Modro

Senior Account Executive

Is it normal for a SaaS sales interview to be 6 stages?

I was recently approached by this San Fran based series B start up and had an initial convo with TA. Towards the end of the convo I asked what the interview process looks like and without any hesitation she says 6 stages, and starts talking about all the people I'm gonna have to meet and how each stage is 30 minutes with the last one being a task (mock discovery), to be frank I was surprised as I've never seen such a lengthy process for a mid market role. Savages, do you think this is common/normal?

🗣 Interviewing

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

☁️ Software Tech

24 comments

Sort by:

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

No that's not normal. That sounds like an indecisive company 🚩

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

How? As in they don’t know what they’re looking for?

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Obviously

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

So 4 hours of your time on active calls + research + follow up. Tell them you'd be happy to participate, but it'll cost them 1.25x your hourly rate if you are not offered a job.

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

I’d love to propose this idea to them but I know they will just ignore me

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

The more people bring it up, the faster they'll stop their shit.

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

True! But now lol the kids need to eat

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Not too unusual. Maybe 1-2 steps too long, but I have seen longer.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Normal, no. Are there some companies who do it , unfortunately yes

AnonEMouse

Praised Answer

VP of Revenue

I have noticed a trend of smaller companies that have been in business for shorter amounts of time having insanely long, tedious interview processes.

My theory is that for a lot of them, a really tough economy & not being a "need to have" product/service was mistaken for poor sales performance. They've done layoffs, terminations, etc. and are now wanting to be 1000% sure (no such thing) before they make offers.

oldcloser

Politicker

vice office chief

"not being a "need to have" product/service was mistaken for poor sales performance" - This is so key.

The collective global panic attack lies here. Better follow up! More emails! 5 x 5, Phone, Email, Text. Yes. P.E.T your prospects! More metrics! Meanwhile, they ignore product market fit and freak out when consider a new salesperson.

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

I’ve worked for 3 start ups, laid off of two of them.. I can confirm both had market fit problems which h not looked at instead was blamed on metrics

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Sounds awful.

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

I was kind of put off tbh especially that I’ve been through different interview processes the past 4 months. But I have to do it the kids need to eat

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Good luck man, hope you get it.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

That’s not normal but there are some companies who do that.

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

It’s a crazy process.. surely even the president doesn’t go through that many stages lol

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Sounds like you’re going to do it - hopefully it’s not as labor intensive as it sounds, and that the 30 minute rounds are meeting the team rather than completely grueling.

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

Yeah I hope so too tbh, desperately need a role at the moment so don’t mind going through it all

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Welcome to The Bachelor: SaaS Sales from Silicon Valley. Buckle up and get ready for the sixth round, er, the rose ceremony.

But seriously, you don't have to complete a marathon before finding employment just because it's San Fran based. You are not an endurance athlete; you are a professional.

Either they are really careful or they have been binge-watching reality TV. Be ready, and may the odds always be in your favour!

Modro

Valued Contributor

Senior Account Executive

Lol tell me all about it

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

It's not a good sign.

They are afraid to make a bad decision. They are afraid to make a hire. All it will take is someone to have 1 more year of experience than you do, or X years of XP in the specific vertical and they will want to talk to them and leave you hanging.

Let me guess. Those 6 people you meet. is the HM and VP sales involved? How many are not sales related? Did they give you the statement of, we want to see that you can work with the team nonsense?

It could be a waste of your time. It could not be.
If they want to do specific reference checks including all the interviews tell them to get fucked.

Maximas

Big Shot

Senior Sales Executive

Absolutely abnormal,I would only consider proceeding if my payout for both of my fixed and variable were pretty damn good!

Bus. Dev. Due.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Academy Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.

Modro

Is it normal for a SaaS sales interview to be 6 stages?

24 comments

Related posts

What’s a normal sales interview process

ADVICE - Palantir Sales Interview Process - Heading into #4

Went through a four phase interview process with SaaS industries (tech sales)