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Handshake

SMB Account Executive

🇺🇸 Hybrid - CA

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $130,000 - $140,000

💻 Sales

🗓️ March 29th, 2024

MEDDIC SMB SaaS
Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.

Your Impact:


We’re looking for an SMB Account Executive to join our Employer Sales Team at Handshake, the only all-in-one early talent recruiting platform. In this role you will connect Employers to students and alumni to democratize access to opportunity. You will be given an account list and will be responsible for managing a full-cycle sales process from prospecting to closing. This includes (but isn’t limited to) account prioritization, prospecting and outreach, uncovering customer objectives and aligning to Handhsake’s value, and finally creating urgency to drive deadlines and accountability. Handshake is a fast-paced environment and it’s an exciting time. In order to be successful you must embrace change management, have a positive mindset, and be a problem-solver.

Your Role:


  • Exceed quarterly and annual quota targets
  • Develop and cultivate relationships with senior executives at the Director, VP, and C-level within your accounts
  • Leverage internal tools and resources to prospect, nurture, and close new business 
  • Responsible for accurately forecasting business on monthly/quarterly/yearly basis 
  • Interact and collaborate cross-functionally to build and grow our multi-sided talent marketplace
  • Work independently while also up-leveling and supporting your team
  • Be customer first and take a consultative approach to selling Handshake’s value
  • Note: this is a hybrid position with 3 days a week in our San Francisco, and 2 days a week remote.

Your Experience:


  • 2-3 years of sales experience in SaaS with 1+ year of closing experience
  • Proven track record of quota attainment in closing sales role for 1+ year
  • A strong history of quota attainment and can articulate at least 1 example of a customer story from prospect to closed won
  • Experience operating in a high-growth business environment like Handshake
  • Clear written and verbal communication
  • Pre-sales experience: prioritization and outreach including scalable email communication and 1:1 customization
  • Sales Experience: discovery including 2nd and 3rd level pain, demonstrating and explaining ROI, and having the ability to hold customers to deadlines and generate urgency to drive deals forward in the sales cycle
  • Experience preparing sales proposals, forecasting, and account planning
  • Demonstrates enthusiasm for working outside of scope to enrich processes and have an impact on larger business objectives 
  • Willing to work out of our San Francisco office 3 days a week

Bonus Areas of Expertise: 


  • Knowledge of how online recruiting technology works - and the ability to explain it in ordinary terms
  • Completed formal sales training programs, has knowledge of sales methodologies (i.e Challenger, MEDDIC, Sandler, etc), and/or utilizes additional resources like books or podcasts to up level skills 
  • Previous SDR or BDR experience before being an AE
  • AE experience selling HR or recruiting software

Compensation range


  • $130,000-$140,000 OTE + Equity 

For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

About us


Handshake is the #1 place to launch a career with no connections, experience, or luck required. The platform connects up-and-coming talent with 750,000+ employers - from Fortune 500 companies like Google, Nike, and Target to thousands of public school districts, healthcare systems, and nonprofits. In 2022 we announced our $200M Series F funding round. This Series F fundraise and valuation of $3.5B will fuel Handshake’s next phase of growth and propel our mission to help more people start, restart, and jumpstart their careers.

When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look here at Handshake. With our Hub-Based Remote Working strategy, employees can enjoy the flexibility of remote work, whilst ensuring collaboration and team experiences in a shared space remains possible. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, New York, London, and Berlin and teammates working globally. 
Check out our careers site to find a hub near you!

What we offer


At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.

  • 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
  • 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
  • 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
  • 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
  • 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
  • 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
  • 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
  • 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
  • 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.
  • 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.

(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

  • 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
  • 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
  • 🍼 Lactation support: Handshake partners with Milk Stork to provide a comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians.