bonez

Account Executive

Terrible update - Laid off out of nowhere

hey all!

appreciate all the help I've gotten here in the past but now feel super lost.

Been slowly looking for a job and it's been up and down. Today I was let go out of completely nowhere. I've managed to be 150% above quota every month/quarter and yet I was told today I've passed on too many bad deals. When I asked why wasn't I aware of a single one the head of sales swore he talked to me about this issue and used slack screenshots of him telling me our process is broken as proof. I tried to explain this is the process and not me but the new CEO was in the room and he swore he told me left and right about this. the worst part was him making me feel like I suck at sales and throwing me under the bus. I've been praised in all hands meetings left and right but apparently now I'm dog shit.

I transferred into sales here and the HoS is only a few months in but this is a complete blindside.

I've heard this happens to the best of the best in sales and just wanted to know how some of you have handled this? It stings and hurts my ego but I know I'll get through this.

thanks!

🎯 Career Development

36

51 comment

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InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

21

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

First off no two ways about it your situation sucks my dude. Always hurts to get blindsided.

Best way forwarded. Chill the rest of the week.

Do a light tidy up of the CV, ping a couple recruiters but take the weekend to refresh a tad.

Come Monday start hustling again.

Sales is a lot of highs and lows, unfortunately, this be one of them lows.

Incognito

WR Officer

16

Master of Disaster

Market is on fire - you’re gonna laugh about this in 6 months

bonez

Politicker

3

Account Executive

That's the goal. Appreciate the confidence. Can't wait for the future.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

11

🦊

I'm sorry this happened to you bug. Feel what you need to feel tonight. Wake up tomorrow ready to take no prisoners applying for new jobs. You've got this. ❤🦊

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Hell yeah. Ready to get this bread. Appreciate this man.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

9

VP of Sales

Why would they let go someone producing at that level? . If you’re passing on bad deals, and still producing, then this is on your HoS. Leadership is about taking more responsibility than anyone else, and this pussy is throwing a producer under the bus? PoS, not HoS. . Shake yourself off dude. There’s always room to improve, don’t omit the feedback. Add it to your self-improvement, but know that your stats and accomplishments will carry you forward. . Take a few days, clear your head positively, know that as bleak as it feels they’re hiring like maniacs out there right now. . Clean up the CV, plaster your quota over-achievement on there, sell the lay off to future employers as professional prejudice by the new manager and you’ll be fine. You won’t be short of offers. . You literally can’t do worse than where you were, if it’s under THAT new management, so the future is bright.

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

The comment is giving me life. I truly feel this is a failure of leadership and if I had known what and where the issues were I would have loved to fix them and move on. To this day I still don't know what I was doing wrong and what bad deals I was passing through. If I knew, I could have course corrected but instead I'm out of a job.

Appreciate the optimism. I'm going to throw my resume out to everyone I can and hopefully have a new gig soon.

RealPatrickBateman

Politicker

1

🔪Amateur Butcher🔪

"leaders" are just people too, and from what I know, people fuck up ALOT. Put the BS comments aside and refocus on you and what you bring to the table. Unfortunately, shit like this happens. But THIS, this is just the beginning for you my friend. A pit-stop on the journey, certainly NOT the destination. Only one thing to do now. Get back on the horse and sell your fucking ass off! .... Success is the best revenge 🗣

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

5

Exec Director, Major Accounts

Always two sides to the story. I’ve let go of people who it was REALLY apparent on my side, but somehow they missed the cues. Including write ups.

For others reading - know that once you’re in the room, the decision has been made. You’re not pushing your way back in. It’s coached by HR to use specific terms to ensure they’re is no grey area.

sucks @bonez my heart goes out to you. If you can muster it, ask the manager if they can give you a few things they’re recommend working on while you’re searching for a new job. Silver lining is a strong market. Take a couple days to recoup and get back out there.

bonez

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Totally get where you're coming from. I was a marketing director and have laid folks off myself. And I know how to document those actions and have been there when people felt blindsided. But I always, always made sure to make sure people knew it was coming. I wasn't given that same luxury.

It's unfortunate but it is what it is. And yes, you're absolutely correct, once you're in that room don't fight for you job back, the decision has already been made.

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

4

Exec Director, Major Accounts

Weird there was no corrective action outside of slack messages. Shows weakness on their end.

bonez

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I couldn’t agree more. If I had had something of a meeting or a chat or even a road map to success I wouldn’t even question this. But I kept getting praised on quota goals and now I’m unemployed. Unfortunately weak leaders. I’m not the only victim. A few members on sales got the axe.

CCP

Opinionated

1

VP, Business Development

If you were crushing and depending on your jurisdiction, might be a wrongful dismissal suit as an option.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

4

sales

where do you live? i'm looking for AE's.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

1

VP of Sales

Where you at @GrizzleMcThornBody?

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

0

sales

Why don’t you tell me where you’re at instead

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

0

VP of Sales

Lol, I don’t mind. Vancouver, Canada at the moment. Relocating to Toronto in the very near future.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

0

sales

I’m in a different country

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

0

VP of Sales

Shockingly, I guessed that much.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

0

sales

Congrats

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

0

VP of Sales

Thanks dude!

bonez

Politicker

0

Account Executive

LA area but willing to work east coast or central hours.

bonez

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Los Angeles, just in case you thought I meant Louisiana.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

3

sales

shucks, we don't offer remote. have you tried the Bravado job board?

https://bravadomember.typeform.com/to/GZuqakHs

bonez

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I just filled out the typeform! Thank you!

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

1

sales

Yw pics or it didn’t happen

Justatitle

Big Shot

2

Account Executive

@bonez been there my man. Laid off twice out of nowhere and both times the next opportunity was better than the one I previously had. The feeling right now sucks no other way to say it but know you have a desirable skill set and will be employed again in 2-4 weeks.

bonez

Politicker

1

Account Executive

You were right. Better job with Better pay and it took 2 weeks!

Justatitle

Big Shot

1

Account Executive

Been around the block 1 too many times. Never let this shit get you down.

CaneWolf

Politicker

2

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

This blows. Sounds like some political bullshit happened behind the scenes or they're just trying to hide layoffs. Your resume is gonna speak for itself. I'd recommend the new Bravado Jobs thing. @GeneralCorp and @sahil are driving that and I bet you'll get a job real fast.

lisa

Notable Contributor

3

Product @ Bravado

Yes please fill out the Bravado Jobs application, and we'll match you to a bunch of fast-growing SaaS companies!

bonez

Politicker

0

Account Executive

I did this ASAP btw and have already gotten some things coming my way. Great service so far.

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

2

Account Executive

As someone who was also let go, I can assure if you're at 150% of quota you are in for a pay raise.

I'll have 2 offers on the table next week. (Leveraging them against each other to keep the interview process moving) and I'm looking at a minimum of a 25% OTE increase, options, and potentially a fat signing bonus

My point is the market is hot for qualified and successful sales reps

LordBusiness

Politicker

2

Chief Revenue Officer

I’ve been fired twice. Both times I was the #1 performer in each role (direct contributor and middle manager). Both times I learned a lot about myself and wouldn’t be where I am today as a leader without those learnings. Sorry it happened, it will sting. But use it as fuel and knowledge to take to your next gig

bonez

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Doing exactly this. Appreciate the kind words and motivation. Doing my best to snag another job ASAP.

goose

Politicker

2

Sales Executive

Fuck. Good luck.

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

I never faced such issues. Fortunately always met good people. Your manager is an ass.

But honestly, there could be many reasons why this action was taken that you would never know.

sellingsellssold

Politicker

1

SDR

That means that company was just not for you, do not take it personally. You will move on to bigger and better things. Also right now is a great time to be looking for a job in sales as so many companies are hiring. Best of luck with whatever comes your way!

bonez

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Thank you so much for this. I appreciate this. I'm looking forward to the future!

yer_blues

Opinionated

1

Sales Director

You dodged a bullet. Firing someone should never come as a surprise if it is performance related. Market is scorching right now, chill this weekend and get after it on Monday.

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

So sorry to hear this, it blows, but it'll also blow over.

As so many have said, the market is hot. Check the Bravado job board, chill for a bit, and make sure you pursue any outstanding commission cheques.

Don't back down on that.

dcarb

Good Citizen

1

Account Manager

I would be pissed that I spent any amount of effort making that piece of shit company money. It's a bullshit situation and sounds like you worked for a POS manager. They did you a favor! You are lucky to be out of there. If you truly got zero feedback from management then I think you are better off. LOTS of sales orgs are dysfunctional and here's the kicker....they don't know it. Here's part of the reason why, most sales orgs promote the best sales person into management. Makes sense right? They are really good at selling our product so they will make a great sales manager and show other people how to sell, right? Wrong! It doesn't work that way and it can hurt the sales org by putting the wrong person in charge. I could give examples for days but I won't. 😁 IMO you are allowed to feel sorry for yourself for about 24-48 hours but that's it. After, that you've to tell yourself that you DON'T SUCK and that you were working for the wrong organization.

Don't talk shit about your old company though. Never ever burn a bridge. If you stay in the same town you are bound to cross paths with those same people again. It's not worth it. Brush that shit off and update your resume and when you do, you make sure to say how much you kicked ass at that company. And when they ask you why you left you tell them something about toxic work culture and that the behavior exhibited by management didn't align with your core beliefs. 😂 Life is too short to suffer fools and assholes. Good luck!

DFWSpartan2013

Opinionated

1

Presales Manager

Not sure what type of sales you’re in but UKG is hiring like crazy.

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

1

Enterprise AE

Give that LinkedIn "open to work" button a click, come back in a few days, and start having conversations. I'm averaging 3-4 messages a day from recruiters in the SaaS space looking for closers, and I'm not even "open to work".

cw95

Politicker

1

Sales Development Lead

Sorry to hear that matey, life is a wee bit shite sometimes ay! However, silver linings will come your way!

Lumbergh

Politicker

1

Sr Account Exec

Your numbers and track record are your bona fides. Sounds like you have a dipshit sales leader or there are things we aren't hearing about. It's unheard of except for at the most upside down companies for someone with a consistent 100% let alone 120-150% attainment be let go, even if they take a dump on the CEO's desk.

Polish your numbers and go waltz into another job. This is a lucky break for you if anything

bonez

Politicker

0

Account Executive

You were right! Super lucky break for me after all. Better job with better pay!

happyhunter

Politicker

1

spittin' sunshine

I'm so sorry this has happened to you and it's totally okay to feel let down/disappointed/all the things. That being said, this not a terrible update...an AMAZING update! You will find a better role and company so fast and be back on your feet before you know it! Enjoy the time to reset and take a few days for yourself before you start job searching. We are here to help!

bonez

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Turned out amazing and I got a better job 2 weeks later. You were right :)

dwightyouignorantsale

Politicker

0

Account Executive

This smells a little weird to me, that they claim they have talked to you about this multiple times, but don’t have any sort of file or tangible proof on it, aside from a few screenshots of a sales process conversation. Nonetheless, there are THOUSANDS of sales positions open across the globe and many would be happy to bring on someone who consistently beats quota. I have a feeling that in 6-8 months, this will be one of those instances where you’ll be thankful this happened because you will be in a much better spot. Good luck to you! 🍀

GDO

Politicker

0

BDM

So many companies are hiring right now. No issue :) but I know it sucks.

also try to get a severance

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