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gzkatt

Sales Rep

Fire Starter
Contributor

Need Career Advice Please

Hey everyone, I’m going to be graduating soon from university and have two potential offers to decide from.

1st offer: Technical Program Manager at tech company that hasn’t laid anyone off yet. $110k base, $8k bonus. Great WLB and culture, comp on the lower side compared to market. 


2nd offer: Associate Account Executive at tech company. I would go through development program for 7 months then graduate as an AE. Recruiter hasn’t gotten back to me after I told them my deadline with the offer 1 company was on Tuesday (reality it’s this coming Monday, just wanted time to decide between the two). It’s been two weeks since my interview and she said sorry we are finalizing some thing on our end but will let you know asap, they still haven’t gotten back to me which is rubbing me off the wrong way, especially with the news of layoffs at this company


I really wanted to get into tech sales and explore it while I’m young but I wanted to ask y’all if it would be smart to accept the offer even if I happen to get it by Monday with an impending recession. 

Is tech sales smart to get into during a recession? 

I have other new grad AE interviews lined up at other companies with OTE of $170-250k and just not sure if the commission data is reliable either with the upcoming recession. Sorry I’m rambling here but trying to manage taking risks in my 20s but also being smart. I am really interested in the offer 1 position too and can see a transfer into FAANG as a product manager later on as well. 

Thank you all
🧠 Advice
🚀 Career Goals
☁️ Software Tech
15

19 comments

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BourbonKing
Valued Contributor
3
VP of Sales
If you want to get into tech sales, holdout for an offer from J2. It's easier to get out of sales once you're in it than it is to get in it once you've been doing something else for several years. Itch that scratch now. If you find out that sales isn't for you, you can always go be a program manager later.
activity
Politicker
2
VP, Business Development
If you want to get into sales, take the AAE job. It sounds like they have an extensive training program and that is the main thing you're looking for early in your career. A great training program can propel you years ahead of peers sometimes by giving you a rock solid foundation/sales process.
SaaSsy
Politicker
0
AE
Was going to say that as well - if you can get a year of training, learning and risk taking out of a company at the beginning of your sales career, take it! Recent layoffs is a concern and I understand your frustration w/ the lack of communication and follow through but is that just on the recruiter end (and is said recruiter internal or external?). I always communicate directly with a hiring manager as soon as I meet them b/c IMO most recruiters suck and you want to negotiate with that person directly anyway.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
2
Bravado's Resident Asshole
I'd say if sales is your goal, then go for a sales job. If it's not, then got for the other one and best of luck to you on your journey.
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
If you want to be in sales then take the sales job.
That 1st offer is really really great for just leaving university. wow.

It is not a bad idea to get into sales durring a recession. It just depends on what company you are joining. Sounds like there could be a nice development plan with the AE role, which is super nice.

it doesnt sound like you can make a bad choice here.

but if you want to be in sales......take the sales role.

what is FAANG?
gzkatt
Fire Starter
3
Sales Rep
Thank you appreciate the detailed response. FAANG is a cringy acronym for the top tech companies: Facebook,amazon, Apple, Netflix, google
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
2
Bravado's Resident Asshole
You kids and your hip lingo. It's hard to keep up.
gzkatt
Fire Starter
2
Sales Rep
Lmao. Sorry L.O.L
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
ah I see. ok yeah I could totally see that being a solid path.
GreenSide
Politicker
1
Sales manager
The details on either job don’t matter. You need to determine whether you want to be in sales or not. Then that’s your answer
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
I would also not be different in my opinion. If selling is my goal, I will pick it up vs anything as it will be more sustainable knowing I want to continue doing that.
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
1
Officer of ♥️
congrats on the high paying roles coming straight out of college - I'd go for the program manager role
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
1
Sales Rep
What is comp for the AAE role? If you want to do sales, then I would recommend it but that doesnt mean take the first sales offer you get
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
That's a solid offer leaving university. Congratulations.

If you really do want to pursue Product Management, then that first role is solid.

If you want sales, then pursue the other, but the fact that they haven't finalized the offer is a bit alarming to me, because it's not clear what's driving it and if there's possibly a hiring freeze going on in the background that the hiring managers are trying to get around.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Again, another what should I do post, and another "what do you want to do" answer.
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
1
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
Hahah! I mean, can't blame either! I personally would be scared to take an anonymous person's advice on the face value. I'd want to do my research thoroughly and then maybe weigh in the opinions people post here.
just blabbering
CuriousFox
WR Officer
0
🦊
I like you 🥂
FoodForSales
Politicker
1
AE
I doubt the commission data is reliable, but that said I would go with the bird in hand.
BlueJays2591
Politicker
0
Federal Business Dev Director
Sales.

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