Great Job If You Completely Ignore Management - Sales Engineer Sweetwater Employee Review

2.0
Feb 28, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This job provides great benefits and gains financially if you work hard and put in a lot of hours which is amazing. You can earn a great living quickly if you focus on yourself and no one else.

Cons

Sales Management is the driving force behind watering-down of quality here. They lead from fear of being fired themselves and expect Sales Engineers to do this job from an idealistic perspective rather than a practical one and it causes people to leave the company very quickly because they constantly feel lied to. Training does not prepare you for the actual job and management will use its hands-off approach to watch you get frustrated and leave.

avatar
Sweetwater Response
8y
We're sorry, but this review is just not correct. I have been here for almost 13 years as the head of Human Resources and in that time there isn't a single Sales Manager who has been terminated, had any kind of write up or other disciplinary action, or received anything less than a very good rating. So the idea that managers are "leading from fear of being fired themselves" is, frankly, preposterous. As far as not doing the job from a practical standpoint, scores of the 330+ courses we teach in Sweetwater University are incredibly practical: teaching, training and giving exact pointers on how to build a data base, use our CRM system, track progress, etc. How in the world this comes across as lying to a new hire is beyond us. If we truly were constantly lying to Sales Engineers,, our turnover rate for that job would be extremely high. It is actually single digits, which is fairly unheard in a commission sales environment. Even the reviewer admits that people can have a successful career here and earn a great living quickly. I'm not quite sure how that comes across as lying. --Jeff McDonald, Senior VP of Human Resources

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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All