

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