If you had the opportunity to select between two employers which would you choose?
OPTION A - Account Manager
Large USA based organization established in 1998, with various offices around the world including UK, USA, Japan and Canada (obviously).
Sales team that is hundreds strong.
Good support structure within the organization.
On the verge of IPO…
OPTION B - Sales Manager
Small Canadian organization established in 1996 based in Calgary, Alberta. Now setting up shop in Toronto.
Sales team in Toronto would be around 6 persons plus the manager.
Decent support structure.
The earning potential that both companies are offering is pretty much similar.
Which would you choose and why?
I'm usually scared of anything to do with Sales operations so i'll go with the other option.
If the 2nd firm is just setting up shop, it can be an interesting experience watching the company grow and being part of it. You also get to move up fairly quicker because as the company grows more people join.
Youve probably thought about this but maybe you can decide from your family's point of view too. If you can maybe guage things like stress levels, expected time commitments, time/distance you have to travel/commute etc.. and then decide the position based on how each of those will affect your family (read: noor).
In a sales oriented position, I’d much rather work in a closer knit environment and would prefer to feel a real sense of ownership in the company's success – hence I’d go with option B.
Having worked as part of GE Medical Systems with top-notch sales personnel, I’ve seen what their typical concerns are. The sales people tend to be the face of the organization, the front-end so to say, but in a large company, it’s often difficult to move through the levels to get a point across. This is often disconcerting since these sales people know exactly what the customer wants, but the top management defines the strategy in a silo to make decisions that affect everyone else.
In a smaller setting, you’d be able to see your ideas come to fruition much more quickly!
I would go with option A. I have always felt more comfortable in larger organizations, as I can learn much more from a large company. Being a sales manager can be little more hectic depending on type of work but you may become more independent due to very small number of employees...no supervisors or manager hounding you everyday. With larger organizaton, you might just blend in and have some time to breath once in a while. Not to mention if this large organization has a name, you have higher chances of looking into other larger organizations in the future.
Big company big mess. Working for small company might be risky but if there is success then u get ur fair share.
I am working for a company that has over half a million employees around the globe and I dont think its something good if one is looking for a long time career to have more promotion opportunities. In big companies mostly people are stuck with their work and just dont get what they should.
I'd go for option B, but would carefully check what is the success rate of the company in near past.
well.....it's fast becoming a real scenario for me.
I am confident that company B will be sending me an offer around late next week.
I have my fourth interview in company A early next week. (Just the interview process has been long and drawn out with this firm.)
I agree that you may have some room to breath in the large organization but at the same time, there is less leniency.....they are less loyal and worried about their employees than smaller companies are. In large orgs, you don't achieve your quota once and you're on the radar.....do it twice and you are a problem.....the third time your manager is looking to replace you cuz you're a liability to the team. In a smaller, closer-knit environment, there is more compassion in the decision making process and they are likely to give you more of a chance to ramp up cuz hiring and firing in itself is costly for them.
Having said that about small firms, I also have to keep in mind that since it's a new set up in Toronto, things will be rocky and if they have not researched and planned well.....they can fail and shut things down....which leaves me up the creek again!
And yes.....chegum.....Noor is always top of mind when I consider options. She is number one!
^ possibily speak with the people that work there (i don't know if you know any of them), but they can give you some idea of what it's like to work for the company..
I am a Salesperson! Love talking to people love convincing them etc. Love excitment, love pressure as well so sales is for me.
I would chose option B for sure. Numerous reason behind it
- company is just establishing - i can play a great role in growth of the company. As long i as play my card well i can hopefully get company open up more places all around the world.
In big companies its tough to get the spotlight on yourself and i kinda like the spot light on me *grin.
who knows few years down the line i can get a chance of partnership etc...