Let go 60 days into an AE role despite building pipeline - how would you handle this?
Hey everyone,
Looking for some advice because I’m in a pretty weird situation.
I’ve been an AE for almost 3 years and came up through a Founding BDR role before moving into leadership and eventually full-cycle sales. Heavy outbound background and I’ve always built the majority of my own pipeline.
Earlier this year, a health-tech SaaS company reached out to me on LinkedIn and recruited me away from my previous company. I wasn’t actively looking to leave, but the opportunity sounded like a great next step.
Things were going really well. I self-sourced roughly $100K in pipeline within my first 60 days and had multiple opportunities progressing into later stages.
Then came my 60-day check-in.
I joined the call with my new Sales Director, noticed HR was there and assumed it was standard. Instead, I was told I was being terminated effective immediately.
No warning, no PIP and no previous conversations about poor performance. I asked for feedback and wasn’t really given an explanation.
Once the news spread, multiple teammates messaged me privately saying they were shocked because they thought I had been killing it.
A few days later, I received my ROE and it listed “poor performance,” which confused me even more considering the pipeline I had built and the fact that I hadn’t received any negative feedback.
I had negotiated my compensation when joining, and the company also had a ramp accelerator where closing $100K ARR during probation could result in roughly $30K in commission. Some of my deals were progressing toward closing within that period. Could that have played a role? Maybe, but without an explanation it’s just speculation.
The hardest part is that I left my previous SaaS company while performing well, with roughly $400K in pipeline, closed-won business and commissions still on the table. I left because they approached me and I genuinely thought it was a better long-term opportunity.
Now I’m trying to figure out how to navigate the short tenure without letting 60 days overshadow several years of strong sales experience.
Appreciate any advice.