countingmyinterest

Account Executive

Jaded from tech sales?

Hi savages – it's been 2 months since I've been let go (and living in a VHCOL city). Been at 2 shitty VC backed startups the last year and I'm just sick of choosing loser companies.

The job market is terrible and I'm losing my faith in tech sales. Most companies I've talked to have a hiring freeze or are being very very very selective and picky.

I'm worried if I get another job by necessity, it'll be for a shitty startup where quotas are overly high and then I'll get "fired" for underperformance in 9-12 months.

Seems like it's hard to have a good career and salespeople are the pawns for a capitalist society.

Honestly considering going back to school to pivot into private equity at this point. Guaranteed $200k comp even though you'll sell your soul.

🐱 Off-Topic

☂️ Layoffs

☠️ Unemployment

28 comments

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Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Don’t sell tech then. Go sell something else.

And we all sell our souls, just some are more
Obvious about it.

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

Yeah, trying to figure out what that is...

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Tell me more about these 200k guaranteed PE jobs...

coletrain

Politicker

Account Executive

CMI, you want to be in PE? Study for the GMAT and go get that MBA

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

I'm considering it. Used to work for an RE PE firm then pivoted to tech sales.

Usually $100-120k base and then bonus of up to 100% of base.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

If you used to do it then why would you need to go back to school?

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

I was on ops/back office. Pivoted to sales for better earning potential.

Front office makes the $$$

coletrain

Politicker

Account Executive

And to get that, the MBA is generally needed

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

So you're looking at several years of school and 100k+ in debt to start over...

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

I mean I’d consider it. Tech sales has made me good money but I invest in RE on the side.

I’ve also been through the ringer with two VC backed startups and been laid off 2x in the last 18 months.

Just not sure how sustainable this career is

punishedlad

Tycoon

🧙‍♂️

You don't necessarily need to leave tech sales. You just need to find a good company.

What stage were the VC backed startups you were a part of?

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

I love sales. But I've been fucked so many times. Unrealistic quotas and lack of job security leaves me jaded.

Been at seed, series D, series C, and post-IPO.

MurderxExecutions

Account Executive

Don’t listen to anyone trying to give their naive and optimistic advice. PE is wayyyyyy better career than tech sales. The comp, stability, prestige, etc. is unbeatable.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Yeah but there are a lot more sales jobs than PE jobs...

MurderxExecutions

Account Executive

There are several investment funds that employ PE or PE like strategies. After Op has the skillset to enter Private Credit, Hedge Funds, IB, IR at a fund, Internal/External Wholesaling, Asset Management, Endowments or etc. That modeling skillset can go a long way!!

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

Yeah, I’m with you. Just introducing myself to other landlords hoping we can do deals together.

If I can do $10mm in acquisitions in 2 years, it’s gonna set me up for life.

I agree, high finance > tech sales for earning potential but sales > finance for WLB

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

Account Executive

I feel you on this

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

🦡

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Manager

So only thing I'll add is that it's a particularly bad time out there.

Never a bad move to explore your options, but I'd explore sales outside of tech. Lots of great opportunities to be had.

Good luck...

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

"or are being very very very selective and picky"

For every shitty VC-backed company, there are 10 shitty reps who want to work at another one.

I'd love to be in the medical field, but the upfront cost and loss of income is inhibiting. I'd keep on keeping on and take your time finding a new company. Get an hourly job somewhere that you find entertaining to pay the bills while you hunt. I'd love to slang lattes while I search for the perfect job.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Do what’s right for you, it is what it is :)
all the best

new

Valued Contributor

Student

I almost got a job in PE (a handful of final round interviews couldn’t close the deal :( ) but instead took one in tech sales I applied to over 100 PE firms it’s extremely competitive and your up against people trying to exit investment banking. Most people don’t go straight into PE. PE is a grind your job is crunching numbers in excel and doing research on possible deals. When reporting to an MD your doing the dirty work.

However there is some good news a lot of PE firms work to grow EBITDA by leveraging marketing and sales talent. You could apply to these firms on the operations/consulting side.

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

Yeah PE was stressful. I used to work for a REPE firm myself and have some RE deals myself.

I consider it my “real life MBA”.

Alternatively, I’d be down to search for biz to buy for a PE firm

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Sad to know the terrible challenges.
Do you have any experience selling anything else beside SaaS!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

So sorry to hear about your challenges. It is a tough market out there at the moment. Are you getting any nibbles at all? Where are you getting stuck in the process?

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

Yeah I'm getting nibbles. Usually getting to mid-stages then "there are more experienced people".

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

So it’s happening during the interview stage? Suspect there’s something that’s happening there where either your lack of experience is seen as an issue, or you’re not coming across as the best choice for them regardless of experience. If you know it’s going to be an issue, you’re going to have to get in front of it a bit. There will always be somebody with more experience or work in a relevant field, or whatever…so you’re going to need to do your best to have the managers/hiring team see you as the best option regardless of years of experience. Are they tripping you up in the interviews? Do you feel they go well, or no? Asking in case there’s some specific coaching that can be given by someone to help you break through.

Global Operations Director

Are you seeing any difference on roles where you are applying direct vs through a recruiter? There are two things that stand out here:
- qualifying the growth potential of the companies
- navigating the interview process and understanding what the blockers are to success

You don't need a recruiter to get those, but it can help!

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countingmyinterest

Jaded from tech sales?

28 comments

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