TheAsSaaSsin

Account Executive

Take it or Leave it

Looking to hear some of the experiences in this room regarding comp negotiations. I work for a software company that just IPO'd and raised close to $200M. I have been at the company for 3 years and have moved from SDR -> AE during that time. However, even with the title changes and immense increases in responsibility I have only received a total of $2,700.00 in raises.

I currently am responsible for $1.73M in revenue and have already more than exceeded my targets. I have been promised a formal raise coming 2022 however, the company doesn't provide comp change information until late January and anytime you try to negotiate or ask for more, leadership just tells you that targets and comps have already been set in the system and its too late to make any changes. I have also been told numerous times that I make what I do because I am young and they are "taking a risk" even though I have never missed a target. Its a very take it or leave it style of promoting.

Has anyone else dealt with something similar? If so, how did you approach it?

I have to add (and its unfortunate) but I love the company I work for, and quite frankly my only complaint at all is my comp. But if I have to hear one more time "well when I was your age I only made $xxxx" I might lose it.

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✌️ Growing Pains

🎯 Career Development

18

29 comments

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funcoupons

WR Officer

15

👑

You're being taken advantage of and it's time to move on. Companies are falling over themselves to hire good AEs at competitive salaries right now. You're almost guaranteed a major raise wherever you go given your OTE is only 70k.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

4

Sales

Yeah you gotta move. You’re slotted where you are and maybe bump up if you leave and come back after 6 months or a year.

TheAsSaaSsin

Contributor

2

Account Executive

Do you actually think that works? I have heard this idea before. But it just shocks me that companies would rather eat the turnover costs associated with this rather than just pay fairly to begin with.

funcoupons

WR Officer

7

👑

Unfortunately the majority of people (including business leaders) aren't that fucking bright.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

3

Sales

Yeah. People get slotted into a salary tier and it’s very hard to move up, without a true promotion or new skill (I.e. working somewhere else). Depending on how your HR works, your probably in one of the lower IC bands and will be there until you’ve been there for 5 or more years. It’s absurd, but yeah, people leave a company to return in 6 months or so with a base that’s 20% more.

funcoupons

WR Officer

5

👑

The easiest way to get a raise is to get a new job. ;)

Honestly I'd never go back to a company that refused to pay me what I was worth...they don't deserve me. It's like going back to a shitty ex. Nah man.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

It does work. Crazy, and ridiculous, but true. It was looked at as the only way to be lifted up to industry standard.

InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

4

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

Coups out here spitting straight facts.

CharmingSalesGal

Politicker

5

Account Executive

I hate to say this because you said you love your company but that is BULLSHIT. You deserve more, no matter your age, if you're exceeding.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

I hate stories like these. It's hard to come to the realization sometimes. Go somewhere you are wanted!

TheAsSaaSsin

Contributor

5

Account Executive

The promptness and similarities from all your replies so far have already been a reality check. Tough pill to swallow that you are getting taken advantage of when the company preaches that they will always look out and take care of employees. @CharmingSalesGal @funcoupons @braintank

funcoupons

WR Officer

6

👑

Words are much different than actions. Companies like this rely on being able to guilt kindhearted and loyal people into staying. It's BS. Take care of yourself.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

5

SaaS Eater

To put it lightly - youre getting fucked.

With your experience you should be making 100k base 100k variable easy it sounds like. Company may be great but there are plenty others out there that will pay you your worth.

If you really want to stay, have a candid convo about your general worth on the market, what you have produced and what you are looking for comp wise. If they cant make it happen, time to start looking elsewhere.

Diablo

Politicker

4

Sr. AE

I have heard this before and I love it - " Never love your company too much, they might not love you tomorrow"

If I were you, I would look for another opportunity for sure and get way more raise than mere 2k for the year.

FormerStartupJobHopper

Tycoon

2

AE

Bro, you have to leave. It sucks, I don't like switching companies either. But you are being underpaid by half, or more.

I checked your profile and you live in the Toronto area right? Isn't that a very high cost of living city? And I assume that 70k figure is Canadian dollars. The American dollar is worth more right now I believe, so those numbers are even worse. It'd be like making about 55k USD OTE.

In a major metro area in the US right now, table stakes for an early career but successful SMB/mid-market SaaS AE is 60k base 100k OTE. You could argue it's more.

To be blunt, I'll make double your OTE this year and my quota is 1/3rd of yours. That's if I don't get into accelerators. Get out, but choose wisely. No need to rush to a bad option, this is an employees job market.

funcoupons

WR Officer

2

👑

70k in Toronto is for lack of a better word, total ass. It's barely going to get you a middle class existence there unless you want to commute two hours each way every day. Fuck that. OP is worth at least double that and WILL get it if they start throwing resumes out there.

buckets1

Politicker

2

AE

The “when I was your age” argument is total BS. When old crusty sales leaders were your age you also didn’t have to drop six figures on down payments for a decent house in major metro markets and college funds weren’t necessary cuz kids could legit work their way through college with no debt.

SaaSam

Politicker

2

Account Executive

GTFO. Seriously, if their only excuse is your tenure then that's all it is. An excuse. They are trying to justify not paying you more which is toxic. You only feel the need to justify something if it isn't 100% clear to you that you've made the right decision.

TheOverTaker

Politicker

2

Senior Account Executive

"You're young " is the biggest bullshit excuse I've ever heard. Sales is about who is performing not who is older. If you're performing you deserve the rewards. Might be time to dump these bozos.

SaaSecurity

Opinionated

1

Enterprise Account Executive

Everyone’s already said this but you gotta bail. If leaders are telling you “when I was your age I made $…” that’s bad news. It’s not your fault they made shit money and didn’t climb as fast as you have. Good luck on the search but I’m sure you’ll find something quick!

braintank

Politicker

0

Enterprise Account Executive

What's your current OTE and quota?

TheAsSaaSsin

Contributor

1

Account Executive

OTE: $70K CAD
Quota: $1.73M USD

braintank

Politicker

0

Enterprise Account Executive

Is the 70k split 50/50?

TheAsSaaSsin

Contributor

0

Account Executive

60/40

braintank

Politicker

6

Enterprise Account Executive

You're dramatically underpaid.

For comparison I work at Series C security SaaS company. Quota is $1.2M USD, OTE is $300K USD (50/50 split).

You've consistently beat quota and have shown tremendous upward progression (SDR->AE in 3 years) and are getting jerked around and disrespected.

Go get another competitive offer. I'd wager in this market you can get a 50-75% increase in OTE (perhaps even more, depending on your experience).

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

Well said @braintank

FromaBlankPerspective

Politicker

0

District Manager

Just the tiniest and most specific of two cents here, as someone who has sold the systems they are blaming, you can absolutely make those changes at anytime.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

0

Blow it up

I hate the age excuse. When they were your age were they closing $1.73m in revenue? Un-fuckin-likely.

You are the one taking a risk by sticking with them, potentially wasting years with no path out of the box they put you in. I've been there and regret it.

Title or responsibility bump entails a base bump. I look at it in a way that everything I take on that removes time for me to close deals and earn more commission is something I need to be compensated for.

Also, how can they set comp in stone, but not tell you what it is for months? That makes no sense.

Run my friend, run fast.

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