Pros
Location - downtown Chicago Manufacturer incentives - spiffs, tickets to sporting events, trips Brand recognition - most customers have atleast heard of CDW, makes it easier to sell Availability of offerings - every brand but Dell and Apple
Cons
Now owned by a private equity firm who only cares about the bottom line. Increasing the bottom line on the backs of the account managers. Suspended paltry $1500 401k match during downturn & didn't bring it back until after completing the most profitable year (2010) in company history. Account managers are the only ones held accountable - support staff are all reactive, no proactive measures to make sales people more efficient. No meaningful investments in AM efficiency. Management is underqualified, lacks the ability/competence to effectively motivate/compensate & empower sales people. Directors are out of touch w/ sales staff. I've literally seen my segment director/VP once in the past year. Monthly sales goals are based solely off of individual's previous 1yr actual sales. If you sell a one-time, big infrastructure project, you're going to be goaled on it the following year. Compensation now affected positively and negatively by inconsistent sales goals over trailing 3 months. Creates more stress than it does motivation. Base pay unchanged in 25 years.