T
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Try2close

Account Executive

Member
Member
Contributor
+1

Survived 2 PIPs and staring down at a 3rd...now what?

Bravado newb here, please be gentle.


I enjoy using bullet points so here we go:

  • mid market AE currently, I have been in the AE game for 7 years now
  • selling Ecommerce tech
  • been at company 3+ yrs
  • Survived first PIP in 2019 and just survived the second PIP in Q2
  • There were hints that unless I blow out my Q3 number early, like right now right now, I will be looking at a 3rd and final PIP with tougher objectives. Something about 3 strikes and you're out? Never heard of such archaic terminology. J/K...I love baseball but back on topic.
  • I will freely admit I am not nor was I ever a super hustlin' go-getter sales bro, however, I do get things done that are asked of me at work except closing big deals lately...hence this lovely situation.
  • I have applied to about a dozen companies already last 2 weeks, spoke to 3-4 of them so far and moving through the interview process. The usual.
  • I will say I do enjoy my current company's culture, the people, the comp and the industry. I do not believe I am singled out to be put on PIP nor do I have any grievances so far against the company. It will probably be an amicable breakup if it comes to that. Think Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. But I doubt I can get me an Ashton next.


So here I am seeking advice from my fellow salespeople: should I go voluntarily/look for new jobs even harder? Should I stay and await my fate? Should I become that super hustlin' go-getter sales bro? ๐Ÿค”

โ˜๏ธ Software Tech
๐Ÿ™ Corporate Experiences
๐Ÿง  Advice
8

15 comments

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alecabral
Arsonist
5
Director - Digital Sales Transformation
2 thoughts come to mind. 1. Why do you think you got into the 1st and 2nd pip? 2. Yes, I would be looking hard for another job right now. For all you know, your name might be printed in a pink slip right now, even if you blow up your numbers. You might love the company culture, but your boss is part of that and it doesnโ€™t look like that person is trying to help you..
Try2close
Member
1
Account Executive
Solid points. I got the first one during my 3rd quarter at the company so I was blindsided then, I thought I had more leash. 2nd one was due to low performance in back to back quarters but I am not the worst performer in both quarters. I actually do feel my direct manager does not really have my back like other managers, he is more of a yesman to his superiors. But I guess I am trying not to use that as an excuse for the PIPs.ย 

Maybe other manager/director levels can chime in from their perspectives on this type of situations?
alecabral
Arsonist
0
Director - Digital Sales Transformation
I'll share my experience as a sales leader: to me it sounds like they are either brutal on how they measure ROI per headcount (I've seen that in companies before), or just expect something out of you they didn't articulate properly. It's your manager's job to be 100% clear in expectations, especially when it comes to quota attainment. It seems based on what you said that you had at least 2 bad quarters. That's not necessarily a PIP driver to me, but it might be to him. Maybe you can have a really open conversation with the guy and ask him what exactly is going on?
Try2close
Member
1
Account Executive
Unfortunately it is hard to have an open convo with my manager. I respect him and we have worked well together in this capacity but he is a tried and true company man. That means he will put company's interests above protecting me - which I do not mind honestly since my production isn't there right now. You know the cliche - it is what it is.
alecabral
Arsonist
0
Director - Digital Sales Transformation
Well...if there's nothing to lose, why not do it anyway? It seems it's either that or start looking for another job.ย 

In any case, best of lucks man,.
Adored
Executive
2
Sales Director
Sounds like they want you out but more importantly, sounds like youโ€™re not that invested, just comfortable. Hope you find the way through
Try2close
Member
0
Account Executive
That is likely the harsh truth. It is a cold world folks!
CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Yeah, itโ€™s time to go. Lot of ecommerce tech or related companies hiring - Shopify, Klaviyo, Kivo, Signifyd, BigCommerce, etc are hiring
CuriousFox
WR Officer
0
๐ŸฆŠ
Time to roll out man. Sounds like this is your 30 day notice.
SaaSKicker1000
Politicker
0
AE II
I was at 55% to quota at EOM June, top performer was at 80%, of a team of 2.

In April and May I put up only 1 sale, and June wound up making it better. But I knew I didnโ€™t want to stick around, I wanted to try something new, and that the writing was probably on the wall.

i literally could not afford a pink slip, so I went and interviewed with a competitor and got a 27% raise in salary to move to them; knew I couldnโ€™t ask my manager for a raise like that, so I peaced it up and here I am.

TLDR; interview with other companies, path of least resistance will be a competitor because better salary + easier on boarding, but hop on to a new company before you get the axe from your current place. Much better than applying from a place of โ€œ I got fired because PIPโ€.
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
Did you have a non-compete? This is something I have considered but I am worried about getting slapped with my company trying to enforce it and screwing me over. I know for a fact I could make the jump and get a solid base raise though. Been thinking this over for a month now.
SaaSKicker1000
Politicker
1
AE II
Well โ€œyesโ€ they have a non-compete but I made sure not to tell the โ€œneed to knowsโ€ where I was going, especially since no one asked.ย 

also, all of our sales reps except 2 have left to go to competitors, so I could tell that it was possible.

of course, different companies = different situations, so sadly I canโ€™t give much input to you on that end in terms of your scenario.

maybe try and see if people have done it in the past? Thatโ€™s all I can think of, because how can you find out what you need to know without telling people youโ€™re probably jumping ship to a competitor.
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
0
Rolling 20's all day
Thanks for elaborating. Im at a company in a saturated industry. Small sales team, no one has gone to a competitor. It's a company that I worked for, left, and then came back to.

I have a good relationship with my boss for the most part but I'm not feeling the growth that I want, and I know I am underpaid as a base salary for a sales professional. And since coming back they lowered comp by half.
ย 
Without going on too much, I have posted about it a few weeks ago where you can read more.

I figure by fall I'm coming up to the point where I'll know what my plan is.ย 
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
Damn 3 PiPs at the same company. Sounds like a record ๐Ÿ˜…

m by now they just use it to motivate you?
Try2close
Member
0
Account Executive
I was informed that they are PiPing me because they want me to stay and do well but I can't say I buy into that fully. However, per the first PIP terms, it mentioned they can cut me anytime after the first PIP without giving me a second PIP so who really knows?ย 

A part of me wants to survive the 3rd PIP and I actually have deals to get there just to peacock...at 60% attainment YTD ๐Ÿ˜‚ย 

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