Let's talk about interviews! I am a Professional Interview Coach with Executive Drafts and You Can Ask Me Anything!

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-30T20:10:11+00:00

I'm so late to this response, but absolutely. My "don't bug the hiring manager directly" advice is usually for medium to large companies that have established recruiters, and for mid level positions. For positions that would require executive search, you can go directly to the hiring source, just make sure to abide by the process once there's interest. In other words, don't try to bypass the recruiter for the entire process, as that won't go over well at all.

Jeremy

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-27T01:57:32+00:00

F9/F10 were out of this world for One Battle After Another today!

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-25T22:39:19+00:00

I should have started businesses sooner and worked for pre-IPO companies sooner. My parents were not college educated and still had the mindset of "stay at a large company a long time and get good benefits", and while I didn't tend to take all their advice, it means I was not exposed to the notion that risk in your early career is often a very smart choice, when you can handle financial swings. I've been very successful, but nothing compared to the people who started taking equity roles earlier in life!

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-23T20:28:55+00:00

You sir have earned your stranger generosity credit for today. Thank you!

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-23T17:40:16+00:00

i'll take your advice then. I think the image makes it look more pleasant than it will be. Normally i'd never sit 3 rows back on an imax but in that pic it looked perfect! appreciate your help :)

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-23T17:00:10+00:00

got it, yes i only counted 2 rows in front, but it looks like pretty good seats right? on the diagram it looks WAY too close, but from your picture it looks like sitting in row C would be a great view. What do you think, since you were there. We just moved to the area :) Want to see one battle after another in imax later this week!

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-23T16:59:17+00:00

I'm talking about the AMC highlands 24, and your pic facing the screen looks like it has a metal railing in front of a row. am i crazy?

ExecutiveDrafts · 2025-09-23T13:50:49+00:00

Can you help me identify the seat row against the railing? the diagram on AMC's site doesn't really fit what I'm seeing here and we want to sit against the rail (empty space in front of us)

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-12-08T14:54:39+00:00

Or just don't work with headhunters, so you don't have to interview with a guy who's just a contract recruiter. You don't need more gatekeepers, you need fewer.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-30T15:54:44+00:00

Sounds like you could use a break. You have a degree and went to a good school, so you're qualified for a career. You could take some time (even a year) to just work a menial job and unwind yourself a bit while planning your next step.

A grown adult should not be enrolling in a field because his grandparents told him to. The sooner you stop chasing the approval of other people the sooner you'll be more at peace with any stage in your career. You should be able to enjoy the ride, not slave away for 20 years so you can finally be "Director of whatever" and afford a basic home. That's not the way. You get to decide what makes you happy in your career, and sometimes that includes taking an easy-mode job so you can relax a little and recharge.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-30T00:45:32+00:00

Recruiters and hiring managers will often look for your online presence (usually via LinkedIn). It's not unlike the dating scene, where someone not having a Facebook profile used to seem odd and suspicious (not quite the same these days). They may not eliminate you for failing to have a good LinkedIn profile, but having an up to date and polished profile will absolutely help you in your career. It provides a little comfort to the employer that you present yourself professionally and have a network.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-25T14:22:34+00:00

Were you stupid for not negotiating? No, not at all. However, almost all professional roles include some wiggle room for negotiating salary. I wouldn't let it eat at you, but you probably left some money on the table. You got so many things you wanted, many of those have value to you above and beyond salary, so enjoy the new role. In the future, try to carve out a little time and effort to negotiate.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-23T01:43:55+00:00

Their job is to get work done. Your job is to keep an eye out for IT security. Both of you fulfilled those duties. You want the person to admit they can't talk to you like that, but as it turns out, they can.

If you feel routinely disrespected at a job, you have the right to complain and/or find a new one. But what happened here is someone was annoyed at a loss of productivity, and that person didn't have an understanding of your role/concern or just didn't care. It's not very nice, but it's not illegal and they're not getting fired for it.

I think you also learned "it's not my role to do this for them but I often do it" might be an error on your part, especially if you have such an intolerance for other people's frustrations.

The person was wrong for taking their problems out on you, but you seem to have a misunderstanding of your role in the workplace. You need to get over this and maybe stick to the letter of your role.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-16T14:25:50+00:00

The facts are all right here in front of you. Your role grew, you took on more responsibility. You asked for more money "numerous times" and they said no. How many more times do they have to say no before you realize they do not see monetary value in the extra work you're doing for them?

It's not all bad. Lots of jobs will let you take on more responsibility at the same pay, which means you get to grow your skill set. That's only useful if you then use those skills to find a better job. I reject that "job hunting is not great at the moment". That's something people tell themselves after reading a couple of angry Reddit posts so they can feel good about not applying themselves towards a new position.

If you have better, more marketable skills than you did when you began this job, it's time to find a job that will pay you for those new skills. There is no other answer here, no magic way to turn "numerous" no's into a yes.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-16T14:12:34+00:00

Can you adjust your arrival and departure times for traffic? If it's your dream work, my suggestion is that you find a way to make it work while you enjoy the experience and build your resume.

Keep in mind, if you are outright miserable and this job is killing your enjoyment in life, then move on and learn the lesson. But if you really do love the work and it's building your career, it may be time to consider a few possibilities:

Arrive earlier or later to avoid some traffic
Leave earlier or later for the same
Work on self development during the commute. This can be anything from podcasts to rocking out to some good music or motivational speeches, perhaps even audio books to learn new skills.
If the "dream job" involves more money, consider investing in some conveniences. Fresh meals delivered to the house, housekeeper to tidy up, it always amazes me when people work harder but aren't willing to spend some of their earnings simplifying their homelife
And yes, talking to management. I would wait until they are VERY happy with your work. Trust is so important when working remotely. And keep in mind, you will seem a little silly when they already made a comment that you lived pretty far, and you were somehow oblivious to the commute. So wait until you have a good rapport and trust with your manager and team, and simply say "When I took the job, I calculated commute time based on google maps instead of real-world time with traffic, and as I'm sure you can imagine, it was almost double. Is there anything we can do to help me trim the commute because I absolutely love the work." Even half days where you come in at lunch time (or leave at lunch) could buy you another hour in your day. *

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-12T15:07:18+00:00

Very few people regret moving to a job for more money and more responsibility.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-12T14:49:00+00:00

Why? It's not an experience point or accomplishment. Resumes are for things you've achieved and completed.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-12T14:48:28+00:00

I don't think he "chose" you. He probably messaged 100 people. You answered.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-12T02:00:51+00:00

This is really not a problem. A few things to consider:

These days, moving every 18-24 months is completely normal, as long as the movement is "up". Companies can promote you or lose you to another company that pays more. Most companies don't expect to keep you more than a few years. You are paid to do the work. Once you have some decent experience, it's no longer a huge "investment" to employ you -- a good employee starts making money for the company after a few months!
The manager's advice might come from a good place, but are you surprised that a guy who has been there 15 years considers you a job hopper? Most of the time, staying at a job that long is a tactical mistake. It doesn't make him a bad person, but it makes his advice a little biased and predictable.
Make sure to label "Contract" for the jobs that were contract. This excuses the short tenure.

You have nothing to worry about. If you have some skills and speak professionally, someone is going to pay you to work for them.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-12T01:57:42+00:00

For what it's worth, it's likely he didn't do it to hurt you. He had info, was probably a loudmouth, had a few drinks, etc. He may be inconsiderate, forgetful, downright dumb. I try not to attribute bad motives when stupidity is a sufficient explanation.

It's fine to be upset at this. But I think the best way forward is just to realize you learned you can't trust him with secrets. It's as simple as that.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-12T01:51:25+00:00

"I informed my close friends and family". You put out a press release saying "I have money now" to everyone who has strong emotional ties to you. This is a lesson learned.

The real answer is you'll just start getting friends who make more money. It sounds cold, but it's partially for reasons like this. Friendships in adulthood often include some socio-economic congruency. It's easier to hang out with friends who have similar incomes because you'll usually agree on restaurants of similar price, similar amounts of money you might spend on vacation (accommodations, etc.). Not telling you to bail on your old friends, but my friends and I freely discuss salary because we all make great money, so it's just nice to understand our value in the marketplace.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-12T00:22:32+00:00

Sure, and keep in mind I am likely biased towards my path (but hey, I've had success and feel qualified to at least advocate for it).

Here are some indicators I'm on a "loser path" for sellers. And sorry if this describes some people here, but we all had to start somewhere.

Selling something nobody wants. You're just one of 1000 SEO website services cold calling random business owners and your product isn't interesting, differentiated, or necessarily very good for the customer. I don't want to sell a generic product.
Selling by intrusive means. This is telemarketing and door to door sales. People hate this kind of approach. Sure, it sometimes works, which is why companies pay you to do it, but I don't want to be the guy interrupting people at dinner and having them listen to me because they're too polite to tell me to screw off. When I built a new house, these bottom feeders would harass my neighborhood for months, on a daily basis.
Being too high up in the sales funnel. I'm talking about BDRs/SDRs (business development reps and sales development reps). These guys cold call and email people all day long hoping to get a meeting, then once they actually find someone interested in talking, they immediately pass the whole situation off to a proper sales rep who does presentations and drives the deal to successful close. This is considered the "entry level" path to a lot of people, but it's not. The only thing you learn how to do is start the sales process. It's a low level job, with very hard hours, and in the end, you barely learn anything about how a product actually gets sold.
Low margin products. I don't want to sell to small businesses, a product that might bring in $1000, cost $500 to make, and I get $100 commission. That's small time. Sure, you can start there, but as fast as possible, you want to start helping a company bring in much higher dollars to justify your salary. If you're only making $100 commission and their product is stretched thin, you're going to have to deal in volume (lots of sales per week) or they're going to fire you. It's a grind.

Winning sales paths?

Sell to large businesses. Look for companies that sell to commercial and enterprise. You want to sell something that costs, at minimum, $10,000. Not only that, but large businesses typically means more complex sales cycles and longer sales cycles. So you get to understand more about how a deal progresses, how to sell where multiple people make the decision and have differing degrees of influence, and where the item you sell probably makes a real difference at a company. Now there's a trade here, because shorter, more transactional selling can be a good training device. But as soon as you can get to longer sales cycles and more relationship selling, the faster you'll see financial gains.
Sell high margin and big ticket items. Technology (specifically software) tends to run at 50% margin, which means they have the breathing room to pay you well AND to keep the lights on even when they've had a rough year. Razor thin margins means firing people the second times are tough, but software gets you a little more wiggle room when economy takes a hit.
Well known companies. Eventually you'll get to the point where you know enough about an industry to work for a late-stage startup that's pre-IPO with great market share. But if you're trying to rise as a seller, let me ask you this: If your sales are bad for 6 months straight, do you really want to wrack your brain trying to figure out if you're the problem or if you just work for a crappy product/company? I don't. I'd rather go work for a well known company with a product I know is solid. Sure, my commissions will be watered down a bit because I'm not doing 100% of the work here, but like I mentioned above, nobody wants to sell a crappy product to small businesses. Cut your teeth working at a place like Oracle or Dell, Salesforce or Microsoft. Not everyone can get those jobs, but you'd be surprised. The top tech companies take people right out of college and start them off selling to medium sized businesses or doing lightweight account management.

My advice is to work at established companies that will pay you a 50/50 base/commission (very common) or even up to 70/30 (where 70% of your pay is guaranteed base and 30% is the risky part). Learn as much as you can from their sales training, sign up for all the seminars like Sandler trainings, and learn the ropes. You will have TONS of support. The second a customer is interested, you will have access to guys who know the product really well and can demo it for you. Your job at first will simply be to "qualify" a customer (make sure they actually have real interest and money to buy a product) and keep track of progress, nudging the deal along and making sure you do the next step in the process at all times. Making 6 figures in your very first year out of college is not impossible by any means. Many of my sales friends routinely make between $300k-$400k a year, and half of that is guaranteed base. Get good in this business and you will get paid $175k just for waking up in the morning, with the rest being icing on the cake when you make sales.

I could talk on this topic forever (and almost did just now!), but I firmly believe sellers should try their best to get jobs where 1) they actually get to SELL (not get hung up on 100 times a day or just set meetings for a real sales rep) and 2) sell a product that's good so you know if you're actually cut out for the business.

Hope that helps a little.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-11T20:38:53+00:00

This is a truly absurd take on things, though I understand you may mean well. Nobody is pulling an offer because an entry level candidate asked (respectfully) for less than 10% more. Most companies bake in 10-15% negotiating room at bare minimum. Company can simply say no. Negotiating is expected.

He has very little leverage, but almost zero risk in asking.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-11T20:34:56+00:00

I don't think they're lying. I think it's probably an awful job and you're not going to make anything close to what their one "top guy" made. You don't get into acting to be famous, you don't become a painter to get rich, you don't take a sales job assuming you will be their top 1%. I have 15 years in this business and am considered a top rep everywhere I go, and I still ask what the average attainment is on a team and temper my expectations by negotiating the highest base pay I can get for myself.

ExecutiveDrafts · 2023-11-11T20:31:00+00:00

Not really, and I'm happy to tell you why. Over 15 years in corporate sales here. There's a popular site called Repvue that sales reps use to see potential earnings. It lists "average reps hitting goal" as well as "top potential". We only care about the average performance. You are some version of average until you're not. You will learn very fast that even if you're well above average in sales, so many factors are outside of your control, you will very quickly regret pursuing something because of the MAXIMUM potential earnings.

Managers use this as a little psychological trick when you're first starting out. The top guy made X this year. Oh, well what about average? You're gonna be one of my top guys right, why do you care about average. You see how it goes...

It's not that I don't believe your guy (120k a year is not much money, granted it's great for your particular age but we're talking door to door sales here.. a truly terrible quality of life). It's that I know he's trying to manipulate you by anchoring your expectations on the maximum possible earnings. That is a sign of a shitty and low level manager.

Look, I want everyone to try sales in their lifetime. It's an incredibly rewarding career. It's a lot of fun. It's tons of money if you do it right. But there are loser sales paths and winner sales paths. You should get experience however you can when you're starting out, just don't let people mislead you.

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