Should I say this at job interviews?

I am currently applying for AE jobs in the software industry after a 6 month hiatus and starting my own company (hardware sales).


My own company isn't supporting me and my family completely yet, therefore the plan is to take on a sales role for the next 2 years and grow my business next to it. Reason for saying 2 years is that my current (safe) projection is that I will earn 2x my current yearly salary (OTE) within that timeframe.


My concern is that the managers will not hire me because they think that my priorities are not on the job, if I say that I have my own thing going on.


How would you position yourself in an interview? Would you say you have a company? Would you say this is a 2 year thing?

☁️ Software Tech
👥 Hiring
🤝 Interviewing/Offer
19
Pachacuti
Politicker
10
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Honestly, I wouldn’t hire you. Why should I put in all the time and effort knowing you’ll leave as soon as your “side hustle” takes off? Unless you’re bringing something more to the table besides just being a hired gun, I would not mention the side job or the two years.
FoodForSales
Politicker
1
AE
this is what I was thinking
WheelofCheese
Opinionated
4
Sales Executive
Truth? You're going to be passed up. I wouldn't hire someone who would have his/her own company on the side. You're asking them to financially support you in the short term whilst you grow your business. How is that a win for the company you're interviewing with? Clearly your priorities would be elsewhere. If you have any hope of being hired, I wouldn't tell them. I get that you need to support your family. Just be careful that you don't get yourself into trouble.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
3
President/CRO
That’s tough. I wouldn’t bring you in as an AE. SaaS AE is a full time role. Maybe you can manage a small side hustle as well but to be fully focused on your startup AND be on a high level sales team I’d have concerns about priorities and/or burnout.

Not to say you can’t pull it off but put yourself in the hiring managers shoes. Why take the risk hiring you when I have plenty of other candidates that want to put everything into this role.
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
3
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Do not talk about your own business, and if you do, tell them that it didn’t work. No one wants to hire anyone with a second job (look at OE). Just say you built it, resized it would take years and you just don’t see the return, and keep building on the side without telling them.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Not saying to do this, but..."it's a family business, my wife is running it, and I'm on the books and will help out if she needs it".

Actually, can your wife do any of the work on this? Or is she too busy already?

But as the others have said, you're going to have a very tough time finding someone to hire you if they know you're not going to be fully committed to the job they have. So you'll need to find a way to be attractive to an employer who wants that f/t AE.
Filth
Politicker
3
Live Filthy or Die Clean
Lie and fake it till you get that job. It's us against them and they got the cheddar. No reason to give them easy red flags like 2 year shelf life and competing priorities. Your a stable family man with standard hobbies and a great work ethic and sales background.

Cmon - you would shift yourself on a discovery call with a big prospect...that's exactly what a job is. Time to blend in and pop off the paper and make everyone love you, not have questions about your side hustle.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
I wouldnt bring it up during the interview, dont think you need to hide as much if you are
coletrain
Politicker
2
Account Executive
No mention of your side-hustle at all.

Do mention that you want to support your family and will work hard to achieve that goal of yours. Nothing you have said in this post would make me think this goal is false.
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
2 year thing will land you a rejection while you’re on that call. If you have any plans for you, people won’t invest in you as they know you won’t be giving your 100%. I’ll keep my mouth shut. I know some companies allow you to do your own stuff as far as you do it after working hours/weekend etc. (not full time)
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
You don’t say that. You say you went on sabbatical. Improved your sales skills (pick a name or two and say you paid for their time) focused on your sick family and did what you had to do to take care of your personal business.

Don’t tell people you have something going on that could be more important than them.

let’s try an example.

hey honey. I just got home after a date with the girlfriend, she’s the fking best.
You asshole!!! Slap!

let’s try that one again.

hey honey. Just got home. Man did work suck. Melinda is a right cunt. Always riding my ass for more calls. So happy that I have your support. I don’t know how I would ever make it through the day otherwise.

see how that’s nice and makes them feel valued? Even though the reality is that Melinda rides you rough shod. And it’s not for calls?
RelationshipMaker
Opinionated
1
Head of Sales
Take on limited-term contract roles only, that way you can be honest and keep the hustle going.
If that’s not an option, I wouldn’t be telling anybody.
ASalesCoach
1
National Director of Sales
I do not know what level you are so this answer might not be a right fit. If you are a senior / leadership role in sales, it is not uncommon to take role as a contractor where you bare more of the financial risk than the employer. they could provide you with a small monthly guarantee and no benefits / taxes, leaving you fully responsible for the rest.
you could negotiate a very nice commission model which i have seen many times offers a significantly higher OTE. It also means that if you do not perform quickly, you are gone. I have friends who do this across 3-4 organizations at once and do extremely well. but they work a lot of hours and bare a very high burden for their financial security.
If you are a lower level seller, I too would not hire you. I invest way too much time and effort into my team to have someone who only plans to be with me for a short period of time.
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Would you even have to state that you have your own company to run,as long as you're willing to adhere to your daily working hours and hit your quota, guess it wouldn't be a problem with em even if you had to tell em!
whodis
Valued Contributor
0
Irrelevant
No, you definitely don’t say that.
14

Job interview…. EEEEK

Question
14
16

Would you respond to a hiring manager that has no job to offer you now ?

Question
21
Would you respond to a hiring manager that has no job to offer you now ?
28% No, come back when something real’s on the table
46% Yes, always happy to explore future opportunities
24% Depends if I’m remotely thinking about a change
2% Answer 4
92 people voted
13

Progress from No interviews to 3 Job Offers…

Question
13