GrindingSales

Account Executive

Weird Job Offer (Setting Appts before I get Hired) Chapter 2

Please search the Weird Job Offer post where I talk about a prospective new employer asking me to set X amount of appointments before I get hired...

Update to this story...I put the higher ups on the spot during a call about the test. Here is their response...

"How else are we supposed to vet incoming salespeople, please tell us how to do that. We are constantly getting grimey salespeople that come with a multitude of excuses of why they aren't performing. We want you to set these appointments so we know you are committed and put some skin in the game. Your current sales position could fire you within 2 weeks. You are literally taking a risk by staying with your current sales company. We are asking you to take a risk so we know you are serious."

What are your thoughts?

How do you prefer to be handled in this situation?

Attached poll

Hire me, if I'm not meeting your expectations, Fire me! I'll absolutely do the work to set the appointments so I can be hired and on the team! I'm here for the Commish! I'll provide a contrarian alternative to the choices below...

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🎈 Mentorship

☑️ Qualification Calls

51

76 comments

Sort by:

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

40

☕️

My red flag just shot up so fast that it’s now in orbit.

funcoupons

WR Officer

16

👑

Couldn't have said it better myself.

They refer to past employees as "grimy," and trying to sell you on the job by instilling fear into your mind about your current position among many other reasons.

Stop wasting your time with these jokers. Take yourself out of the running and move on. There are PLENTY of better opportunities out there.

Smithy

Politicker

1

Director of Sales

@poweredbycaffeine speaks all the truth.

Run my dude.

GrindingSales

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Why did I just picture this comment in emoji's? haha

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

4

☕️

🚩 ⬆️ 🛰

sales4lyf

Politicker

9

Business Development Manager

They sound sooo shady, surely they could just get a reference from a previous employer if they want proof of your ability?

I personally don't think you should do what they're asking, you need to know your worth and it's definitely not worth working for free for 4 weeks with a chance of getting a job at the end. I think your talents would be a better use elsewhere!

TheSolicitorGeneral

Politicker

9

Small Market AE

How are we supposed to get incoming sales people? By reading the CV and trusting the salesperson. If you need someone to prove they have “skin in the game” in order to hire them, you obviously have 0 interviewing/character discernment skill.

GrindingSales

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I sat through 2 in person and 2 on call interviews all lasting 45-90 minutes. I dove deep into what makes me "me" and what is underneath the surface. I'm blown away to be that vulnerable and still met with this "test"

funcoupons

WR Officer

3

👑

These people have no respect for candidates or their employees and have no fucking clue how to hire. It's not normal behaviour.

Justatitle

Big Shot

6

Account Executive

Run and Run fast my friend this company ain't it for you.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

6

🦊

Fuck that noise.

Name calling 🚩
Negative tone 🚩
Wants free work 🚩
Blaming you 🚩

You are not to blame for their poor decisions.

GrindingSales

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Thanks Fox! Always a pleasure to hear your perspective!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

When in doubt go with your gut instinct 💯

CoorsKing

WR Officer

5

Retired King of the Coors Knights

I would run so fast from this interview I would rival Usain Bolt. That is NOT a company you want to work for. It sounds like they have terrible management/processes causing huge churn, and they are blaming the churn on the reps.

HappyGilmore

Politicker

4

Account Executive - SMB

What the actual shit? I remember in the last post considering giving them a chance, but this is an absurd statement by the higher ups. I think you're better off taking your talents elsewhere, where the higher ups don't drag you along like this.

GrindingSales

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Was hoping you would see this! I'm trying my best to find silver linings here!

HappyGilmore

Politicker

0

Account Executive - SMB

Any silver linings sticking out after the response from the higher ups?

Rallier

Politicker

4

SDR Manager and Consultant

Dear god please don't work there. The market is on fire right now, don't settle for this shady place

Nairobi

Politicker

3

AE

We ArE AsKiNg YoU tO tAkE a RiSk sO wE kNoW yOu ArE sErIoUs LMAO byyyyye

jefe

Arsonist

3

🍁

This saga gets sketchier and sketchier...

There seems to be 0 self awareness of the ridiculousness of this ask. Either that, or they don't give 2 sh*ts about how ridiculous it is.

Both are AWFUL and huge signs to not work there.

It's their job to figure out how to do that. Just like basically EVERY other company does.

They obviously have no idea how to interview/hire, and thus likely no idea how to run a business.

Please do keep us updated @GrindingSales !!

GrindingSales

Politicker

1

Account Executive

They sound genuinely screwed over by past applicants and I seem to be paying that price for them. I think what keeps me in it is the possibility of WFH and setting my own hours. Unlimited vacation from anywhere.

Will definitely keep this updated!

jefe

Arsonist

2

🍁

Sounds like it, but unfortunately (for them), as a business they have to take such risks, or at least better themselves to mitigate them in the future.

Their response just reeks of unprofessionalism to me. "Your current job could fire you in 2 weeks" is almost like "I know you are, but what am I?!"

Taking a step back and looking at your situation logically, there is obviously a lot more risk in you undertaking a new (sketchy) venture with them compared to staying with what you know.

Do they expect you to keep working during those 2 weeks? If so, when do they expect you to set those appointments? Turning the tables on them, how would they feel about having one of their staff setting appointments for a different company so they could leave while being paid by these clowns?!

If they expect you to quit and set them without any promise or any type of obligation to hire you then why should you be the one to accept all of the risk?

And thanks - looking forward to seeing how this all pans out.

RedLightning

Politicker

0

Mid-Market AE

I haven't read the other post but unlimited PTO is a fucking trap for salespeople. Being out of the office doesn't change the fact that you have a quota hanging over your head.

jefe

Arsonist

0

🍁

Unlimited PTO is such an easy thing to dangle but is so unrealistic

SalesSage

Valued Contributor

3

National Account Manager

This sounds like they are the grimy ones... run fast!

UserNotFound

Politicker

3

Account Executive

I hope that you audibly laughed on the call. Them being terrible hiring managers has zero bearing on how much work you should do with no compensation.

Also, if they're that bad at hiring and you're not equally as bad at your job- just imagine all the pressure they'll put on you and the excuses THEY will have as to why they can't hold up their end of the bargain on product/service.

GTFO.

avocadobegood

Valued Contributor

3

MM Account Executive

don't work here lol

Telehealth_2the_Moon

Notable Contributor

3

Director of Business Development

Yeah this was bad before hand, now the leader is pulling the "abuser" card and pushing back with a gaslight-y response. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime if this ends up being some unicorn company, otherwise go find another role!

GrindingSales

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I think that is my hang up. The possible Unicorn opportunity!

Telehealth_2the_Moon

Notable Contributor

0

Director of Business Development

Unicorns don't come up out of no where though. Does this group have things they do differently, do they have any chance in actually being a disruptor? This is different than saying they are, but actually doing things against the grain?

To be honest, digital marketing doesn't seem like a space for someone to come up with a moonshot opportunity, but I don't know anything about this group outside of that.

SalesGal

Politicker

2

Account Executive

This doesn't sound like a very good place to work. I would pass and find something else.

wahmsales

WR Officer

2

SDR

Are they going to pay you for the appointments you set or ones that close? I understand you're not hired yet, but maybe they would still pay you for your results?

GrindingSales

Politicker

2

Account Executive

No pay for results, only learning opportunities to be able to go on the set appointment and watch the closer extraordinaire work her magic.

funcoupons

WR Officer

5

👑

LOLLLL run, Forrest, run.

wahmsales

WR Officer

1

SDR

Ewwwww hard pass

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

Wait, you wouldn't even see the upside if they close?

OH DEAR.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

2

War Room Enthusiast

This is a red flag for sure, I wouldn’t take it, it seems they want free labor out of you.

wahmsales

WR Officer

2

SDR

Personally, they sound like shit. Do they even have a CRM?

StringerB

Politicker

2

Senior Account Executive

This sounds like the type of company to fire their employees right before they’re entitled to their bonus. Run.

CaneWolf

Politicker

2

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

I would remove this company and this hiring manager from the list of places you would work/people you would work for forever.

ChunkyButters

Tycoon

2

AE

"How else are we supposed to vet incoming sales people?"
Uhhh, like everyone else. They bring metrics and previous performance indicators to the table. They honestly expecting you to be successful in 2-4 weeks of prospecting with no real training....IMO saas takes 3-6 months to ramp and 6-12 months to be fully self-sufficient.

"You're taking a risk by staying there..."
Umm, wtf. Don't insult me or my current company. Sales has risk everywhere. I'd rather be at a company where I have current pipeline, support, and development. My fucking application and willingness to continue conversations at this point should show my commitment. Starting at a new company with 0 pipeline and not knowing how well the market will be receptive is a bigger risk than staying at my current role.

" Constantly getting grimey salespeople that come with a multitude of excuses of why they aren't performing"
Then you are 1) making shitty hires or 2) have a shit market fit or shit process for selling. Both are red flags.

This is sketchy with red flags everywhere AT BEST. I'd end the process, and keep my ears open for something else. Culture is probably shit if they hire this way.

GrindingSales

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Thank you for your perspective on each of those quotes!

ChunkyButters

Tycoon

0

AE

Good luck bro!

doug

Opinionated

2

Account Executive

MAJOR red flag.

I'd tell them to pay me 3 months upfront and say "How else am I supposed to vet companies. Please tell me how to do that. I want to be paid in advance so I know I know you're committed and have some skin in the game. I might quit in the first 2 weeks...I might not. I'm taking a risk by leaving my company. I'm asking you to take a risk so I know you are serious" and then immediately stand up and put my nuts on the table.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

I was not expecting the last sentence 😆

beachNsales

Politicker

1

Sales Manager

That seems like they need a new hiring process if their new hires are constantly underperforming. Maybe try this with a new recruiter and see if they would do free work for 4 weeks just to get hired.

DataSlangah

Politicker

1

SAE

Tell them, thanks, but no thanks. So many better jobs out there.

DaveGreen

Arsonist

1

Head of Sales

Yea just don't

GrindingSales

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Feeling like starting my own company and following your path!

DaveGreen

Arsonist

0

Head of Sales

What's stopping you?! :D

illexpenseit

Opinionated

1

Account Manager

why are you interested in this job? Based off both of your posts on this, you seem equally as skeptical around this situation as most others. What makes you come back to them to keep exploring this as an option?

GrindingSales

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Fear of Regret at a Unique opportunity to WFH but really WFAnywhere while making solid money. Selling something that helps a business rather than just another expense for a business.

Patbate

Politicker

1

Product Advisor

Tell them to fuck off

Incognito

WR Officer

1

Master of Disaster

I feel like this company must be managed by my abusive ex boyfriend because holymotherfuckingshitballs how many “abuser 101” boxes are they trying to check in one statement? ✅ Gaslighting ✅ narcissism ✅ victim blaming ✅ tone policing

RedLightning

Politicker

1

Mid-Market AE

"Your current sales position could fire you within 2 weeks. You are literally taking a risk by staying with your current sales company"

^^ that's pretty telling of how they'll treat you

fuzzy

Notable Contributor

1

CMO (Chief Meme Officer)

This is the biggest fucking red flag. Just. Fucking. Run. They’re blaming their reps for what sounds like a shitty product backed by shitty people.

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