sign_here_pls

Account Executive

Interviewing at a competitor

Have an interview with a competing company this week and I'm curious to hear from others who have gone through this experience. The role is a significant step up in pay (more then 2x) and official title (AE vs ENT AE). I'm mostly curious about questions to avoid answering/how to approach an interview like this but open to any and all advice people are willing to share.

🧠 Advice

🗣 Interviewing

20 comments

Sort by:

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Expect the standard "How have you dealt with X situation" questions as well as performance related questions. Be sure to show integrity if they ask you questions which might violate a NDA or provide them any competitive info.

Also, be sure to have a rock solid answer for "why do you want to leave your current job?" And while money can be part of the answer (ie "I have maxed out the comp plan), be sure to point out the things which would make you look like a good team player and someone they'd like to work with for the next couple years.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Read your NDA or Non-Compete. Companies will and have sued for this type of move.

sign_here_pls

Fire Starter

Account Executive

No non compete, but will def dig into the fine print of the offer I signed

unclespacejam

Politicker

ur dad’s brother

Might even be worth having a lawyer look it over. Could be the best $500 you spend

FlyingHellfish

Good Citizen

Director of Business Development

Plus one to this statement. Have a friend in a legal battle now trying to get unpaid commissions because she went to a competitor.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Just a heads up, my former CRO used to use interviews to gain competitive knowledge.

sign_here_pls

Fire Starter

Account Executive

Yeah this was my first thought when I got the interview. Any insight into the types of questions they would ask?

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Mostly about how your product works, some features that you don’t share too much, pricing (structure, rates, add-ons, renewals, etc.), and trying to figure out what customers are asking you.

sign_here_pls

Fire Starter

Account Executive

Gotcha, thanks for sharing!

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Sleazy af

0PercentCloseRate

Politicker

Oh boy

Different situation but a coworker of mine got laid off and went straight to a competitor. I've never seen my boss that mad before. The guy immediately lost his severance.
You're playing with fire here. Don't get burned

sign_here_pls

Fire Starter

Account Executive

If they were that mad seeing him go to a competitor, why’d they lay him off to begin with?

0PercentCloseRate

Politicker

Oh boy

Well that was my coworker's line of thinking. He got a job pretty fast and it worked for him lol (except for the whole 'losing his severance' thing)
My point is that you'll be labeled as a turncoat by your company if they catch wind of this while you're still in process. I've interviewed with competitors before and you bet your ass I kept my mouth shut until much later.
I don't know your boss or industry obviously so I couldn't predict how they'll react, but I can tell you from my experience that some guys just don't like it when you switch jerseys.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I’m sorry, that’s nuts. I hope he smokes them at the competition.

sign_here_pls

Fire Starter

Account Executive

Yeah I mean I’m def keeping my mouth shut as long as I possibly can, even if I were to accept an offer, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little guilty.

ComTruise

Catalyst

Sales Specialist

I have to do the same thing and I’m enthused to hear about how it went for you! God speed

sign_here_pls

Fire Starter

Account Executive

You too my friend!

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Main thing you need to show is why you are leaving your current company and how they fix if

NoToBANT

Catalyst

Senior Account Executive

“At CURRENT company, we found we won deals against your company because A, B, C… how do you deal with these objections - what are you doing to overcome these from a product/ GTM perspective”

And also remember - the grass isn’t always greener

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Check your NDA and also if you get the feeling they are just interviewing you to get up on your current company don't be afraid to call them out on it.