Part-time Account Executive - is this a thing?
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Anonymous
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I'm interested in getting back into the workforce, and I think I would be good at being an account executive. I have business development experience, and expertise in the field I'm considering. I have a strong resume from when I was last working, and I've been doing substantive volunteer work since my youngest started school.
I know some companies have a more hard-core sales culture than others, but I was wondering if it was possible to be a part-time account executive? It seems like it would work - lower base salary than peers, and then it would be mostly commission. I feel like 30 hours/week would still allow time for solid production. Would most companies require daily morning sales meetings? Would there be flexibility for snow days and school plays? Vacation? I can make calls during my child's after school tennis lesson, but I want to be the one to take her. Do you know anyone who is a part-time account executive? How does that work out? |
Anonymous
| IME, an account executive is not an entry level postion. I know part timers, but not after they have already been working at the job fulltime for a number of years and just decrease their load. |
Anonymous
| No. Clients need to be able to reach you at their convenience, not yours. |
Anonymous
| I know it only if someone has built up to it OP -- been around for some time than had a kid and got special permission to work PT. |
Anonymous
OP here. That makes sense to me in a single client environment. But if an account executive is expected to juggle multiple accounts, she wouldn't be "on-call" 24/7, right? At the drop of a hat? Like, if I'm not available at 3:30 to answer the phone, but I can call back at 4:00, what's the difference whether I was picking up my kids or on the phone with another client? I don't expect to stop answering calls/e-mails in the late afternoon - and I could always do some work in the late evening - it's more whether the sales goals could be adjusted for someone working 30 hours rather than 50+. |
Anonymous
| Not unless you've been in the field for a while and have clients you have an established relationship with and a deep knowledge of the product/area you are specifically dealing with. |
Anonymous
| PP here. "In the field" does not mean bus dev or product experience, it means you've been an account exec already. |
Anonymous
| Agree with PP. If you had a list of clients you've been working with for years, then they would probably be fine with it. But as a new AE? No, you would be expected to answer the phone and emails ASAP or send a thorough response to a question ASAP. And yes, sometimes a 30 minute delay in responding would make their heads explode. |
Anonymous
Ugh, okay, I hear you. I know the rule about consensus on DCUM. 
Just stinks. I left a client-centric job when my first pregnancy went haywire and they wouldn't accommodate. First baby was very challenging and I couldn't go back for a while. Tried to get back into the workforce a few years later (and did well professionally), then family had health crisis. Due to current family situation, I can work, but not full-time. Everything I know how to do - all the different variations of the job I can do - has an intense (or at least moderate) client focus. I envy the people who can be part-time bookkeepers, but that line of work just doesn't suit me. I don't expect to be able to work full-time for at least the next 5 years, but it could be much longer. I was looking at staffing solutions-type AE work, for the record. I have a lot to offer. I didn't intend to "retire" so young! |
Anonymous
| Can you write? What about doing proposal work? Being a part time writer that understands the sales cycle, and understands how to "sell" a company in writing, might be a good opportunity. I occasionally see the bug companies look for PT proposal folks and I bet smaller companies would be interested in occasional surge support. |
Anonymous
Thank you. That's an intriguing suggestion. It would be a shade better than bookkeeping. I'm a people person who is happiest when leading a workshop (especially if I designed it). But it's something to consider - thank you for the suggestion!
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Anonymous
Ahh ok. Facilitation or training is something I definitely think you could look into. Much different than being an Account Exec. I don't think it's conducive to sick kids and snow days when a workshop is scheduled, but I do believe your work life balance will overall be better. My perception is what may be offered as part-time BD work will really be full time, and it will be very frustrating that you won't be properly compensated. Have you looked at teaching facilitation skills? That may be a good way to get your foot in the door. It might be a course that you could teach on the non credit side at NOVA. A few of these sessions could help boost your resume. I've also recently seen some adds looking for facilitators. If I can find them again I'll post the links for you. Also perhaps taking a few ISD classes will refresh your resume. One more thought since you like leading workshops. ITIL trainers are a hot commodity right now. Is that something you'd consider doing after being certified? |
Anonymous
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Thank you SO much! Yes, when I play out business development in my mind, I think I'd feel compelled to reply to calls/e-mails immediately while helping with homework, etc. Do you remember that commercial where the child says to the mom, "when do I get to be an important client?" or similar. I can see that.
It's already there with my volunteer work (national youth organization - I do small group workshops, and recruiting and onboarding of new volunteers, in addition to occasional larger scope work). Mommy! I'm right here! Pay attention to me! I guess I thought AE could be a good fit, because I'm skilled at constructing job descriptions/scope definition, and I could go deeper and help realign processes, workloads etc, if they needed help with organizational structure. So many businesses don't hire well, and it starts with not understanding their own needs. I don't have a lot of experience with cold calling/generating leads, but I'm great with relationship-building and closing deals. Anyway, those are great leads, and I can read more about them. I have an 18 month time horizon, give or take, so I'm in no rush. I just want to loosely define my goal (or at least, identify some reasonable possibilities) and then be intentional about my time and effort as I rebuild my resume. Thank you again and happy Thanksgiving! |
Anonymous
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"I guess I thought AE could be a good fit, because I'm skilled at constructing job descriptions/scope definition, and I could go deeper and help realign processes, workloads etc, if they needed help with organizational structure. "
This has pretty much nothing to do with what an AE does at most companies. This is a consultant's job, not an AE's job. |
Anonymous
An AE is a fancy name for.sales person. And I agree, NOTHING in that description has a thing to do with sales. |