Thripe

Head of Sales

What would you do… (VP, got fucked)

I've been a VP for a few years, last org got acquired and took some time off after accepting an offer.

Started a new scale up role, and in the month before I started, apparently everything changed. I have rocked up on day one with no team, no open headcount (in writing that I would have certain people / open headcount to immediately hire) and the status of the business is absolutely dire. I got fucked. It is not what I signed up for, at all, and they categorically lied through their teeth about basically everything. Even my guarantee has changed from what they said (payment times, not the total $.) If they told me even half of the truth during the comprehensive process, there is absolutely no way I would have touched this dumpster fire. The really fucked part? It is a public company.

I have called them out on this and they just change the subject and are desperate to keep me, it's like they saw swindling me into the org as a silver bullet. Basically wanting me to be a lone wolf and go out and be the worlds most expensive BDR.

In the time from when I accepted the offer, the job market, comp, and availability of roles has changed dramatically. I also turned down other offers in place of this one.

What would you do? It has made me have zero respect for them as people and as a business, cost me massive money opportunity cost wise, and I can't get an equivalent role quickly for similar comp as the market where I am has tanked.

🧢 Sales Management

☁️ Software Tech

23

25 comments

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TennisandSales

Politicker

6

Head Of Sales

jesus christ i cant believe this shit happens at the VP level too! INSANE!

I would go back to the other roles and see if they would reconsider hiring you this place sounds like an absolute joke.

if that doesnt work i would demand a regeneration of the comp and expectations for sure!!

the most shocking thing to me is that this is a public company. this is some series A-C level shit.

Thripe

Fire Starter

1

Head of Sales

Yeah it boggles my mind. Unfortunately the other offers are long gone, already checked. My comp is already at the upper end of the market (certainly in its current state) which is why I’m hesitant to bitch.

TennisandSales

Politicker

1

Head Of Sales

ughhhh damn. well i would say maybe ride it out and first chance you get to leave, take it.

idk ANYONE that would look at that situation and blame you for any poor results haha

CuriousFox

WR Officer

4

🦊

See if one of the other roles are still open?

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

4

SaaS Eater

This is awful, can you just eat shit for 6 months to a year here while the economy rebounds and you look for something better?

dncsv

OG Sales Savage

4

SD manager

Have you considered... quietly quitting? ;)

jefe

Arsonist

3

🍁

Fuck this SUCKS.

Not sure what to do here :(

Probably want to reach back out to those other opps though

SaaSam

Politicker

2

Account Executive

If they are desperate enough to pull this, you likely have them by the balls. Let them know you will be leaving unless they increase your base substantially, along with any other perks you want. When they do, roll with it for a while until you find a decent company and then jump ship.

Filth

Politicker

2

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Burn the building down, blame it on a rogue cigarette. BOOM real problems - real solutions.

No need to thank me citizen!

butwhy

Politicker

1

Solutions Engineer

Nope nope nope - I would bounce for a little less money (go reach out to those two other offers immediately) and probably trash them on the internet for being shady af so that you can prevent anyone else from falling into their scam.

You're not gonna be able to recoop the money, that's a sunk cost at this point, but you can recoop your career.

Thripe

Fire Starter

0

Head of Sales

Other offers are gone unfortunately. I think I’ll start applying for what is out there, can’t be any worse

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

If you are unhappy I would start interviewing, which is annoying the market isn’t the best but hiring is still up!

I would reach out the any place you were interviewing at previously that you like, use your network, and DONT work your ass off for these guys.

Unless you think it will turn around soon I would leave

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I never want to lead with this, but in your case: do you have legal recourse? This is all in writing, correct? In your contract?

Thripe

Fire Starter

1

Head of Sales

Probably, but it's more trouble than it's worth and a pretty long time to resolution.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I've known it to happen with higher level positions where the money is more significant and the impact to the career is high.

I'm sorry it's happened to you.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

1

War Room Community Manager

is it salesforce @Thripe?

Thripe

Fire Starter

0

Head of Sales

Nah.

GDO

Politicker

1

BDM

Never tought vps had to struggle with stuff like that

ChumpChange

Politicker

1

Channel Manager

Holy shieeeeeeet! A public company and at the VP level!?! This is why it's critical to read the fine print on GUARANTEED compensation. Take the time to call out "target", "projected", "realized" or anything that has a contingency to be changed because of verbiage.

As for your options OP... I've given this advice before and I'll give it again. If you want to right the ship at the expense of your mental health... have at it. It's your life to live. However, if you want to ride it out and see the entire function crumble with you at the helm manically laughing at their own incompetence then this is also acceptable.

There is no right answer or wrong answer... there's only Thripe's answer that matters.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

1

Bravado's Resident Asshole

And here I thought this was just something that happens to BDRs, SDRs, and AEs.. I guess there are levels to every level. I hope that you are able to get something together and find a way out or a resolution.

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

0

Enterprise AE

i think you'd be surprised - in my opinion, the sales job market is still hot. throw some feelers out.

RomyJax2020

Valued Contributor

0

Enterprise Sales Dev

Coast. Do what you need to do while you're there, get paid, and look for a new role while keeping that one. Then write a bad review on Glassdoor.

WinoWillie

0

EVP Sales and Marketing

#fraud

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

0

Territory Account Mgr.

Was any of your comp written up in your offer letter package? Typically if it is you can sue them for breach of contract. I looked into it for the job I was just let go from but the area they screwed me on wasn't considered compensation just reimbursement\ so I couldn't get treble damages and the amount was only a couple of thousand dollars at the time.

FranchiseSalesQB

Politicker

0

Franchise Sales QB

Same kinda thing happened to me, everything I was sold during the dog and pony show was bull-ish so I quit and reached out to the co I turned down to see if they were still interested and thankfully they were and couldn't be more happy. Its not worth your professional and mental health. BAIL! and be happy.

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