Certinia Account Executive Interview Questions
& Process

The process is pretty standard. First, you have a chat with a recruiter to give them more info about yourself. They might ask why you're looking to leave, about your sales performance, and what you're after. Then, you'll meet the hiring manager, followed by a panel interview. I had a great experience with the recruiter at FinancialForce; she really knew her stuff about the compensation plan, which is rare, and was super communicative, always clear about deadlines and what to expect. It's also a plus that you get to meet upper management. Pro tip: ask to chat with some sales folks to get a better feel for the job. Or even better, find them on LinkedIn and ask the recruiter to set up a meeting with an Account Executive. This helps you make a solid decision and gives you a glimpse into the AE life at FinancialForce.

I was introduced to a sales role with FFDC by an executive recruiter. This led to an initial chat with the hiring manager, followed by a face-to-face interview and then an interview with one of the founders. The company, culture, and people were great selling points, and it was easy to get excited about their success and potential. After the second interview, the FFDC recruiting manager got involved. Once a verbal offer was made, standard reference and background checks followed. The onboarding process has been amazing and it only took 10 minutes on my first day to realize I've joined a great company.

My interview experience was quite negative. Despite being a high-performing sales professional at a major advertising company and having served 6 years in a special forces unit in the Marines, my referral suggested I interview for the AE role. Initially, a recruiter called and stated I lacked SaaS sales experience, suggesting only an entry-level BDR position was suitable, which I declined. A month later, the same recruiter contacted me again, expressing interest in interviewing me. The confirmation email, however, specified the BDR role. I reiterated my lack of interest, but the recruiter and my referral insisted I interview anyway, suggesting the AE role might still be possible. After much persuasion, I agreed. The interview itself went very well. However, a few hours later, the recruiter emailed, informing me I wasn't qualified for the AE role and stating, "he told me so." I was shocked. The takeaway is that recruiters might say anything to secure an interview, regardless of the role you're interested in, prioritizing their quota. Also, be prepared to start at an entry-level if you aim for software sales at this company, as life experience and sales achievements aren't prioritized over a SaaS background for the AE position.