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

1.0
Jul 11, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Gear perks, good people as clients

Cons

Company is about $$ and the bottom line. Long hours, corporate treatment, and non genuine thanks for working hard, if any at all. Mandatory meetings unpaid- due to being on commission but penalized if late or miss. By the time I left, it was under advisement of my doctor. Sales floor is full of sharks though they claim it's not, and high school drama type of culture.

avatar
Sweetwater Response
6y
We're saddened that you obviously didn't have an enjoyable overall experience during your time working with us . Being a Sales Engineer can certainly be challenging at times and requires effort but it also comes with great rewards for those who stick with it - including the 400+ sales engineers who are currently thriving with us. The meetings you mention are intended to provide additional training on how to become an expert, which is a key ingredient in determining the degree of one's success and one of the ways we invest in our sales engineers. In addition, in the small number of situations where we may have a team member who is struggling (sometimes due to external life situations or factors), we offer extensive resources to help support them - including in-house sessions with a certified counselors, free external counseling sessions through our Employee Assistance program, and additional coaching support from our Director of Leadership Development and Personal Growth. We're always committed to helping our team members thrive - and our desire for this goes way beyond measurements of the bottom line. 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