From Boring Engineering Job To $90K+ SDR

What got you interested in Tech Sales?

Post-military, I landed a job as a cloud engineer at a startup, but it didn't work out well, largely due to interpersonal issues and a lack of respect. I moved to another company where everything seemed perfect – great culture, engaging work, and a good team. Despite this, I realized that a career behind a screen coding all day long wasn't fulfilling for me. I've always excelled in what I do and received recognition at my job, but I questioned whether this was the path I wanted to continue on. The job was stable, almost too stable, and I felt like I wasn't challenging myself. It reminded me of my time in the military's drill team, where I started as the worst member and worked my way up to lead. That experience, filled with social interactions, briefings to higher leadership, and competitiveness, was fulfilling in a way tech wasn't. But seeing my father's success in tech sales, especially during the pandemic, made me reconsider my career path. His ability to drive his income through effort and dedication inspired me. I've always seen sales in a positive light, admiring my father and somewhat competing with him in my mind. I knew I couldn't catch up if I stayed on my current path, so I decided to give sales a try, hoping to find the fulfillment and success I've been looking for.

What was your experience like breaking in?

I had applied to numerous places but barely got any traction before working with Higher Levels. The process with a single startup went well, and I reached the final interview. The SDR manager there liked me but explained that their higher-ups preferred someone with more experience to immediately contribute, which is understandable for a startup with limited resources for training. Although disappointed, I didn't let it deter me. I got back on the horse, followed the training, and Elastic ended up drawing a heavy interest in me. I followed the instructions on how to apply and immediately got an interview. The interview process at Elastic involved four rounds, and each one went really well, with everyone seeming excited about my candidacy.

What were the biggest takeaways from working with Higher Levels?

You guys had a list of questions that are likely to be asked and also questions that you should ask. That completely changed the game for me. Beforehand, I had not really been one to ask questions during the interview, and I think that comes off as you're not really interested, or you haven't done research on the company. And I think being able to have that back and forth conversation with whoever's interviewing you kind of lets them know that you're serious about it, and you prepared for it, and it definitely gives you a foot forward. You guys really prepare me for everything throughout that process, and I'm forever grateful for what you've put together here. I would recommend it to anyone looking to break in.