last AE standing

my org recently had another (second) round of layoffs at the beg of the year


then the other guy left on the team got fired


now i'm the only AE on the new biz team with a few AMs that report to someone else now


on the one hand i'm pretty pumped because any and all inbound leads that come in are mine. on the other, 90% of the company's outbound efforts and all of the new logo targets fall on me


we are allegedly hiring a new person, but we are ways away from finding someone, let alone ramping them (which I will be in charge of)


before layoffs happened I was interviewing, but now it seems tougher for me to leave bc I clearly have solid job security


if you were in this position, how would you handle it?

&

am I a shit person for still wanting to leave after leadership clearly has faith in me to succeed?


TIA


PS - Happy 25th Anniversary to The Sopranos

โ˜๏ธ Software Tech
๐Ÿš€ Career Goals
โœŒ๏ธ Growing Pains
17
oldcloser
Arsonist
9
๐Ÿ’€
You are not "a shit person for still wanting to leave after leadership clearly has faith in me to succeed?" Your earned that faith. You get a raise when they let everyone else go? I'm thinking not. Fuck'em.
unclespacejam
Politicker
2
ur dadโ€™s brother
On top of that their new expectation is that you absorb the responsibilities of all of those who were JUST LAID OFF.

Bruh you do not owe them a god damn thing. Donโ€™t let the promise of better opportunities at this company tempt you into staying without getting that shot in writing.

They did it to everyone they laid off whoโ€™s to say it couldnโ€™t have been you (not knocking your abilities here) but if theyโ€™ve done two rounds of layoffs, you may be best to cut your losses and gtfo there as soon as possible. Could be a sinking ship
ZVRK
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Second that. After 14 years in sales already, I`ve learned that you NEED to take care of yourself always, before even thinking what management, or colleagues think of you.

I`m not saying taking care of yourself by all means, but man that has to be your number one. So, evaluate your situation, if you think you can earn more and maintain job security with this new situation, go for it.
braintank
Politicker
6
Enterprise Account Executive
You don't have job security. They laid everyone off.
Phillip_J_Fry
Opinionated
1
Director of Revenue
Exactly. The fact that they're not in a rush to back fill the other role tells me they're probably considering just eliminating that team altogether. Why load up one person with all incoming new leads when they could just dissolve that team and distribute new leads among Ent reps?
tonysoprano
Tycoon
2
Sr. AE
I am the Ent rep. im literally the only new business rep
braintank
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Multiple rounds of layoffs are never a good sign
jefe
Arsonist
1
๐Ÿ
You're assuming that the company will last.

Do you have any idea how many places I've worked at that no longer exist!?
Gasty
Notable Contributor
3
War Room Community Manager
This is not what job security feels like. How to even work in a space where you know, next one could be you?
Definitely not a shit person, if youโ€™re able to get a great opportunity where safe means โ€œsaferโ€ because nothing is safe and secured nowadays.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
๐ŸฆŠ
Dude. Keep the search going. No such thing as loyalty or security here.
wolfofmiami
Opinionated
2
๐Ÿบ
Well Mr. Soprano what you should do is tell your company to hire some marketing. 90% outbound is terrible. The best sale strategy is to market enough to have buyers come to you. What you should also do is ask for a promotion, keep them guessing. You also are in the best situation, because the company is on your back. You succeed youโ€™ll be rewarded for it. You fail they might fire you, but they also might not because youโ€™re the only sales person. So really youโ€™re almost in a position of fuck you, because they need you. But tell them to hire some marketing people. If they already have them tell them to do better at their jobs to make your life easier. Youโ€™re welcome, I just gave you a $10,000 1 hr consulting fee for free in less than 2 minutes. โ˜บ๏ธ
Space_Ghost20
Executive
2
Account Executive
I was in a similar situation (though not exactly the same) in 2022. Company did multiple rounds of layoffs, and I assumed (wrongly) that the three of us who survived were "safe." Two of us were over quota, and brought in the most business all year (though layoffs obviously skewed that data) and the third guy was a new hire and I figured they wouldn't let him go 6 weeks out of training. We were laid off a few days before Halloween. Only my manager and the VP of sales were retained.

So if I were in your situation I absolutely not assume I have job security. I mean maybe you do. But I wouldn't assume that.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Take care of yourself first. Iโ€™d still be looking while making the most of what I can at the current job.
2
Ambassador and Member
Hi, i like the positive thought process. It is fair to ask about the financial health of the company. you may still want to go on those interviews and assess the final offer made to you.

You can then put the 2 side by side and figure out whats best for you. 2 rounds is crazy and most definitely they are not hiring anyone or else they would ve kept one in place unless they were all bad at their job which is highly unlikely.
unclespacejam
Politicker
2
ur dadโ€™s brother
Also shout out Tony Soprano. Rip James Gandolfini

Insert very loud nasal breathing sounds
2
Chief Revenue Officer
Being the last one standing is not job security. It is the opposite. Continue to work hard and stay focused on closing deals and getting commissions.
At the same time set up a dedicated time slot every day to work on your search. Just as you have sacred prospecting time you need sacred career advancement time. Do it on your own clock.
Finally, while I appreciate the loyalty, it is a bit naรฏve. Right or wrong loyalty is rarely a 2 way street. Just asked your colleagues who lost a pay check and healthcare..
Do your best and take care of you and your family.
sleepingjaguar
Opinionated
1
CSM, Emerging Markets
Not at all, itโ€™s alarming when there are layoffs and in many cases more stressful for those remaining. You should 100% ask for more money. Idk how many people they laid off but it could easily have saved them $1mil+ in overhead so whats 25k to throw at you to keep you.

More importantly, with these layoffs in mind, are you confident in the companyโ€™s stability and continued PMF?
pirate
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
Seems like you would get all the inbound leads... anything resulting from those? As others have commented, start looking but be good at your current role until you secure an offer
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
I mean, titanic is ass up in the air, the band is drowned in the water and there's room on the lifeboat for you nut you need to get off the ship
1
Founding BDR
Definitely a few pros here but most seem like cons. Hard to have your full focus on the job when youโ€™re constantly wondering if youโ€™re next.
ceosblow
Personal Narrative
1
Business Owner
Get out now. This happened to me last year and within two weeks I was also laid off.
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