Perfect for Musicians Who Excel at Corporate BS-ing - Sales Engineer Sweetwater Employee Review

4.0
Oct 8, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good people, fun vibe, nice location and good amenities. I'll miss the gym, fitness coach, hair salon, massages, and working with lots of competent technical people (not everyone, but most).

Cons

I realized that I'm not great at separating how I feel from what the company wants to hear. I was always professional (that's how I felt) but when asked to speak openly, I trusted that it was safe to do so. I realize that it is NEVER safe to speak openly to a manager - there's a conflict of interest and they have to job to do (and keep) and family to provide for. I feel there was a "rules for me, not for thee" situation going on and I didn't ever figure out how to play the game. Some people break BIG rules and take advantage, while others (like me) bent the rules only to take care of the customer or the company - which is what I thought we'd been taught. Yet things didn't seem to work out for me (I got into hot water a few times) while the big rule breakers kept their jobs and their reputations as being great salespeople and were cleared to keep working there. I was warned by my new manager that I'd be in bigger trouble if I didn't clean up some bad habits. I did, but he didn't think I did it enough so he decided to put me into hot water anyway. It didn't seem fair but I tried to show him that I was willing to work harder to earn his trust & respect. Then he changed his interpretation of his "hot water" improvement plan for me and I was terminated. The day I was let go, I knew what was coming and had time to ask other managers & senior sales people to review my case. They agreed HR would never go along with it, but they did and I was let go. I'd been meeting the sales engineer KPI's within 90% of margins, developing my skills and growing my book of business, and was well within the standards of conduct and performance standards for my role. There were plenty of others doing the same things I was accused of doing who weren't in any jeopardy (and who are still there at the time of this review) who also hate the job, don't get the culture, and do only what they have to do to not get fired. I came in early, stayed late, and cared about the work. But in the end, that didn't matter because I annoyed my boss. I'm convinced that was the main issue. If you can't work with people who deftly navigate the corporate jargon B.S. kool-aid, this might not be the place for you. If you're skilled at it (like one of my close friends who still works there is) and you like technical sales in the audio industry, it's a great place. I'd hoped be there for 10+ years if I'd only learned this skill sooner.

Explore other reviews about Sweetwater

5.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The job requires a versatile mindset. It is not just one job, it is multiple jobs. For me I like switching it up and staying on my feet. This job is not only customer facing but also warehouse. So it is the best of both worlds.

Cons

Sometimes you are required to lift heavier boxes but you usually get help if needed.

4.0
Jun 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If sales and music are your drives, Sweetwater is as good as it gets. Management in my experience has been very supportive and development-oriented, creating a positive culture around the company. They have a fantastic training program (albeit intense) that trains on both products and sales methods, so even if you're lacking experience in a given category there's plenty of coaching and training to get you ready for the role. Over time, the position can also be quite lucrative which compliments Fort Wayne's low cost of living well. They also offer relocation assistance since all positions are on-site, and a great benefits package. I've been fortunate to become great friends with many of my coworkers and honestly some days don't even feel like work. Ultimately, with this job you get what you put in, and making a solid living to geek out over music gear all day is a pretty sweet gig.

Cons

The job is very demanding - it's a fully commission sales job that revolves around constant customer outreach via call, text, and email. This means starting out is tough financially, and days are usually long. Try to have a savings cushion before you start, especially if you're moving from another city/state. You also work nights, holidays, and rotate through weekend shifts which won't be new for those who have worked retail before, but it's still a tough adjustment. Starting out I struggled from a social aspect as well. Fort Wayne is a cool city, but it's no LA, NY, or Chicago. Long hours at work make going out and making friends or getting involved in community groups/organizations difficult.

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