TOXIC work environment. It’s full of cliques. The focus is on more of a social aspect and a popularity contest vibe than to actually be successful, and managers are the ring leaders of this childish behavior. AEs and SDRs are so far from hitting quota quarter over quarter, with less than 5% reaching quota while I was there. I’ve heard that only 3 AEs in the Denver office (out of 75~ AEs) hit quota in Q3 of 2023. You’ll be assigned 80 accounts and are encouraged that you’ll find a way to break into the accounts but they’re incredibly dry accounts with no interest in even having a conversation, plus you are now the 5th or 6th AE to reach out to them. In order to get a decent account in your name, you have to be one of the “popular” AEs who hangs out with management outside of work. You’re forced to go into the office 3-4 days a week, having to pay for parking each day. When you’re in the office the environment is toxic, dull, filled with negative energy, management won’t even talk to you or your team when passing in the office - literally they act like you don't exist. Promotions are very far and few between - the top rep in Denver is at his yearly quota, and was told he would qualify in July, and now as we approach November still has not been promoted. Turnover is very high, and new hires are noticing this within their 2nd month. Prior to leaving, other AEs were talking about leaving and have left and since leaving several AEs have reached out to me asking if the grass really is greener outside of the Datadog office walls, to which I can confidently say it is. There are “quarterly sales reviews” where management travels into Denver, all AEs and Managers are scheduled to sit in the cafeteria together while people get picked and told the day of to present their previous quarter sales metrics in front of 100+ people. Giving people constant anxiety for the entire day that they’re going to get called on to present. They then get grilled in front of 100+ people. It has been described as “hazing” throughout the Denver office’s sales team. Not only is this day unproductive, but embarrassing for all parties involved - especially senior managers and directors whose narcissism and ego lead them to have to comment on each and every line of a reps QSR. Don’t get sucked into drinking the Datadog kool-aid. You’ll make a very minimum base salary to be a glorified SDR with an AE title, with making commission during your first quarter of ramp and then after that you’ll make minimal commission because quota is not attainable. You’ll either be in a popular clique where the day to day might be “okay” where you don’t mind coming into the office from a social aspect or you’ll be on the outside of the cliques and counting down the hours until you can leave the office at 5:30 PM (at the earliest). If you’re interested in a “company culture” that forces happy hours and gives you free snacks, give this place a shot. If you’re interested in a “company culture” where management cares about their employees, quota is attainable, you’re seeing yourself develop and grow professionally, you have the ability to control your book of business and make money, then Datadog is not for you. Stay away.
