sadandbougie

Account Executive

How to ask for a sabbatical in a sales role

So i'm pretty early in an Enterprise role that I'm super excited about, but between covid, my last job (recovering Series A war veteran, AE/GTM/SDR/etc) and dont' feel like I'm giving it all to my role. Without just abusing an unlimited PTO policy i want to prioritize some time for myself, while keeping the role. It's a smaller sales team - any advice here?

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funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Sabbaticals are usually reserved for people with some tenure (think 3-5 years) within a company, not someone early on in their role - especially ENT. You're not negotiating from a position of power.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

This is putting it likely. If I just hired you and then you ask me for a sabbatical id be a bit perturbed to put it lightly. If you need a week or two vacation, take it. If you need some serious time away from work, you should take that too but dont expect your new company to pay for it.

sadandbougie

Contributor

Account Executive

oh i'm definitely not expecting them to pay - wanted to do like a month or two unpaid but return to current role

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

How long have you worked there?

E_Money

Big Shot

💰

Yeah I would avoid this topic completely. Either power through or quit to take extended time off on your own dime.

sadandbougie

Contributor

Account Executive

yeah i know :/ hence seeking knowledge lol

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Do you want a sabbatical or a vacation?

sadandbougie

Contributor

Account Executive

i guess i don't know the formal difference, but a more significant amount of time off

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Is significant a week or a year?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

I defer to @TheNegotiator for their vast expertise as I am often wrong.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

-3

VP of Sales

You should, you sound like a moron

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

-3

VP of Sales

Yeah whatever man

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

See if you can get away with remote working half-days for a week while doing some travel?

I've found that if left alone without work for more than 3 days I get antsy - but I am always rearing to go when I get back to work.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

That's a great compromise 🤔🔥

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

I have my moments!

lovebread

Member

Infosec Sales Engineer

I want to approach my mgmt with this. Coming up on my 5th year of Ent Sales. Started in Early D series infosec and we blew it out with the IPO. I took 3mo off in first year, 2.5mo off in 2nd year and havent taken more than 2mo off a year after that. Engineering gets sabbaticals but I want to see if they will swing for it in sales. No idea what I'd do unplugged but burnout is real.

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

Officer of ♥️

Recovering series A war veteran - LMFAO I FEEL YOU

sadandbougie

Contributor

Account Executive

I saw your story and was like yes yes yes all around - series a really needs to be paid like a c level for the work you do not commission and stuff otherwise not worth it

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

Officer of ♥️

Seriously fuck.

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

Officer of ♥️

Are you telling me you went from one series A to another?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

That’s what I do…or pre-A. Follow my footsteps and you’ll never be happy again.

sadandbougie

Contributor

Account Executive

no no no - went from a series a to a more legit c company i'm not crazy!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I worked for a company where sabbaticals are a benefit that can be exercised after 5 years and then again each 5 years. In all that time, I didn't personally ever know a sales rep who actually took the time, with the single exception of one who was changing roles and was able to take the time in between leaving one role and stepping into the next. It's seriously difficult to take a full 3 weeks/mo off in one chunk when you are in a sales role. The longest I was ever able to do (and I still checked email) was two weeks.

I have no doubt that you need some time off - there was a suggestion to start smaller with extended weekends and/or a week off that I would try to see if that would help with your motivation. As has been said, sabbaticals are usually granted after a long tenure and may be a huge red flag for a company before then - and if you're in your first year, it will most likely be a bigger red flag, so I'd personally see if shorter breaks will help you get back on track and maintain your job.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

1. talk to your boss.
2. start taking some days. friday and monday here and there.
3. then take a week off. see how you feel.

then if you still want a month or two talk to your boss about it.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I have never seen a sales person take an official sabbatical. I have seen sales people quit and then come back a year later. And seen people quit, not work for many months and get a job elsewhere. But never a sabbatical.

Hoopnip

Politicker

Commercial AE

You better be a top rep. Your boss still has to carry your quota when your gone. Better off having a kid and taking paternity leave for 6 months… 😂

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Find a new job. There's no such thing as a human that's that good a person who would let you do that. Especially in a sales role. Ha. More like someone would agree and you'd be out of a job when you came back.

SiliconBBQ

Politicker

The Metal Rooster

Crush it. Save up enough $$$ so you can afford to go and come back to a soft landing whatever their answer.

Hoopnip

Politicker

Commercial AE

Move to Europe or Australia. Holiday is 2-3 months every year. In US - put in your 2 weeks and leave that day. Apply for a new job while your traveling. Giddy up.

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

Funemployment

harebrained

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

How is it going? I was looking at sabbatical posts today ... I'm thinking about one while selling tech to tech is rough. If I'm going to take time off might as well do it while commish is harder to find

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