Startup Hunter Account Executive
Databricks · Ontario, Canada
- Base
- Not disclosed
- OTE
- Not disclosed
- Quota attainment
- Not disclosed
- Posted
- 3mo ago
Why it matters: OTE tells you what you could earn. Attainment tells you how realistic it is.
Ask: “What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?”
Still open · checked 3h agoon Databricks's careers page
What Databricks sells
One place for company data and AI work
Many companies keep their data in lots of separate systems, which makes it hard to use that data to build AI. Databricks lets teams keep their data, AI work, and live apps in one place. Teams can run real-time apps on the same trusted data they use for AI, instead of juggling many tools.
In plain English, from their own job posts. Something wrong? Tell us
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Ask hard questionsToo much is left unsaid. Make them answer before you invest.
- Pay
- No pay listed at all.
- Transparency
- Says nothing about quota, attainment, deal size, territory or sales cycle.
- Pipeline
- Mostly self-sourced. Great if you like outbound, rough if you don't.
- Time on market
- Open 89 days. Ask why it's been hard to fill.
- Company hiring
- Ramping up: posted 22 sales roles in the last 30 days. That many open roles can also mean churn. Ask how many reps are still there from last year.
Red flags
None spotted.
Green flags
- Pays accelerators. Higher commission rates once you pass quota. Overperformance actually pays.
Based only on what the posting says. Flags are a starting point for your first call, not a final judgment.
Questions to ask on the first call
Built from what this posting leaves out. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.
- 1.
What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?
OTE is what you could earn. This is how likely you are to earn it.
- 2.
What percentage of reps on the team have been here more than 18 months?
Tenure shows whether people stay long enough to get paid.
- 3.
Has the comp plan changed in the last 12 to 18 months? What changed?
A plan that changes every year means the goalposts keep moving.
- 4.
Who sits with reps and reviews calls each week?
Coaching is often what's behind a good or bad attainment number.
- 5.
What are the base and the OTE for this role?
No point investing hours before you know the number.
- 6.
Why is this role open? Did someone leave, or is it new?
New headcount is growth. A replacement means someone left. Ask why.
When the offer comes
Save these for later. They land better once they've said yes to you.
- 1.
Can I see the full comp plan in writing, including clawbacks and accelerators?
What's in writing is what gets paid. Read it before you sign.
- 2.
Can I see the actual comp distribution for the team last year, not just the OTE?
The spread shows what most reps really take home. OTE is just the target.
- 3.
I'd be walking away from earned commission to join. Is there room for a sign-on bonus to help cover that?
Leaving money behind is a fair reason to ask. The worst answer is no.
Josh's top five questions for any sales interview →
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The role
Sell Databricks' data and AI platform to startups, closing new accounts while expanding existing ones. Prospecting is expected, and you'll build your own territory plan within 30 days.
SMB · Mixed · Outbound
Selling motion
Who you're selling to
- Buyer:
- Startup companies using dataIn their words: “As a Startup Account Executive at Databricks, you get to work with some of the most exciting, disruptive companies using data to change the world.”
- Company size:
- SMB
Pipeline expectations
Compensation
What is not disclosed
This posting doesn't tell you:
- Base salary
- OTE
- Quota size
- Quota attainment
- Average deal size
- Territory
- Sales cycle length
The questions above cover the big ones.