Bean1696

Assistant Director

I interviewed 5 times in 3 months with the company but was passed for "lack of experience", what could I have done more?

(UPDATES AT THE BOTTOM)

I needed a career change and Sales has always been something I wanted to do. I successfully landed an interview with a great company, but due to complications, I ended up having 5 interviews in the course of three months. The interviews were all great and went smoothly but I was passed for "lack of experience." The hiring manager ended up recommending me to reapply for a lower level (SDR) position which I did and am now interviewing again.

I messaged the previous interviewer for some feedback (respectfully) and was left on read. I looked into employees with the same position and many of them had no previous experiences either. Was there more I could've done?

I still very much like to work with the company. Your advice are appreciated, thank you!

——

Updates:

I had finished two additional round of interviews with four other leaders and was passed on again for someone else with “background that are closer match to the role”

I have my last interview with another company next week.

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Sunbunny31

Politicker

8

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Move forward with the SDR position and see if that goes better for you. If you've never been in sales of any kind before, then a lack of experience is a very common reason for an employer to pass on offering you the job. The fact that they recommended another role for you is a good sign that there might be something else that you can start with at that same company.
Best of luck.

Bean1696

Fire Starter

2

Assistant Director

Thank you! This is helpful

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Let us know how it goes! A way to overcome the concern about your experience is to get that experience. Starting out as SDR will get you going. Plus, you said you want to work for the company - sounds like a win!

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

You can always start as a SDR and actively look for AE roles, just because you accept a role doesnt mean you are stuck there

Bean1696

Fire Starter

2

Assistant Director

Unfortunately they passed me on again for the SDR role, for “lack of experience” . I emailed back for some feedback hopefully I can hear something back soon

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

I recommend asking for advice, since it has more of a positive spin people will typically share more

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

OK, so is this the last interview you had queued up? Are you looking to add more (I hope)?
What kind of SDR role was it? Enterprise, or....?

Sometimes an Ent SDR role may have some experience preferred, rather than SDR or even BDR. Some companies start BDR/SDR out as inbound (to get their feet under them) then transition to outbound, then into Enterprise. I'm sorry you're getting caught in this, but those experience-free roles do exist, it just is going to take some time and patience to find them. I hope you are continuing to build your personal job pipeline up.

Justatitle

Big Shot

1

Account Executive

They're feedback may only be the experience was concerning and they needed someone that closed before no matter what. nothing to get down about. It also doesn't seem like a fake reason to pass over you

Bean1696

Fire Starter

1

Assistant Director

Thank you for responding!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

How's it going with the SDR interviews?

Bean1696

Fire Starter

0

Assistant Director

interviews were great but I was passed on again for lack of experience, they went with someone “closer in background to the role”

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

You have great feedback already. I would request my potential colleagues if they can jump on coffee chat and steal some tips and tricks. It also matters what and how you talk :)

Bean1696

Fire Starter

0

Assistant Director

Thank you for the suggestion!

Maximas

Tycoon

0

Senior Sales Executive

As per the feedback you were given by the recruiter, would you say that the rejection reasons were valid or not?
If valid then you need to work on those points you were given, if not and you were sure about it try to give it a shot and reapply again if they're still rejecting you for the same old reasons then it's probably your company Not U!
Best of luck!

Bean1696

Fire Starter

0

Assistant Director

Thank you for responding, I had mentioned that I had worked closely with sales even though I've never been in a sales role, and the interviewing process took a while and I was given a second chance, so I didn't think they would pass me again for lack of experience.But they did offer me another position to apply for so I am taking it as a good sign.

Maximas

Tycoon

0

Senior Sales Executive

Sure,good sign it is, best of luck brother👌

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

0

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

You need to have something new logo or upsell on your background. And you can reword your experience to show this. We’re you on a team that delivered something for a sale (relate it to new logo ma and sales engineering or sales support) Or post sale (customer success/account management)? Just find ways to relate experience

The_Sales_Badger

Notorious Answer

0

Account Executive

You need to find out who blocked you from employment. In your process, someone didn't feel comfortable enough to give you the green light.
Find out who that is, and reach out for feedback. "Was it only my lack of experience, or was there anything else I should take note of."

Bean1696

Fire Starter

0

Assistant Director

Thank you for the great advice, how would I find that out? I have emailed to ask for some feedback but was not responded

Gasty

Notable Contributor

0

War Room Community Manager

It took them 5 rounds of interviews to establish you lack experience for the role. Have I understood this incorrectly, @Bean1696?

Bean1696

Fire Starter

0

Assistant Director

yes, and I interview for the SDR and it was another two rounds of interviews with 4 different people, and was passed on for “someone with more similar background experience” again

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