Not as shiny on the inside - Sales Engineer Sweetwater Employee Review

Sweetwater is a company that empowers its employees, provides the best training in the industry and encourages everyone to be the best at what they do. Tons of resources are available for personal and professional growth and beyond the largest music store in the country, the arcade, the slide, the theaters and entertainment aspects, there is a doctor on site at the Fort Wayne Campus, a 24 gym, regular workshops, training and an environment that will encourage you to do and be better than you were yesterday.

The number of roles and Sweetwater grows continuously and while you are given a great deal of autonomy, particularly in Sales, you are expected to work and produce results (this is a con, though, really...?). The compensation is the best in the industry but can be demanding. Not taking advantage of the resources that Sweetwater provides (gym, doctor, entertainment) can lead to frustration. In my first week in my role as Sales Engineer, I was told that 'Sweetwater is not a job you dabble at...' and I could not agree more. Sure, you 'can' dabble at it, not push yourself to try your best, give your all and get out of your comfort zone but such behavior is a recipe for burnout. If you are not a driven and self-motivated individual who can express ideas, manage multiple personality types, objectively recognize areas in yourself that need improvement and implement continuous change, Sweetwater (particularly Sales) may not be the best fit.

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.

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.