JobHungry

Temporarily embarrassed SDR Manager

Interview Question

The past few years I've managed SDR teams at small startups. One company was acquired (guess how that went), one was a fractional role, and the most recent ended with a layoff. My numbers were great, and my managers are there to intro where they can. I'm actually pretty good at this thing.

Been applying to manager gigs since December and haven't really gotten anywhere. Started applying to some of the better Enterprise SDR jobs so I can work my way back into management at a more stable company.

I get deep into the interview process then they go with someone else.

Finally got some feedback today, where they said they were hoping to "get a better sense of ambition and storytelling abilities."

Ok. So storytelling makes sense, the manager didn't really ask me storytelling type questions, but I get it. The questions is, how do you prove ambition in an interview? I feel like going backwards in my career on paper already counts against me.

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

🚫 NOTINTERESTED

6

10 comments

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oldcloser

Arsonist

9

💀

"Hi, I'm sorry for wasting your time with my candidacy. You see, I realize that I'm not a fit anywhere due to recent poor career choices"

Drop the baggage. Your story is not uncommon. Change your temporarily embarrassed handle to something along the lines of highly motivated. If you're carrying that shame into interviews, its getting read. You have to spin your narrative positive to get the desired outcome. You told the damn story up front in this post.

Go make it sing like this: "I'm an achiever that made it to management quickly. But in a small org, i didn't have to prove anything for very long. I'm interested in getting on a track where I can spend the right amount of time honing my craft, proving indispensable, and earning my way forward. I'm considering other opportunities to do just this, but I'd like to do it here and now because {X alignment}.

This is sales. Go sell yourself.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

5

War Room Community Manager

*slow applause*

oldcloser

Arsonist

1

💀

jefe

Arsonist

3

🍁

And with this, we can close the comments.

@JobHungry take this to heart, and do exactly this. Just like a prospect can smell desperation, the hiring managers are sensing this in you .

Own your story and tell it well.

Good luck!

Pachacuti

Politicker

3

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

This is basically it. You’ll need to prove yourself again before anyone puts you in charge of anything again.

JobHungry

2

Temporarily embarrassed SDR Manager

I get it. The temporarily embarrassed thing is a joke, like how every poor person is just a temporarily embarrassed millionaire.

As for the rest. I dig the framing.

oldcloser

Arsonist

1

💀

I get the joke- just saying a gut check might help. If you’re bringing in even a shred of self doubt, it ain’t helping. We’ve all been there.

1

Retired Sales Professional

👍👍

3

Retired Sales Professional

Old closer is on point. Sell your vision with your experience. Tell them how you intend to add to there overall growth. Give them a scenario on how you intend on doing this.

If they dont ask story type questions create the situation and control the interview by telling the interviewer your story.

For example: Mr. Jones, allow me to explain how I will be an asset to your company and assist in its growth, while creating an environment as a manager that will allow my team to work at capacity, etc,etc.

This is just an example of how you may start a story line that shows not only ambition but commitment. All the best. 👍👍

GreenSide

Politicker

0

Sales manager

Any answer can be spun into a story.

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