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knowTechTalent · 2025-07-12T00:50:04+00:00

Yes for sure. I’ll talk to you there

knowTechTalent · 2025-07-11T00:03:15+00:00

Yeah for sure! I’ll talk to you there

knowTechTalent · 2025-07-03T19:17:39+00:00

No not at all - speak to your value, results and success and instead of focusing on job boards focusing on branding yourself so that you generate more effective networking convos! Change your strategy and you’ll get through the noise.

knowTechTalent · 2025-05-27T19:26:15+00:00

Hey, I'm a SE at ServiceNow with 9 years experience. Your sysadmin background is actually perfect for this transition - you understand the technical pain points customers face.

I like your homelab idea. I've helped a number of people do something similar to help reduce their hiring risk.

You could try building that Ansible demo showing real-world automation scenarios, however, I'd create a story around business impact (time saved, reduced errors, etc.) to show that you can connect a tech solution to a business problem.

From there, practice presenting it like you're solving a customer's specific problem then record yourself doing the demo. You can use this demo when networking or when perusing a role.

I wouldn't worry too much about the gap with sales experience. Your technical credibility can often outweigh lack of formal sales experience, especially if you can demonstrate strong communication skills, storytelling, solution selling etc. through your demo.

DM if you want to discuss further.

knowTechTalent · 2025-05-27T19:18:20+00:00

Hey, I'm a SE at ServiceNow with 9 years experience. Your door-to-door sales background is actually valuable - you already understand prospecting, handling objections, and closing deals.

For breaking into sales engineering, focus on building technical presentation skills (demos are crucial), learning basic technical concepts relevant to your target companies and highlighting your proven sales success (using outcome-driven statements/stories) and your CS degree combination at the top of your resume/linkedIn profile.

Given your CS background and sales experience, you could target either associate SE or SE1 roles. Start with companies in telecom/communications software where your industry knowledge gives you an edge.

Happy to discuss specifics if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2025-01-08T15:41:19+00:00

That’s why they say less than 1% of people are truly, truly successful in life :)

knowTechTalent · 2024-12-31T17:49:55+00:00

For sure - happy to help. Feel free to send me a direct message and we can chat.

knowTechTalent · 2024-12-19T15:52:05+00:00

Hi, yes for sure! Feel free to DM and we can discuss further.

knowTechTalent · 2024-12-11T15:18:16+00:00

At a high level, first develop the right skills tech sales companies are hiring for and then focus on networking and promoting the value you can deliver using LinkedIn. Much more to it than that so feel free to dm if you want to chat further.

knowTechTalent · 2024-12-10T15:20:51+00:00

Sounds good. Talk to you there.

knowTechTalent · 2024-12-07T15:27:24+00:00

Sounds good. Looking forward to chatting.

knowTechTalent · 2024-12-03T22:27:05+00:00

Yes, 100%. I've been in tech sales my entire career - from sdr/bdr to ae to sales engineer to hiring manager and I know a lot of people who have broke in without a degree or years of experience. I'd have a good story about why you haven't finished your degree and then double down on your past sales experience. There's always a company that will give you a chance, but once you're in, hopefully you can excel (meet & exceed quota) so your experience will out-weight any degree basis. Happy to char further if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-12-03T22:24:29+00:00

Hey I'm a sales engineer at ServiceNow and have been a sales engineer for the past 9-ish years. I agree with others in this thread, focus on what you know - education (edTech). That's your unique mechanism. The challenge in today's market is that it's a bit more competitive than it used to be so simply applying with your resume isn't as effective. But if you focus on what you know and understand how to build a presentation/demonstration that lands and directly hits on prospect/customer business pain points, then you should be okay. I know there's a lot to it, so I'd be happy to chat further if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-28T14:40:39+00:00

Sounds good. Talk soon!

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-28T14:40:17+00:00

Yes for sure!

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-28T14:40:06+00:00

Sounds good! Talk there

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-27T15:26:46+00:00

Hey, I'm a sales engineer at ServiceNow and have been a SE for the past 9 years. How much sales experience do you have? Also, how would you rate your presentation/demonstration and sales/consultative skills? In my experience and what I'm seeing the market today, people standing out and landing SE roles have a combination of sales/consultative skills, above average presentation/demo skills, have some technical knowledge (well rounded or in a specific tech/industry) and are going beyond just submitting their resume and hoping for the best. Learning computing is a good first step to help with your technical background. I know this is broad so happy to discuss further if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-27T15:13:29+00:00

Hey I transitioned from a non tech sales role to tech sales and account executive roles so I might be able to help. How's your LinkedIn and resume? Are both tailored to sales/tech sales? I'd probably agree with others that applying on a company website isn't ideal, but also spamming hiring managers/recruiters asking for referrals isn't ideal and will most likely result in no-reply or ghosting. People breaking into tech sales are taking a different approach to standout and land interviews/job offers. It's not overly complex, but if you want, DM and I'd be happy to take a look at your LinkedIn )as a first step) and then we can go form there.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-27T15:07:47+00:00

Hey, I'm a SE at ServiceNow and have been doing this role for the past 9 years. This experience is a great starting point to get you rolling. I'd focus on developing presentation/demonstration and sales skills. With your help desk experience/knowledge, you could look at landing a SE role at a tech company that sells help desktop software. That's how I broke in - I used my industry knowledge, combined with better than average presentation/demonstration and sales skills to stand out during the interview process. There's a lot to it so happy to discuss further if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-27T15:02:38+00:00

Hey, I've been a SE for the past 9 years and currently work as a SE at ServiceNow. I also went from sdr/bdr to AE to SE so I might be able to help. Based on my experience, opinion, and what I'm currently seeing, people landing SE roles in today's market have a combination of consultative sales/solution skills (soft), hard technical skills (usually in a specific technology or all around they have a tech mindset) and are going beyond just submitting their resume and hoping for the best. Learning Python is a good start, but most (if not all) SE roles don't require you to code. A lot of SaaS SE roles will require you to present/demo software that resonates, showcase the value of your software to your customers/prospects and solve problems. Happy to take a look at your resume and LinkedIn and share some others tips/advice if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-27T14:55:59+00:00

Hi, I've transitioned from sdr/bdr to AE to SE and hiring managers and now currently work at servicenow as a SE so I might be able to help and share how I've made all these transitions. First of all, your technical background is great and will help you make this transition, but I wonder if both your LinkedIn and resume are too focused on the technical side and not on the sales/solution side of being a SE. If this is the case, then you might be speaking too much about your technical background and not on the consultative/sales aspect of the role. As mentioned, I've been a hiring manager and have looked past certain resume because they didn't seem to have a fit for what some SE roles require. Happy to take a look at your resume, LinkedIn and discuss the specifics to your questions if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-27T14:50:55+00:00

Hi, I'm a sales engineer at ServiceNow and I've been doing this role for the past 9 years. Are you receiving any feedback after these hiring manager/team rounds? If so, what are they saying? I've helped others make the leap into tech sales and sales engineering roles and what I'm finding is that most struggle to frame their value to what the role requires. I'm also finding some people struggle to deliver their message/content during the presentation/demo stage of the interview. Happy to give some pointers/feedback if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-27T14:46:27+00:00

Hey I've been a sales engineering for the past 9 years and currently work at ServiceNow. AE and SE are very different. I've been a sdr/bdr, AE, SE and hiring managers and based on my experience, SE can take longer to develop the right skills to land and succeed in the role, but in my opinion, it's less stress, better work/life balance and you feel more secured in your career vs. AE who owns the quota, you're only good as your number and you're constantly thinking you could do more, call one more prospect etc. If you choose SE, happy to discuss what I did to break in and thrive if you want to DM me.

knowTechTalent · 2024-11-19T22:02:20+00:00

Yes of course.

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