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MoreCompassion

Account Executive

Opinionated
Executive
Contributor
+4

How much does caring about the solution matter?

Hello! I am working on my job search and am creating the ICPs for the companies I want to apply for. Here are the criteria I am thinking:

  1. Good sales culture: I am looking at Glassdoor and reaching out to ex AEs to get feedback on sales culture if Glassdoor > 4.2. If ex employees don't have good things to say, I am decreasing priority for those.
  2. High Growth: Raised in the last year or have a good rev growth in the last year. I try to see if the business has a strong VC or an experienced founder/advisors from the field to make sure this business is fixing the issue in the best way.
  3. Size: <500 employees. I know I function well in less structured multiple hats fast moving orgs so looking at Series B max.

These 3 normally filter 90% of the AE jobs posted. I am wondering if I should think of orgs whose mission I care about.


I was able to motivate myself for both even if I had never worked/learnt about either before working there. Last two jobs were both healthcare and the meaning was easy in making patient's lives better.


From all the pros here, how much did it matter when you cared deeply about the solution you were selling?


I have worked at a seed stage startup (as head of sales) and we raised 2.5M in 2021. In 2022, I and the founders had different strategies and I exited and joined a series A startup - was there for 10 months and didn't last a full sales cycle. I closed some small, medium deals and was meeting ramp quota when I was laid off.

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poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
8
☕️
Don’t shy away from large product companies with small sales teams. Can still feel like the trenches but you have the security of a strong roadmap and, usually, lots of runway.
HVACexpert
Politicker
2
sales engineer
Agreed a larger company could have started a new product and a new small internal team for it, which can make it feel small and fast.
MoreCompassion
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
True. That is normally harder to qualify. I can try to look into job descriptions to check that.
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
2
☕️
Simply filter employees down to sales and look at headlines or keywords for different product names.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
Lotttttsssssssss of runway ✈
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Agree with this as well. Many large companies have disparate products/solutions and you could fit into a division reasonably well. Another benefit is the possibility of a lateral transfer when something appealing arises.
Pachacuti
Politicker
6
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I think it’s critical that you believe in the solution you sell and, for me personally, that what I sell makes the world a better place in some way. I know I can’t be successful otherwise.

Your other criteria is interesting. Glassdoor should always be looked at skeptically. Your other criteria are your things and if they work for you, cool.

Good luck in your job search!
MoreCompassion
Opinionated
1
Account Executive
I am trying to verify Glassdoor with talking to ex employees.

How would you ascertain that the management in the company is good? So you don't spend time on managing politics rather than selling and learning.
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
4
Account Executive
All I can say is that I’ve made the mistake of assuming the product was adequate based on the logos the company supported and I was mistaken and it was the most mentally exhausting job I ever had because I was selling a product that was a gigantic piece of shit.

The “caring” part is subjective but dear god, make sure you at least believe the product delivers value.
MoreCompassion
Opinionated
2
Account Executive
Interesting. How did you know they had those logos? from their website?

I am completely with you on the value part- I am checking G2 and business growth/raise as initial data points for that.
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
Website / interview, yeah.

Mind you, there was other red flags I could have drilled into but I wanted to believe it was a good opportunity, so I fooled myself into believing it was.
MoreCompassion
Opinionated
1
Account Executive
Hahaha. I have been there. I survived and learned.
HVACexpert
Politicker
3
sales engineer
If you believe in the product it certainly helps perform better. But simply looking up information might not be the full story. Most people are only vocal when they are unhappy so keep they in mind, could be plenty of happy customers
MoreCompassion
Opinionated
2
Account Executive
understood. Will also look into G2.
oldcloser
Arsonist
2
💀
A passion for the product and the purpose it serves is important. You might find more energy to get it done if getting it done saves a whale or a baby seal.

But let’s face it. People go into business to make money. Same reason most of us got into sales.

If your first passion to solve business problems and help clients make money, you can use the secondary cause as a tie breaker.

It’s a heartless industry. Let the almighty dollar be your guide. And as mentioned already, vet the product. You get into a role where you’re selling shit, you’re gonna have to turn it into fertilizer by yourself.
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
The 3 points should be pretty much all what I'll be considering while seeking a new job.
Adding to that I'll be checking the Tenure Percentage for the company.
As the more tenured the employees are the more promising working at it would be,as that's the reason why they stayed long right.
In contrast would have a look also at the layoff rate for the last 2 years at least,and see if the reasons for that were any reasonable!
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
The less I care about the solution the better I seem to sell it. Fake it til you make it I guess
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
1
President/CRO
It will matter if you plan to stick around for a while. Burnout is a real thing and if you don’t believe in what you’re selling it will hit harder and faster.

Also, don’t sleep on bootstrapped companies with strong financials and stable growth. Much of the craziness we read about in the WR can be traced back to investor pressure.
MoreCompassion
Opinionated
1
Account Executive
Yes. I would try to sell something I believe in. I am passionate about leadership, mental health, and reducing suffering in the world (which comes with healthcare).

But finding jobs with these aligned is hard. but the product should solve some pain and do it well for me to sell it.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
0
President/CRO
Great causes. Go after that. Point 2 and 3 are irrelevant. Find a company you align with that has a solid culture and you can make a real difference.
goose
Politicker
0
Sales Executive
Very little. Market fit is more important than the “solution”. There can be great solutions but if no one in your addressable market needs it then what are you gonna do?

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