There is NO SALES CULTURE - PERIOD. The politics there are beyond anything you can imagine. And I have worked for other large cut throat companies. It is totally about WHO YOU KNOW - and has nothing to do with WHAT YOU KNOW. If you do not find a partner that serves as a benefactor of sorts - you are dead in the water. The EGO's of the Partners are indescribable. Honestly, after you learn what it takes to get to that level, you can better understand why they think they are GOD's.
The entire sales management team - throughout all sides of the house - the entire organization is made up of 'lifers'. They have not personally been in front of a customer since 1983. The sale reps are made up of total SLACKERS who have the ultimate skill "tenure". They have tried to hire new blood but either they quit or one of the partners makes it their goal to get rid of them. It will NEVER CHANGE,. I worked there a year, and when I took the position two previous colleagues reminded me that they had worked there, both made it about 5 years. They quit because of the reasons above and the constant internal competition. That was when I knew I was in trouble. Both of these gentlemen had not been with the firm for over 10 years and every issue they described was still there and growing. I knew then, that things were never going to change.
Your competition within the firm is 10 fold of what it is from any outside competitor. This competition includes numerous other sales reps, Sales Mangement does not have the "Guts" for lack of a better word to divide it up and take certain services out of the established reps bags. And the fierce competition continues with people who are not even in sales - their compensation plan has no provision for a commission., they have nothing to gain and absolutely needs the help of a true sales professional to win the deal but because many times they are on a partner track, they feel it is necessary to cut you and anyone else they can out so they can APPEAR TO HAVE MADE THE SALE all by themselves, thus receiving all the glory.
Finally, if you are a CPA, hey, it may be the best place in the world to work. But trust me, if you are in sales you will hate it. You will work 50/60 hours per week and in the end you will not have accomplished much. One conference call after another, and an endless search for approvals, (even to make an initial call into an established account) you cannot 'sneeze' without getting approval from the partner on the account plus anyone else that has something to gain. As a salesperson, you are at the bottom of the barrel,. You will not be respected.
