The negatives far outweigh the positives. The compensation for sales roles is significantly below the industry average, with a large gap between what is promised during recruitment and the actual reality of the job. While new hires are told they can earn six figures by the end of the year, this is rarely the case. Meeting sales targets is extremely difficult due to several factors, including poor product quality, ineffective marketing strategies, inefficient post-sales processes, a lack of data and leads, and limited support or tools to help employees succeed. Even when targets are met, the commission structure is disappointing, with employees only earning 3-5% of sales. Given the base salary, which is barely above the national minimum wage, it's not surprising that many employees leave within six months.
Employee turnover is a significant issue. New hires are often lured in with unrealistic promises but are not provided with the resources, support, or training they need to succeed. From day one, employees are expected to meet targets despite having little experience and no meaningful data to work from, which results in many making little to no money. The company has seen record levels of attrition, largely because of low pay and poor working conditions.
For those who do stay beyond the initial six months, career growth and progression opportunities are virtually non-existent. Management frequently changes structures and strategies, making it difficult for employees to adapt and consistently meet sales goals. Some recent organizational changes have also negatively impacted key support teams, including SOP, credit control, and implementation. On the rare occasion that a sale is made, issues arising from poor post-sales processes, software bugs, and nonexistent customer support often make the effort seem fruitless. Sales teams are left handling customer complaints and problems that are beyond their control, further complicating their ability to focus on their core tasks.
Following the company's recent sale, there has been a significant shift in management and the structure of various teams. Whole departments, such as the SDR team, have been hired and fired, and any remaining incentives or recognition for the sales team's efforts have disappeared. The few remaining aspects of the company's culture have vanished, leaving sales executives feeling demotivated, underpaid, and overworked. Monthly bonuses and incentives have been removed, yet targets have doubled, all while there has been no improvement to the available data, resources, or marketing support.
Management has attempted to offer so-called "promotions" to some employees, but these promotions did not come with salary increases, instead merely transferring responsibility to other departments. Micromanagement is another major issue, particularly in the Manchester office, where directors closely monitor employees’ every move, even dictating when breaks can be taken. More emphasis is placed on talk time and the number of calls made, rather than on providing the necessary tools and support to enable the sales team to succeed.
In summary, the company seems to be in complete disarray, with management appearing unaware of how to fix the numerous issues plaguing the business.