saygrace profile picture
saygrace profile picture

saygrace

Sales Executive

Valued Contributor
Catalyst
Opinionated
+3

I’ve never dealt with this much rejection

It's unbelievable. I have been laid off for 3 months now and I have gotten far in many interviews but I keep getting rejected due to lack of industry experience. I am extremely discouraged and I just need to vent. Is anyone else dealing with the same thing?
🤝 Interviewing/Offer
👀 job search
😋 Job Searching
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24 comments

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Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
7
Sales Rep
The market has changed a lot. I was laid off last month and have never been rejected as much as I have. Roles where I was referred and interviewed great, I was still rejected.

However, I asked for advice from the hiring manager and the recruiter to make sure I am getting better and would find out potential red flags I did not know existed.

And I started doing outreach to recruiters. THEY ARE THE GATE KEEPERS to every job opening so get them on your side so they reach out when there is an opening.

These two things helped me adjust and get two offers
Diablo
Politicker
3
Sr. AE
This is so precise!
Sunbunny31
Politicker
6
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Where is it that you have experience? You've been down that avenue, yes?
I'm going to also go back to something @RealPatrickBateman said on another post:
"You need to be best in the world at understanding who you are and what you bring to the table, and how to relay that. If you can forsee these objections and develop a cohesive story to combat these objections in a clean and concise way, THAT is what matters."
Basically, if you're being called out on lack of experience, you're going to need to have a response, preferably before rejection, that speaks to what you are exceptional at, regardless of specific experience or your lack thereof.

Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
How are you applying? Are you also networking with the people in the company you're applying? Are you being told you have lack of industry or this is an assumption as your resume is not getting picked up for the initial discussion?
BmajoR
Arsonist
2
Account Executive
It's a cold world out there right now for sales folks, especially anything tech related.

Trying to get in with the hiring manager, director, anyone that's associated with your potential new team can be tremendous allies. Use them to understand the ins/outs of the company and culture, and also for interview tips.
braintank
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Have you uploaded your resume for savage review?
0
Director of business development
How do you do this?
braintank
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Attach as PDF by hitting the camera button either in a comment or by editing your original post.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Love you bb. ❤
saygrace
Valued Contributor
0
Sales Executive
Aww that’s sweet babe
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
Same here. I haven't even gotten to the phone screen stage since early April.
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Its tough. But you can do this. Just keep at it and you'll land in a good place!
FlyingHellfish
Good Citizen
1
Director of Business Development
Going through this now myself. One thing that helped me a ton to get the first call was utilizing Jobscan. I would highly recommend this or something comparable to it. It's not a silver bullet, that is for sure, but it definitely helps present yourself in a better light.
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
0
Director, Revenue Enablement
Are you only applying within 1 industry? If that’s the case and they are all telling you the same thing it’s time change it up.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
I like industry changes. You learn something new each time. Keeps it fresh. 🔥
saygrace
Valued Contributor
1
Sales Executive
No I’ve been interviewing with all sorts of industries
pirate
Big Shot
0
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Yeah it's definitely not the same as it was. Keep pushing
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
0
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
What is your industry and why aren’t you looking for more jobs in it? Can you ask a contact to float your resume to the VP of sales somewhere?
DataCorrupter
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Definitely going through the same exact thing.

Last time I was looking, I interviewed like it was a full time job because there were so many good companies hiring. 9-6 every day for 2 months. Got to pick amongst a few offers and felt like this is how it would be from here on out.

Fast forward to now, I'm interviewing maybe 1-2 times a week, feeling like everyone is dragging their feet. Starting to make me do the same. Sending out resumes to things I'm a good fit for and getting very very little back, 1 interview for every 20 I'm sending out. What's changed between now and then? Nothing, my resume just got even better.

Feels like there are openings out there, but that everyone wants a unicorn (10-15 years of experience, selling exactly what the company is selling, deep industry knowledge, etc.). I know for a fact that a few companies just have the job postings open so that they can hire that unicorn if it's available.

As they say, "employer's market." Usually means shenanigans like hiring a intern with 10 years of relevant experience. Ha.
saygrace
Valued Contributor
2
Sales Executive
THIS! Lol but seriously I was getting so many more hits when I was interviewing 5 years ago with 5 less years of experience compared to now
Troika
Opinionated
0
Enterprise Account Executive
I felt this. Laid off in April got my first offer this week. If you’ve been doing everything you can sometimes the best thing to do is take a day and lean into the rejection then begin again.
LambyCorn
Arsonist
0
A mfkn E
you have never dealt with this much rejection? try opening a tinder account!! xD
0
Same situation, with good sales background but lack of specific industry requirements, keep it up ☝🏼
I_LOVE_WINE
Executive
0
Enterprise AE
It is tough out there, stay diligent and try and find ways to deal with stress. Lean on your entire network during this time. I hope things turn around soon for you.

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