36 comments

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braintank
Politicker
13
Enterprise Account Executive
Always be looking
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Fair, guess it's time to brush up the resume. The worst.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
9
President/CRO
It depends on the reason for the layoffs. A lot less competition for promotions now if you feel the company is ready to compete now that they've made these cuts. If you think it's too little too late or a bad product/company I'd be searching.
Beans
Big Shot
3
Enterprise Account Executive
"Reduction in Force" - simply not hitting targets, we're still in a heavy growth mode to meet investor expectations.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
0
President/CRO
So they’re actively backfilling those roles?
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
8
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
You should always be having conversations. Doesn’t mean you are leaving or looking to make a move, it is because extra data points has a HUGE value.
Beans
Big Shot
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Solid.

Recruiters have slowed down a lot the last few months too, makes me wonder if the market is tougher than last year.
thestartupsaasfella
Member
3
Vice President of Sales
Agreed - It is much tougher based on the number of calls I have (not) gotten in the past few months compared to normal, although it does feel like it starting to turn a bit.
oldcloser
Arsonist
8
💀
A passive employment search takes very little. Even if it’s a resume polish and only clicking the “easy apply” button.

An active employment search while unemployed takes a ton. It’s infinitely more difficult. So, yes, you should be looking, always. I think it’s mandatory.
Beans
Big Shot
3
Enterprise Account Executive
Mentality shift I need to make, thanks for the input.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
8
🦊
It can't hurt to be prepared bb ❤
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
Straight to the point yo !
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Big fax.
Justatitle
Big Shot
7
Account Executive
passively sure, but if there is to be another cut, I don't think it would show up for a few months at least
Beans
Big Shot
2
Enterprise Account Executive
That's the vibe, we've made what needs to be done to carry the year, if we miss again then it'll be a January move.

So I might as well start prepping now.
RandyLahey
Politicker
7
Account Executive
Always have a backup plan. A jobs opportunity pipeline is a major plus in this environment.
Beans
Big Shot
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Love the SN.

And you're right, I'm my own product, time to start prospecting.
RandyLahey
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Get after it you got this champ!
pirate
Big Shot
6
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Hard to say. I think there are two kinds of companies. Ones who have gone through layoffs and ones that have not yet gone through them. I think it has been very turbulent recently and personally I am happy I have a job and I do my best and I am treated well. No company is perfect

Obviously if you feel like you have more to contribute somewhere else and want to do something different go for it and start applying. And good luck! But I would not do it just because of layoffs and tenured people leaving. I have been in situations that I did not realize how good it was because people around me complained all the time and people around you have a MASSIVE effect on your own opinions and feelings.
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
5
Account Executive
Yes.

There are no guarantees more cuts aren’t coming.
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Definitely feels like missing the yearly goal puts a target on everyone in Jan.
detectivegibbles
Politicker
5
Sales Director
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
4
Account Executive
10% doesn't necessarily mean disaster is on the horizon. It could be a harbinger of things to come, but not always.

Company that laid me off last year did a 30% cut right before Labor Day, and insisted that was the it for cuts for the year. Month and a half later they cut 45% of the remaining people, which included me and all the AEs who had survived the prior cut. Went from a peak of 170 employees middle of the year, to 65 by Halloween. According to one of the guys I kept in touch there, they had another cut in January, and now have just over 40 employees left.
DataCorrupter
Politicker
2
Account Executive
I've had super similar experiences to @Space_Ghost20.

You'll know it if they're cutting non-performing reps, I think we all do and can understand it when it happens. But if it doesn't feel like they're cutting some necessary fat, then they're doing it for some reason other than that.

Remember that most companies fail. Start-up stats say some 90% fail (I'm sure everyone has heard some variation of this). Cuts are usually an indication that they're on shaky ground somehow. Whether they are actually on shaky ground is a different thing entirely. The board may feel like they need to create more runway (reduce expenses to reach the goal in year X), they may be preparing to sell (and also need to reduce expenses to seem more attractive on paper), they may need another round of funding and the VC wants to see X% utilization of each rep/headcount. Those could all be reasons to reduce headcount.

I'm more on the side that thinks a cut/RIF IS a sign of things to come. Only because I've seen that more often than the opposite. Most companies tend to fail, so cuts/RIFs are usually an early sign that something going awry. It's good to keep note of, because after that, signs tend to pile up (if indeed things are heading downhill).

If you're cool with the more seasoned reps who left, ask them why. You can learn quite a lot. They may see things you don't yet or don't have the experience to. Keep note of it and eventually you'll become the seasoned rep who leaves when you see the signs.
Space_Ghost20
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
Great points. And I'll also add that in that first round of layoffs my last company did, the AEs they laid off were brand new. Hired 6-7 weeks or so before the RIF. Had probably only been selling for a week or two. There was no chance they were fired for performance under the guise of a RIF.
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
That is absolutely fucking brutal.

There's been some additional attrition since the cut which gives me a bit more of a safety net but the anxiety is thick internally right now.
Diablo
Politicker
3
Sr. AE
Plan B is always good. Did they give any reason for this layoffs. If it’s a budget cut, then it’s the signal. Some companies are also balancing this off by onboarding new reps (sort of restructuring). If that’s the case, I would take a chance if I feel right about the environment.
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Not hitting targets, we're still in a heavy growth mode to hit investor targets, barely cash flow positive.
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
Negative cash flow is a red flag.
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
never hurts to be ready to hit that apply button.
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Fax.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Count my vote in for "always be looking". But I wouldn't panic just yet. If more reps left of their own volition, somebody has to be around to sell. Maybe that somebody is you.
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Solid mentality. I'm hoping to see some accounts/opps roll my way from the exits, that would save my year.
thestartupsaasfella
Member
1
Vice President of Sales
Depends on how you feel about the job and company. Have they done cuts in the past? If they have, do they in multiple rounds? How much do you like your job? Are you a top 10% performer?

Probably only a question you can answer - your gut will tell you. However, whenever I get an uncomfortable feeling about a role (which it sounds like you have), I start looking around. Best of luck!
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Depending on what they said about the reason why on these cuts, I would only stay if I can see it justified and temporary!
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Economics, reps not hitting, reducing company forecast.

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