LightingLeader

Specification Sales

Why do tech jobs seem to think my non-tech experience doesn’t matter?

seriously it's getting old.

I'm not even necessarily set on leaving my company but I have been looking around. Any reasonably salaried SDR job I've applied for has rejected me. even some that are below what I'd like in pay. I don't even get an interview.

I understand they see I have no tech sales experience, but I don't see why that matters. selling is selling.

I work in a consultative sales role and even though I am given some leads, I have built most of this book of business by myself!

I do everything from finding leads, to prospecting them, to working with them for months, to closing deals.

I'm not sure if I'm asking for advice or just bitching.

🧠 Advice

25 comments

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Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

You're running into a couple of things.

There are a lot of reps who have heard that tech is where the money is, so there are a lot of reps trying to get into tech.

Then there are already a lot of reps in tech.

Also, the tech market is correcting - there was overhiring the past few years, layoffs are happening or are on the horizon, and as a result, even for companies that aren't currently in hiring freezes, there are a lot of experienced reps either out of a job or about to be out of a job that will be looking at those same roles you are. It's not impossible to find something and it's not all doom & gloom, but it is more of an uphill battle than it was just a year ago.

Finally, this is an interesting time of year. With holidays, many hiring managers and directors are taking vacations or just not making decisions as quickly. For companies on a FY, not only are they focused on FYE, this also means their new sales strategies and territories will be rolling out late Dec/early Jan, and until they have their existing staff seated and they know what they need, they may not be looking.

I'm sorry it's a challenge. You're going to have to be persistent, be willing to let them know that while your specific sales job isn't exactly the same, you're good at the selling part, learn fast, and will start at SDR to ramp up.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Too many hiring managers are extremely shortsighted, unfortunately.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Giant egos

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

It’s a bit difficult to get the interviews and I had been in your spot before. Networking helped me a lot tbh and that’s how I got into tech.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Unfortunately, it can be a numbers game sometimes especially with the current state of tech hiring. I highly recommend looking at the academy on tips for breaking into tech sales or even tech sales u if you can still sign up for free.

Highly recommend prospecting your way in for roles you are excited about

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Did you try unplugging and plugging your resume? That might give you tech XP.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Everyone thinks they are a unicorn - something super special, etc. The reality is just not true.

Reality is that unless you are literally selling to rocket scientists, you don't need to be highly technical to sell.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

yeah this is always going to be a battle.
are you in B2B sales?

LightingLeader

Politicker

Specification Sales

It is so complicated. The short answer is yes.

The long answer is explained by this drawing I did

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

your right. this is complicated haha.
I would be mentioning you are confident handling complicated deals and org structures. that should be appealing

SaaSsy

Politicker

😂 this is great! Are you looking for a specific industry, product or just trying to break in? I might be able to connect you somewhere.

LightingLeader

Politicker

Specification Sales

I’m trying to break in. Looking for 100% remote. AT LEAST a $100k base

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

hmm well i think it possible but you will really have to work at getting that base i think.

SaaSsy

Politicker

Gotcha, love the high standards! Unfortunately, I'm not aware of SDR roles starting at $100k base - only tip would be only look at tech companies on the coasts that may be willing to pay more.

LightingLeader

Politicker

Specification Sales

I do full cycle. What about AE or AM?

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

AE is your best bet for a base that high. but you are for sure going to have to find the right company that really values your experience.

SaaSsy

Politicker

Yup agree - going to need at least MM AE to get to that base - if you're full cycle, that would be an easier transition for sure. I don't know much about AM base and comp plans though - Repvue might give some good insight.

GreenSide

Politicker

Sales manager

Reach out direct to hiring managers on LinkedIn.

Sounds like you're getting rejected before you even get to them, either by an automated system or by a recruiter that has to filter out for most likely based on what they see on paper.

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

This seems like you're running into hiring managers who are not well informed to begin with.
I know people look to make things easier. So they wouldn't want to spend time training someone on tech sales before they ramp them up. That's usually the psyche why someone would do that.

That being said, if you build enough credibility and show enough zeal in entering tech sales, it should definitely compensate a bit.

Again, would you want to work with a manager who is shortsighted? So maybe this is your filter too.

WhoDey

Opinionated

VP of Sales

Find someone in your network who can refer you to the recruiter/hiring manager.

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Maybe the way you tell it, find a way to storify your previous experience and show your results?

Arzola

Valued Contributor

Business administration

class="Apple-interchange-newline">Normally companies consider that they must know the business and the product and consider that their lack of knowledge can make some clients with specific questions not get the answer, I know it seems silly, but I think they just do not want to take the risk

VFG

Good Citizen

SDR

If your experience isn’t B2B, then they honestly have a point. If it was, I can tell you what my experience was:

I came into SaaS with 2 years of commercial insurance experience. My experience has been that the less they valued my other-industry experience, the less competent the management was. It seems counter-intuitive, but in this instance you’re more likely to get in with a large, established company than a startup. Some companies that gave me offers in those days included Qualtrics, Salesforce, and Snowflake. All this while the no-name startups I applied to rejected me for not having SaaS experience, as if that meant anything. Hope this helps.

LightingLeader

Politicker

Specification Sales

My experience is B2B

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LightingLeader

Why do tech jobs seem to think my non-tech experience doesn’t matter?

25 comments

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