Dovah profile picture
Dovah profile picture

Dovah

BDR (Business Development Rep)

Opinionated
Member
Personal Narrative
+3

The difficult interview question

It 's shaping up that I'll be back in job search mode soon.

I'm not prepared to be asked why I've spent so little time in seat for my most recent experience.

Curious how others respond to the "Not enough experience" or "You've moved around a lot" interview objections.

Tips are appreciated.
🧠 Advice
🤝 Interviewing/Offer
🙅‍♀️ Objections
15

27 comments

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Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
If your most recent job tenure was really short, you could leave it off the resume, if you are suspecting you're about to be let go. Then you can simply state you've been seeking the right opportunity.

However, it sounds like you've had other short tenures, which is a whole other set of concerns a future employer may have. More context around whatever else is going on will be helpful to this group to help you sort out appropriate responses.
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
Yea I have. I’m in my twenties and I’m committed to figuring out what it is I want to pursue a career in so I’ve tried many things.

In an effort to remain somewhat anonymous and not out myself like Mr @braintank I’m trying not to disclose much.
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
Wait you know who I am based on that?
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
👀🍿
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I don't know who you are...so there's that.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
OK, so you've tried many things, but not too many short stints in sales yet? What I was getting at was to find out that you have or have not not job hopped too much within the industry. Of course, the underlying question would be if you had been continually being let go from sales roles, why that would be, and see if there's a bigger thing that needs to be addressed. If this is your first sales role and it didn't work out, do you know why? Was it you, the job, the newness, expectations that were out of alignment? (I see you answered that earlier, in that the job was not as described) Do you still want to be in sales, or are you rethinking that?

If you still want to be in sales, start looking around. The job not being as described as your reason for leaving is honest without being negative. You can explain in an interview that after a decent amount of experience in many industries, you've discovered that you're really interested in sales, like x about their company, and are ready to go. Don't be negative or too detailed about the current company's shortcomings; keep it simple.
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
Great response, thank you much appreciated
braintank
Politicker
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Hard for us to answer that question for you, without knowing why...

I explained two short stints (<6 month) thusly:

1) followed my mentor, but company didn't have PMF so left
2) great company, but didn't pay commission as outlined in the plan we agreed to. My wife was pregnant with our first child so I had to find a place where I knew I'd earn enough to provide for my family
Once I had another longer stint on my resume I erased those 2.
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
Many changes were just implemented to my position that were not disclosed when I originally signed on.

In a earlier stage org this obviously to be expected. Yet the situation I was described when interviewing turns out to be very different from the current.
MrFinkle
Personal Narrative
1
Account Manager
The answer you outlined seems Legit. They’ll likely sniff out a fib but if your sincere in why you moved and clear on where you want to be and it aligns with the hiring companies values you should be alright.
finboi
Notorious Answer
1
Fi-nance
“I am 100% committed to getting promoted in this job since I’ve moved around more than I would have liked to”
AnchorPoint
Politicker
1
Business Coach
Honestly is always best, however, if your answer is that you simply do not know what you want to do in life... good luck.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
How short a stint are we talking about here?
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
< 6 Months
Gasty
Notable Contributor
0
War Room Community Manager
If it's just once, you shouldn't worry much. If you're actually a hopper, start building a storyline around it?
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
"the youve moved around alot" one is easier than you think.

Just make sure you have a solid story.
for each company explain in 2-3 sentences why you left, and what you learned and how its helped you going forward.

do that for each company and show that its helped you progress as a professional and you should be good.

DONT trash talk the companies, and DONT ramble on too much.
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
Depends on what the real reason is and if it is a good story. If a product is unsellable and there’s little to no one hitting their numbers then it’s a very strong story.
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
I get mixed opinions on this. On one hand we have hundreds of clients so it has a market fit. On the other, those qualified leads are few and far between.
Justatitle
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
What’s average attainment for your sales team overall and the specific team you work on?
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
"I have taken some career risks which haven't always panned out. But I have learned a lot from them, such as..."

"I have been presented some great opportunities which on paper were great, but when I got there, it wasn't as advertised"
TheEnglishMajor
Opinionated
1
Account Executive
Offer up examples of how each of those moves have given you unique experience you can bring to the table for the current job. you also need to convey passion for whatever the new company does in a way that will make them think this is your dream job and that you aren't a flight risk
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
1
Bravado's Resident Asshole
how has this gone for you?
Dovah
Opinionated
1
BDR (Business Development Rep)
As of right now I’ve stayed put because of the layoffs and I’m about to move so I need stable income. Once I’m settled in the new location I’ll be doing a heavy job search to get the fuck out of dodge
GreenSide
Politicker
0
Sales manager
When you say you've moved around a lot, how much is "a lot"?
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
After graduation I stayed with a company for a year and moved to a new one. Never had an internship
I’m college last more than a year and most of my jobs have been under a year as wel
GreenSide
Politicker
1
Sales manager
So this is your second company post-graduation? I wouldn’t worry about longevity for positions during college. If someone cares about that, that says more about them than it should you IMO.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
You just have to go with the truth and it will always help. Because if they dont like the answer it isnt the role you would like

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