Interviews getting the best of me. Normal in SaaS Sales?

Hey All! 
If youve followed my posts you'll see I'm looking to leave my current org. Been there 5 years and where I transferred to sales (from marketing). Office culture and my passion for the product have massively tanked so it's time to move on. 

One thing I'm struggling with is going nowhere with interviews with solid orgs. Essentially I'm being rejected after 1 or 2 interviews. I'm truly baffled as before I was in sales I basically always made it to the final or 2nd to last interview if I got the first. Now it seems I'm chopped liver to recruiters and hiring managers. Unless the company wants me to work for free apparently (see previous post). 

I'm so baffled because I'm still crushing it at my job and closing left and right. In fact, I'm getting more complex deals since it's known I can get the harder ones to close. So it's a struggle to see I can absolutely sell like a fiend but when I sell myself it's a no go. This is my first time really interviewing for sales jobs since I transferred into the role where I'm at.

Truly at a loss and wondering if anyone has some advice out there? Maybe it's just a numbers game but it feels like maybe I'm missing the mark in my approach to interviews. I'm trying to approach interviews like I do a meeting which is, just be myself, professional, and transparent. It’s worked for me so far but not in interviews. 

Thanks a ton in advance! 
👥 Hiring
🎈 Mentorship
8
funcoupons
WR Officer
5
👑
Job hunting is a pain in the ass for everyone, all the time.

That said - are you getting any feedback as to why they decide not to move you ahead in the process? Do you have any suspicion as to what might be going wrong in the interviews? 
bonez
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Oh dude. My kingdom for some goddamn feedback. Not a single one gets back to me. I literally email them asking for feedback and tell them I just want to get better, anything helps. Not a single response from recruiters. If I had that I could at least pivot and make adjustments. Half the time I interview I get a canned response back and then email the recruiter which goes nowhere. Actually I had one give feedback and it basically was my comp / experience is more at the enterprise level but they need an SMB exec and there’s no flexibility (job post just said AE). Totally made sense and the recruiter connected on LI with a message they’re keeping tabs when a more senior role opens. Even if that’s all a load of shit at least I had some data. Maybe this post is more a rant on why recruiters don’t simply give feedback.
funcoupons
WR Officer
1
👑
Are you working with internal or external recruiters? 


bonez
Politicker
1
Account Executive
All been internal so far.
funcoupons
WR Officer
3
👑
Well, the good news is that a lot of recruiters blow at their jobs and there isn't likely anything glaringly wrong with you. Chances are they found someone with more relevant experience, an internal connection, or who would work for cheaper and went ahead with them. Most recruiters won't provide feedback because it's either too awkward (if there was something wrong with the candidate,) or because a lot of candidates will take professional feedback as personal and argue everything.

Only thing I can think of that might be hurting you is if you're applying to jobs way below or above your experience level. Make sure you meet at least 60% of their listed requirements before sending an application.

Other than that, just keep applying. Not every recruiter sucks. You'll find your right fit eventually.
bonez
Politicker
1
Account Executive
I think that may be what’s going on. I might be underselling myself and applying for jobs I’m overqualified for and maybe a few I’m super under qualified for. My mentality is to just keep going. The right thing will come along but maybe it’s time to be significantly more discerning with where I apply. Thanks!
funcoupons
WR Officer
1
👑
Never hurts to be discerning - it's a better use of your time. Quality > quantity. That said, don't be afraid to apply for a really exciting position if you have the most important skills they're looking for, but no need to apply for everything that looks remotely interesting.
CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Nobody is gonna give you feedback due to the legal piece of things.

Do you have anybody who can help you with interviews? Feels like there might be something hyper-specific going on here that could be caught by another set of eyes.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
Don't give up. Try different searches. Titles too.

Have you asked for feedback? What have they said?
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
4
SaaS Eater
Have you asked for any feedback from the companies that have said no? Are you speaking to specific examples in your interviews that back up your claims? 
bonez
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Every time and I get no feedback or even an email back. I always give an example of success when I talk about exceeding quotas and breaking records. Always have a story ready to go that highlights the achievement. Tbh half the time the recruiters seem kinda uninterested and clearly reading off a list of questions. Makes me feel halfway through that there’s no real point.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
2
SaaS Eater
If you really like the company figure out who the hiring manager is and go to them directly.

Second - how long have you been working in sales? I see your profile says 10 years. Is all of that formal sales experience? 
bonez
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Great idea to reach out! I may do that for a couple. I have 5 in sales and 5 in marketing. Definitely not applying for jobs outside of that.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
2
SaaS Eater
Got it - is your experience in relevant industries/sales motions?
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
+1 to specific examples. 
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
Sorry to hear you're going through this! Jobhunting can be a major pain in the ass.

Are these interviews being done remotely, or are people actually bringing in candidates? Shining in person versus on Zoom can be very different ballgames.

Also, are you providing concrete proof of your successes/wins?
bonez
Politicker
1
Account Executive
All on zoom and phone calls right now. Would love to be in person fo this reason. I don’t have much in terms of concrete proof outside of a SFDC report. Is that what you’re talking about? Thanks for the tip!
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
Ah man I hear you. I joined my company last year and did everything remote. It absolutely makes things harder, and removes such a key element of establishing a relationship in a short period.

Given that you're in your first role, the SFDC report is a good start. Never hurts to have emails and the like as well, I've gotten some really positive feedback from providing client emails that talked me up to potential employers. Those are easy to fake though.


The reality is that salespeople tend to be good at selling themselves, so any demonstrable success should be a boon.

Also, as @funcoupons mentioned, ask for feedback when you haven't moved forward.

It might help to take a look at the commonalities between the experiences - are they the same industry, are you getting cut at the same step? (such as mock presentations, or speaking with a certain level of leadership)

Analyze as much as you can without driving yourself crazy.
bonez
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Great advice! I seem to get cut after the phone screen / first prompt (if there is one). I’m trying to understand why but the calls all feel like they’re going well and then I get an auto response that they’re moving in a different direction. Usually I get the close on next steps and when I can expect to hear back, timeline, etc.
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
That's tough, and can be demotivating. Maybe consider how you're building rapport/connecting during that initial call, think about how you're presenting your current success/wins (and if you are), any potential misalignment with how you're presenting yourself on paper compared to in conversation.
JECU
Opinionated
1
Account Manager / Co-Founder
We are in the same boat. I’ve interviewed (virtually) at two places the last couple weeks and one said they were moving in a different direction and the other no word at this point. The first one I even had recommendation from CFO…. I’ve literally managed and brought in millions in sales but don’t have the traditional SaaS career path of SDR-AE- Manager etc. Feel into a sales role and then founded a startup, but looking to step back and just sell and manage accounts. I’m naturally introverted so interviewing isn’t my favorite pastime. Hang in there I’m sure you’ll make a great asset to the next company to offer you the chance.
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