I did not get the internal promotion despite being the strongest candidate :'(

Last week I interviewed for an internal promotion for an AE role along with 3 other SDRs. Two got the role and I did not. I think one genuinely deserved it and the other not so much because they average 50% to quota. I feel humiliated that I did not get the promotion over the second candidate.


I had the strongest track record on the entire SDR team by far. I had the highest number of closed won accounts, I am the only one to have never missed quota and I hold the record for most qualified meetings in a month. I also had less time to prepare for the AE interview because I caught Covid at a company sponsored outing. I did not get any quota relief for the month despite being out for half the month and I still hit quota this month. The second candidate had a full month and was 80% to quota.


I had a really strong demo and interview, but my direct manager said where I went wrong was when I mentioned I accomplish everything with the fewest amount of calls and when asked about process, I said 'I don't really have one but I always get things done.' My manager said this came off like I was a bit stuck in my ways and they wanted someone who was more like a moldable piece of clay.


I honestly think this is bullshit because I have put up incomparable, insanely high numbers on the board every month. We're talking records broken, 0 quotas missed and most accounts closed into new business.


I have always implemented my direct manager's feedback and he highly recommended me for the promotion. I've been here for 10 months and I have another opportunity to interview in 2 months. I feel like I should stick it out, get promoted, put in a few months as an AE, break some records as an AE and then dip out to a more prestigious and higher paying company like Amazon or something.


I feel like this company has been fucking me since day one. From the start, they lied to me about being #1 in the industry and the space being uncompetitive. It's actually the most competitive industry I've seen and there are several companies in the space that have double the revenue. Also the 3rd party recruiter lied to me about salary and a signing bonus. I turned down more prestigious and higher paying offers as a result.


I have also felt this company has poor incentives and systems in place that deter top performers such as no accelerator in place. It's a pretty average and mediocre culture as well. I have stayed because I want to gain some more experience before I move on. I also know it looks bad on a resume if you move around a lot. On the flip side, I've had time to grow my side hustle which will be 35% of my income this year.


Anyways, what do you guys think?

๐Ÿค Interviewing/Offer
17
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
7
Sales
Youโ€™ll have to let this feeling go: ย โ€œI feel humiliated that I did not get the promotion over the second candidate.โ€œ

if you want to keep a healthy working environment for yourself. Dust yourself keep crushing it and take these skills and the feedback on your interview and apply to your next set of interviews, somewhere else.ย 

It sounds like based on this post that company and recruiter have broken your trust. No harm in moving on.ย 
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
7
SaaS Eater
You're not going to like my thoughts here, I am going to share though as a neutral 3rd party that is honestly trying to give decent advice to you here.ย 

You come across very arrogant and flippant in this entire post, nothing is your fault and the company is fucking you. You take no ownership over your sales process, your research of the industry, or the feedback that was given to you in the interview.

Beyond that you blame your company for underpaying you and lying to you in the interview. Did you do any of your own research prior to taking the role to understand the competitive landscape? Did you negotiate for higher pay based on the industry standards? If you had other offer from more "prestigious" companies that paid more, why didnt you take them?

Im not trying to attack you here, I am trying to highlight that although you might have been the perfect candidate in your eyes, your leadership may not think that. Take a second to look internally, what can you own from this, what feedback is tangible that you can implement and go put it in action. It will show that you are coachable and can handle adversity. Not just someone that is going to bitch and complain when they dont get what they want.

I hope you can take some of this seriously and kick ass as you move forward in your career.ย 
MCP
Valued Contributor
1
Sales Director
I agree here, take the feedback and get better. You are not entitled to anything, make a plan vs excuses and execute. Saying you donโ€™t have a process isnโ€™t going to fly anywhere (especially not Amazon and their rigorous interview and vetting process), rather explain how what you do works better and show coachability and accountability. Also, results arenโ€™t everything, you have to be likable. When I was younger, I was let go in a mass layoff. They kept people I was better than, but they had better relationships with. That means something but luckily for me, with the chip on my shoulder and lessons learned I came out making 3X what I was at this place. Take your lumps and get stronger. Itโ€™s all you can do and then later you can show them why they should have promoted you.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
๐ŸฆŠ
I'm sorry friend. Allow yourself to be upset, then let it go. Moving forward have a detailed plan when you interview at other companies.ย  They want to see how you handle working on your own as an AE.ย 
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
5
War Room Enthusiast
Sorry, this happens, but keep pushing yourself, If you were the stongest candidate chances are you will still be next time and with less competition, stay there, that promotion will come!
CaneWolf
Politicker
3
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
I donโ€™t think you should look elsewhere but it sounds like you came off kind of flippant. You might have gone in assuming the job was yours and it couldโ€™ve shown. Iโ€™d say keep grinding and learn from this so you get the promotion next time.
Do.it.for.the.checks
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Perfect opportunity to go your manager and say you want to be molded.

If thats the reason ask how you can start preparing for the AE role. Can you start shadowing or practicing cadence or being taught in general?

Its a two front thing. Either it makes you look good and takes away their biggest critique or you quickly learn they aren't going to promote you in 2 months and time to move on
Incognito
WR Officer
1
Master of Disaster
It be like that sometimes. Keep grinding. It will come.ย 
justatopproducer
Politicker
1
VP OF SALES -US
Yep head up. Also, write down what you do and how you do it. Every single step if necessary. You will find it easier to tweak things you do and get better and better, also great way to make a great habit early on that will multiply over time loke compound interest
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
You come across very arrogant and flippant in this entire post, nothing is your fault and the company is fucking you.
thegrinch
Politicker
0
SDR
In the future when I talk about my process I'll say the following:


Between 8am - 9 am - Check & respond to email / immediate follow up calls that I have written in my calendar9am - 12pm - Bust out a big call blitz of 40 to 50 calls on recycled leads and opportunities12pm - 1pm - Take my lunch1pm - 5pm - Prospect on Linkedin, send personalized emails & texts, another call blitz
And when I speak to someone on the phone, the first thing I do is I check if there is a need.ย If they say yes or even hesitate, I will ask a series of discovery questions about what software they currently use, what features are important to them and try to find any gaps with their current processes.
Then I'm quick to recommend them to see a demo and mention on a high level how we may be able to take care of their gaps. I shoot for as many warm transfers as possible with AEs because they convert at the highest rate and it's the least amount of friction for the company and the customer. But if we can't immediately get them over, I'll find a time and set up a calendar invite to everyone. If they request a follow up in 6 months, I'll check back-in in 3 to 4 months and send them an email with our white paper and thank them for their time.
The above definitely sounds better than saying 'I just figure it out and do what I need to do.' Honestly in retrospect I felt so deserving of the promotion that I probably came off a bit entitled and felt like I didn't need to explain myself.ย 
I was very upset with my manager when he told me about the second candidate getting the role. I told him that I think the company looks for 'yes men' more than merit. I should probably shut my mouth now or my next Bravado post will be 'Fired for talking too much shit.'ย 
MinisterOfChaos
Politicker
0
Commercial Account Executive
I could be wrong, but I don't think that is what they were asking for when they asked about your Sales process; what you laid out in this comment is more of a schedule of tasks or the way you organize your day.

It may be beneficial to swallow your pride a little and ask for coaching/guidance and clarity on what they mean by "process".ย 

Every company and every manager is going to have a different view on this. Don't solicit feedback just from your manager, but also from the AE managers as those processes most likely look very different from one another.

If you're feeling this level of resentment towards the company now, it may not make a difference if you get promoted in two months or not. It doesn't hurt to see what other opportunities are available, and if they're right for you, you shouldn't feel the need to stay to see if you get promoted. It may mean starting from square one again, but if you are crushing it here, you'll most likely crush it there and may have an opportunity to advance sooner. That should even be a question during the interview process: "What does your advancement/promotion track look like?"
ragnarlothbrok
Politicker
0
Key account manager
All things aside, from reading that you sound like you are ready to leave. the only thing that is going to keep you happy there is the promotion you applied for. keep breaking them records and look for somewhere else before you really resent your job. What you have been achieving in your current role is great should you chose to evidence your success when applying else whereย 
Avon
Politicker
0
Senior Account Executive
Start looking elsewhere
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
I feel sad for you but the fact is you have to vent this off or else you will screw your next upcoming interview/s.

You must stop this blame game (trust me I was in the same situation but I felt it only affected me and no else on earth) and rather focus on the pointers you got as a feedback (at least you got to know where you have to work on) so feel lucky about it. Its very important to know your process, if you don't have, build one because even I found your answer imbalanced when you said you don't have a process but you get things done (sorry if you didn't like it). Apart from how good you are in your existing role, you have to start thinking like a leader or owner of the product (that's what is lacking). I've come across many who are an awesome AE but never a good BDR/SDR and vice-versa because they had/lacked some skill sets that made them fit for the role they are in. I am not saying you won't but trust me learning and implementing is the only way.

When it comes to bigger logos, they are more interested in knowing what made you stand out, how did you achieve X (that's where ownership, process, cadence and all other leadership skill set shit come into picture) rather than how much did you achieve.

All the best @thegrinchย 
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
0
Account Executive
Some people on this thread are being super critical of you but that doesn't really matter. They promoted 2 people that are 50% to quota on average?! 9/10 companies would have fired those two let alone promote them. Even if you don't have a "process", that doesn't matter. You're doing something right and you literally have an entry level sales job. You should not be perfect and have all this shit down. You can be taught, you can learn. Companies hire 22 year olds out of college having never even worked at a fucking subway to SDR for unicorns and then promote them within 12 months after they crush.ย 

Something is up here. They are either playing favorites or don't like you. I honestly would try and stay just to get the AE position and then leave after a little. It's gonna be impossible to land an AE position elsewhere so you'd have to be an SDR somewhere else for a year.ย 

I had a similar experience recently. I was supposed to get into leadership and was the only qualified one on my team. No one else was interviewing. I was told he job was mine but then later told I would compete with externals. I refused and demanded the job and they did not give it to me so I left.ย 

Now I essentially got the promotion at another much better company with a huge pay increase. Life has been amazing since I left. Fuck them.ย 
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
Youโ€™ll have to let this feeling go: โ€œI feel humiliated that I did not get the promotion over the second candidate.โ€œ

if you want to keep a healthy working environment for yourself. Dust yourself keep crushing it and take these skills and the feedback on your interview and apply to your next set of interviews, somewhere else.
Clashingsoulsspell
Politicker
0
ISR
Well she had more red flags than a golf course, but I'm really good at closing my eyes and drinking.
3

Internal Promotion into Sales Management - Negotiating Comp?

Question
6
7

What are some ways in which you leveraged a job offer to get a raise, etc. from current job?

Question
10
10

Question: how to get an internal promotion to team lead?

Question
11