u/Flat_Cake_2502

Experience in mid market at 2 FAANG companies and pay has been decent (not crazy- UK) but felt a bit disconnected and never like I had the impact I wanted.

Have some start up experience but not in tech and ideally would like to get into series B-D companies that are scaling fast.

I’ve an opportunity to join a series A with no equity and lower than market rate salary. Does it make sense to take it to build the resume and get more experience?

I’ve been reaching out to founders and managers in the desired companies but I’m not getting any traction and I think it’s my lack of start up tech experience.

I’ve an offer (market rate) for a 30 something ish start up where I live in Germany. The founder is doing all the sales right now.

I got laid off and currently don’t have a job, but I have runway and I’m getting the odd screen here or there since I started looking 2 months ago, but no offers.

This would be a first sales person in their words with potential significant upside. However I found out they actually had a few sales people in the past by looking at LinkedIn (mix of demand gen/account management) for 1-2 years.

They obviously all quit or got fired, I asked about it but didn’t have time to go in depth. It was something along the lines of they weren’t suited to start ups. Is this normal or is this a flag? Are there more probing questions I can ask that make it clearer? Last thing I want is 6 months of underperforming then get fired.

I did direct message some of these people on LinkedIn but only one replied and told me to ask someone else who could give insight.

Worked at 2 of the biggest cloud companies, one was initially more sales adjacent and the other traditional sales path, SDR > AE, 9 years. Had it pretty good with mainly wfh + travel but pay was below market due to starting low and internal promotions.

Great logos on the resume. Just over 20 months ago team got cut in a restructuring and the option was move state or to help the family business (which I chose), which is now starting to be made obsolete with AI. Could I have seen this coming? In hindsight yes, was it a bad decision, yes. But is what it is and I have to deal with it.

Market obviously sucks right now and I’ve been looking for about 2-3 months, reached out to network, referrals, coffee etc. Even tried applying back to the last company but roles are scarce and they’re not exact fits (no screen).

The last 20 months on the resume really appears to hurt the applications.

So far I’ve got two “potential” offers(final round), in cloud resellers/implementation partners. Both offering a significantly lower package than I was on and 5 days in office. I’d be making less than what I earn now in the family business.

But with young kids the goal like many here is to try make decent money while having a work life balance. Going back to a hyperscaler is ideal, but not an option right now.

What’s the best possible path to take? Is it get back to a smaller company in the space and keep applying?

Background as an AM in large hyperscalers, took a careerbreak/ started my own thing after a bit of burnout/family bereavement. Started a professional doctorate (part time) about a year before I left, still got a year left.

Finding it now impossible to get screens even, two solid logos on my resume.

On the resume I have self employed consultant (I actually do that) and on the education part it’s doctorate in progress.

Am I cooked? Should I remove it? I thought it might be neutral but from an interview I did get via referral, I was told although I seem like a good candidate I’m potentially unfocused. I don’t agree, but can’t argue my way into the next round.

Two other referrals for meta/google I didn’t even get a screen for similar / lower (smb) roles.

Has anyone done a boomerang after 2 years? What was the experience like? Do you need to do the full loop?

Is it any different other than having worked there previously and knowing the ins and outs and “how” an interview should look?

Left just over 2 years ago, my old team got laid off early this year so can’t reach out to old manager to rejoin. Applying via referral for Account manager role on a different team.

Worked at 2 hyperscalers for a decade in a few roles, last one was 6 years as AM.

I left to try my own business in a completely different market (a few life events happened that made me make the decision).

I did okay on my own but it’s no longer sustainable, financially or mentally. I’d bite someone’s hand off to get back my old job (not possible).

I’ve been applying for roles for about 2 months and I’m not evening getting a screen. I get the automated rejection response. Some of these companies were actually reaching out to me at my last role (I just ignored them at the time).

I’m was obviously naive/ overconfident when jumping back into job search. I thought the household names would help, evidently not enough.

Is having my own business for the last 2 years a red flag? Any advice on what I can do? I reached out to my network, got 2 referrals for 2 other hyperscalers but didn’t even get a screen.

Advice appreciated, feeling deflated.

Context,

Worked in sales at a very large hyperscaler, Account manager in SMB + mid market for 5 years, 2 prior as lead gen in same company. I’m mid 30s.

Left exactly 2 years ago to set up my own company (non tech), did okay but honestly not worth it for me (stress,hours, pay).

Looking to get back to tech but realise the market isn’t great. Plan was, get in the door somewhere then work my way up, even if it meant pay cut.

Met with some close connections recently, some extremely high up in large tech corps and I was told I’m too old to be going in junior, it looks bad and will take forever to get up the ranks.

Completely opposite of what I was thinking, damn I only applied for a BDR role at openAI the other day (no response).

So do I try just hold out until I get an equivalent role or higher, or do you disagree that I’m too old to be getting a lower level role?