B
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BitcoinAddict

AE

Opinionated
Valued Contributor
Member
+6

Say you didn't close anything in an AE role, what do you tell your future employer?

Current role as a sales cycle of 1 year and I have only been in it about 7 months. Had a few deals close to closing but will take more time. I am probably getting laid off soon, fairly certain about it.


Obviously if I tell the truth that I didn't close anything, that looks bad on me.


What would I tell my future employer about my performance here?

☁️ Software Tech
23

26 comments

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poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
11
☕️
We lacked product market fit, resulting in misalignment in our deal cycles between product and reality.
jefe
Arsonist
6
🍁
^^^^
You can also talk about pipeline generated if it makes sense
Salesvirtuoso
0
EVP, North America
Love this answer!
bonez
Politicker
5
Account Executive
It’s your story and you can weave it how you want. You don’t have to disclose you didn’t close anything and you can even tell them the ones that were close did. They have no way of knowing outside of what you tell them.

That said you can easily talk to your process and where you saw success that wasn’t a close. How you gained access, how you built trust, how you laid out their road to success. Lots go into this besides deals won or lost. You can speak to a lot of your success without touching closed deals.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Long sales cycle - and talk about your process. Have you been an AE before, or is this your first AE role? Sorry, I don’t remember. Story can vary depending on your response.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Spin it un your favor bb
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
0
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Everything is spin-able so long as you're not a butt toucher (the type where HR is involved).
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
0
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Everything is spin-able so long as you're not a butt toucher (the type where HR is involved).
Broncosfan
Politicker
0
Account Manager
Would emphasize this but in addition I'd mention how much pipe you anticipate closing if you stay.
peachykeen
Politicker
4
sae e-commerce
Been in this position before - long sales cycles are rough. As others mentioned, talk about the ones that were close, what you were helping them achieve, your sales process. Were these leads you cultivated on your own? Were you in a new industry? All things to think about that you can make look like success was achieved.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
❤❤❤
BigShrimpin
Catalyst
3
Account executive
talk about deals you took through to the closing stage or as far as you could, what your process was, what you learned, etc etc
sell yourself obviously its gonna be hard with no closing under youre belt but the right one might take a chance on you
SalesBeast
Politicker
2
Sales Leader
Tell them you are a F’n closer and sold tons of shit. They’re never going to know the truth. You need to sell yourself. F it.
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
2
Enterprise AE
Took a risk and miscalculated it. Looking to get back into a role where I can apply my skillset to drive business forward.
SerialBiller
Executive
1
Account Executive
Make that shit up son
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
would only tell if asked about it and if the sales cycle was 1 year and you had a pipeline then there isn't anything to be ashamed of.
Fenderbaum
Politicker
0
Retired Choirboy🪕
I agree with @Justatitle. In an informal manner, treat your next interview(s) as a deposition of sorts... Don't talk about it unless you're asked. Every other subject in the interview, fire away with your charm, facts, and BS. You'll be fine. 😎
Archie
Fire Starter
1
AE
Tell recruiter that average deal length is 18 months. You’ve been their 8 so haven’t sold anything. Make up that you lead the team in pipe gen and are forecasting 2x quota.
1
Founder
Our sales cycle was 1 year. In the 7 months I was there, I moved X deals through the pipeline from stages 1,2,3 to 3,4,5 using A,B,C range of tactics. I learnt what was working, and implemented improvements to shorten the sales cycle for others on the team.

Ultimately, I decided to move on because long sales cycles are hard for me to learn from this early in my career.

OR

Ultimately the company decided that it did not have a sustainable product market fit with sales cycles this long. I enjoyed what I was able to learn and achieve, and I'm proud of the deals I advanced and the improvements I made.
BitcoinAddict
Opinionated
0
AE
Thank You!
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
Talk about your prior success, your process, and your pipeline creation. And this has been a big learning moment for sales roles you want. And why you are interested in x month sales cycles
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
talk about the pipeline, sales cycle, market fit, past role and results.
SoftCoreWareAsAService
Executive
0
Sales Manager
If the truth looks bad to your next employer, that employer isn’t the right fit for you. Either you or the employer are in the wrong room.
CloseItOG
0
GTM Sales Leader
Pipeline, forecast, and process improvements. How were you an asset. Stay as positive as possible and never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Recruiters fucking love stories
Svarty2
0
Independent Consultant
I would simply tell them, if asked, your team rank and the deals and accounts you "worked on".
TallR
0
Account Executivee
A friend was in the exact same situation.-Talk about pipe growth. From zero to millions in this new territory.-What sales/marketing plays did you run to grow pipe?-Talk about average sales cycles being 6-12 months.-Talk about everything you learned, especially stuff that will benefit your new employer.-Talk about how nobody on the team was making quota. Don't sound overly negative; however, point this out.
Good luck.

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