Decent job with good potential- definitely not for everyone - Sales Engineer Sweetwater Employee Review

3.0
23 Jan 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This job does allow for people with great experience and knowledge in the music industry to be able to help people on their own musical journey. The one to one relationship with customers can be very rewarding and fulfilling. The great discount and finger on the pulse of the music industry is exciting and getting to hear or demo new products before they are announced is cool. Tight knit work environment with your coworkers and most other sales engineers are helpful. Even if you don't know the answer to someone's question, there is a person in the company that definitely will. You set your own goals and are encouraged to meet them. Coaches and managers help find the best balance to make sure your goals are attainable based on your previous performance.

Cons

Straight commissioned sales means that you eat what you kill. Works great for people that thrive in that environment, but not everyone does. The hours can be a little rough especially when you're first starting out. Mandatory meetings are nice to keep on top of the industry, but can really get old.

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Sweetwater Response
4y
Thanks for your feedback and insights. I appreciate the multiple positives you listed. While I understand that you may bump into employees that aren't enjoying their experience (that happens in any company to some degree), our internal feedback loops show that this is far from the majority. In fact, if you look at our internal "Employee Net Promoter Score" that is gathered through our confidential annual employee survey, our company and department scores match up well with some of the largest companies around the country that are recognized for their employee friendly environments. And this scoring is just as true for those who are early in their career at Sweetwater as for those who are further along. I hope you'll be able to help positively shift the perspective of those who may be struggling or having difficult days...or point them to the many options we provide (like free coaching and in-house mental health counseling) that can also be a resource for them. Thanks for being on our team and helping make our customers' musical dreams come true! - Jeff Ostermann, Chief People Officer

Explore other reviews about Sweetwater

5.0
19 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Structure for private lessons -Create your own hours -Pool for new students -Food discount -Benefits

Cons

-I personally did not have problems

4.0
5 Jun 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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