if you’re in sales, stay away from this company unless...
Pros
The product is one of the best out there, as is the sales methodology. As a field sales you’re exposed to a variety of customers from different industries so you learn a lot.
Cons
Unless you have no plans of having a life outside work for the foreseeable future, if you’re looking to join the EMEA sales org, beware! The sales “culture” is borderline bullying, unless you’re ok with becoming a micro-managed puppet and yes man. Middle Management is made of top performing individual contributors who are often the most arrogant and devoid of people skills. They are promoted without having a clue about what it means to lead a team of people, hence frustrating their team members while deferring any real decision to senior management. The sales floor is always full of tension and the everyday pressure is akin to what most organizations experience only at year end. There’s no room for disagreement and management thinks they’re always right. Unless you embrace anything they tell you and do what they say exactly how they went it and when they want it, you’re not coachable and therefore have a problem. This includes making up stories (I.e. lying blatantly) to push customers to meet you or to justify your sales tactics. You’re also expected to read and reply emails and even get on calls at any hour or the day, night and over the weekend, and overall use the weekend to think about your deals and plan for the week ahead. You’re discouraged from ever taking holidays and feel guilty when you eventually do (most likely you’ll end up working throughout them anyway). Management holds Cisco in very low regard instead of fostering collaboration with the mother company. They will also try to find ways to take deals or commission away from you if more convenient to them or if they want to teach you a lesson. There’s much more to say but by now you get the picture.
