iAMgr00t

Account Executive

Is it time to start interviewing for a new gig?

Currently working for a startup in an AE role. I've been at the company now for ~ 5 months. At the time of joining our runway was 18 months.

I was just informed that our runway is now 7 months due to an accounting error from our CEO and CFO...

We started hiring a bunch of senior level positions and it's now put us in this position.

Deal cycles in our industry (healthcare) are usually 6+ months. Most taking 12+ months.

To cover my own ass I'm going to start interviewing. Seems like I was put in a very difficult position, particularly as the first sales hire. (I was given incomplete information when joining and it's also my fault for not doing more due-diligence).

I welcome any thoughts on this situation.

👥 Hiring

🤝 Networking

30 comments

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braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Yes, start interviewing. I just left a very similar org (in security). You don't want to be left when the music stops.

sugardaddy

Politicker

🍬

Indeed with brain here.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Yep. Appreciate the insight! It's turning more and more into a dumpster fire. Everyone is getting brought into "sales" now. This feels like the scramble before the end. As if you can just turn on sales like a water spigot.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Yes.
Never stop interviewing, period, but in your case definitely be interviewing.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

For sure. Thanks for the input!

Phillip_J_Fry

Opinionated

Director of Revenue

An accounting error from a CFO resulted in a 60% reduction in runway? This smells awfully fishy.
Either way, 100% you should be interviewing. I don't even know if you should be putting in much effort into the role if the company's going under.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Yea I’m actively looking and applying starting today.

Yea the CEO is shady. Withholds information to try and get the most favorable deals for themselves. Have been several yellow and red flags since joining so this is another strike.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Accounting error reducing runway by 60%~ fucking dumpster fire, get out.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Yep working on it!

HappyGilmore

Politicker

Account Executive

Totally, definitely start interviewing.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Holy shit that sucks friend. I'd definitely be looking on the down low.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Yea… and a couple months in the CEO fired the co-founder 😬… it’s been throwing up red flags but this is also my first sales position after a career transition so not trying to jump ship so early that I can’t land another spot at a company where their product can actually sell.

wolfofmiami

Opinionated

🐺

ABL - Always Be Looking

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Common thread I keep seeing in sales. My previous career I was a healthcare provider (still can go back if needed) was super stable like I'd have to kill someone to get fired. I knew what I was getting into with sales but with high risk comes high reward (hopefully, ha).

wolfofmiami

Opinionated

🐺

Just like anything else interviewing is a skill, the more you do it the better you get at it. So it doesn't hurt to always be interviewing bc when you actually need to start interviewing for real you'll be more prepared bc you've done it hundreds of times.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Great insight. Completely agree.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Add my vote to the group recommendation to go look for something else.
A shady CEO is not good, and that's something you definitely want to be far away from when the inevitable happens.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Good call. Yea I’m actively looking now and will start applying and reaching out to my network, too.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Based on the number and timeline seems like the bleeding will continue and runway is only get shorter. Find another one and you have already identified

Revenue_Rambo

Politicker

Director, Revenue Enablement

Let me guess they are trying to target enterprise companies when they should be focused on mid market and below

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Bingo.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

I would always be interviewing. Why not

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

JUMP SHIPS!

VFG

Good Citizen

SDR

Definitely start interviewing. If you're earlier in your career, you might consider aiming for a more established company.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Yea next time will be for a larger company.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Never hurts to test the waters

Revenue_Rambo

Politicker

Director, Revenue Enablement

Based on their “math” you’re probably working with only 3-4 months of runway.

Also curious as to who are the senior roles they are bringing in? If they are sales then it sounds like they are trying to manage their way out of impending doom.

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Senior engineer and VP of growth. Trying to hack our way to market relevance but I don't forsee a good outcome. Our pricing structure simply isn't competitive against our competitors and we have no competitive advantage in terms of tech or outsized returns for our customers, unfortunately.
The service works and helps people but is not well-differentiated.

spente

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

I’m in the same boat. I was just told that my role will be eliminated at the end of the month and they are cutting almost the entire sales team (12 of us). I just updated my resume and passed it along to some people in my network, hoping that a referral would be a faster way into a company versus applying online. I’m sure you’re already doing that and I wish you all the best in finding a new role. It’s tough out here!

iAMgr00t

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Ah dang, sorry man. Yea I mean it doesn't look like my position is in jeopardy of getting eliminated in the immediate future however as a whole we doing "dumpster fire" type things at the moment so that could change very quickly!

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iAMgr00t

Is it time to start interviewing for a new gig?

30 comments

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