splork

AE (Account Executive)

Interview help

I've never had to interview for a sales job before. I've only held a job under a friend in college. He founded the business and I worked as "AE" for years but I don't see things expanding past us getting SMB deals. He's happy with the company being SMB centric.

I want to jump into the job market to work at a bigger company but I have never had to interview before, this was something I had stumbled into.

What recommendations would you have for me as an inexperienced interviewee?

🧠 Advice

💡 Education/Resources

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

15 comments

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TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

i would start by collecting your numbers.

Know how many deals you have closed in a year, how much revenue you have generated per year, how many deals you have closed, the average deal size, the aver deal length.

those are all metrics you will be asked about.

Also be able to explain your sales processes.
People want to know that you have a process that you Follow that is repeatable and can be replicated

there is a TON more but i think this is a good start.

splork

Fire Starter

AE (Account Executive)

Thanks for the thorough response, I have all my numbers together and can explain the process. My deal size was relatively small (<$5000~), do you think applying for SDR would yield more success due to the company I worked for being much smaller than most.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

Shoot for SMB AE at a company that also has MM AE positions you could work up to.

Avoid taking a step back in your career by going SDR if you can.

splork

Fire Starter

AE (Account Executive)

I think that will be the move, thanks man!

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

well yeah I think it will be easier to get an SDR role for sure. and wouldn't be the worst thing.

but you should shoot for "SMB" "Corporate" or "mid-market" AE roles.

those titles signal small deal cycles and faster deal cycles which i think your experience would align with more.

splork

Fire Starter

AE (Account Executive)

That’s what I’ll be aiming for. Thanks man I really appreciate your insight.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Check the academy tab 😎

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

All of this is solid advice, and I want to reinforce that the interview process is two ways. You also want to make sure that they are a fit for you. So you'll want to know your numbers and know about their company (via research) but you'll want to ask questions about them as well. Not "how many weeks vacation?" but more about their processes and how new employees are supported to become successful and help build the company.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

The interview is you selling yourself but also them selling the company to you. Make sure to know your worth and portray that. Don't be cocky by any means but confidence is important.

Understand that your time is just as important as the person conducting the interview.

The best companies I've worked at were ones where I was so confident that the interview felt more like a casual conversation about myself and the company I was interviewing for.

Doge

Executive

Senior Partnerships Manager

ABC - always be closing man!

I like to end an interview with something alluding to securing the next interview/contract

Depending on the part of the interview process I’ll go something like this:

“Great, what are the next steps in the interview process?”

“I really appreciated chatting to you, and from my side I’d love to move forward. If you have any concerns about me, please let me now so I can alleviate any potential concerns”

It’s pretty gung-ho, but if the interviewer likes you it gives you a great indication as to where you stand in their process

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Lots of great advice here, best of luck!

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Seriously - there are dozens of sales interview prep videos on YouTube. Search them.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Fail fast. Learn from it. Implement learnings in next interview. Repeat.

splork

Fire Starter

AE (Account Executive)

**For reference, I’ve sold in the clothing and film industry (commercials and music videos)

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Always, always, always have something to show your successes and why you are a good fit for anywhere you go. It's like a humble brag almost.

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splork

Interview help

15 comments

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