PreSales Academy

Before I discovered the PreSales Academy, I had been trying to transition into the tech industry for months with no luck. The PSA provided me with the structure and guidance that I needed to achieve my goal, and now I am a Solutions Engineer!  This is not just any regular old boot camp, they really take the time to get to know you and your strengths.  They coach you throughout the process and help you use and be confident of your transferable skills.  One thing that sets this program apart from other boot camps is their commitment to their students.  They stick with you even after you finish the program and continue to coach you and support you in your job search.  I am beyond grateful for all of the support I received from everyone at the PSA.  They are life changers!  Read less

I was accepted to Cohort #6 (Oct 2022) for PreSales Academy (PSA). Overall I felt completely supported the whole process.  The classes are only twice per week in the evenings so it worked with my existing work schedule and family obligations. What separates PSA from other Sales Engineering bootcamps is the level of detail and support you get since the cohorts are small in size. Also having the backing of the entire PreSales Collective organization made it easier to network and make connections with other PreSales Leaders which opened doors for job opportunities.

When it came to interviewing, I was told that my demo was even better than other senior level SEs which is a testament to the level of PSA's curriculum and training they provide which is the best in the industry.

In a challenging job market currently with constant tech layoffs, I was able to receive a job offer the following month after graduating PSA. I put a lot of hard work to accomplish that goal but without the PSA Staff, mentors and resources it wouldn't have been possible.

I would recommend PreSales Academy for anyone that has some form of existing customer facing experience, looking for a career switch to tech. PSA will help guide you with training and resources to gain the necessary technical aptitude for an entry level SE role. Understand that a career transition is not a easy process, but if you put in the work and effort PSA is truly the best vehicle to land your first role in PreSales! Read less

I have a background in Physics and worked as a laser engineer for 4 years before making the switch to PreSales. Entry level sales/solutions engineer roles have become hyper-competitive, and PreSales Academy was the best choice I made in order set myself apart. Below is a list of things that stood out when I was looking into the program and that contributed to my success during and after:

Researching and applying to the program:

• Reputable staff 
  • PSA has a huge network of high quality connections in the PreSales community
  • The co-founders used to manage the positions you’ll be applying for
  • The people coaching and mentoring you have experience in PreSales roles (some in leadership/management)
• Active online presence 
  • Frequent posts on LinkedIn and Twitter about graduates who got hired and companies they work for
  • Online reviews from graduates were consistently great
  • Website provides transparency about qualifications they look for in potential students

During the program:

• Lessons were simple and effective. They truly focused on the core competencies that sales engineers / solutions consultants will need in the role.
• Practicing discovery and demos (and getting feedback) was huge! It prepared me not only for upcoming interviews, but helped me visualize myself in the job.
• They provided guidance, documentation, and lessons around networking, interview practice, and job searching.
• Someone was always accessible!

After the program:

• They were quick to connect me with companies they have a relationship with, and they were willing to put in a good word for other companies I was interested in
• Any manager that is familiar with PSA / PSC is EXCITED to talk to PSA grads!
• They provided us with tools to stay organized and effective during our job hunt
• Multiple people were willing to carve out time to help me prepare for my upcoming interviews

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I am a graduate of PSA's cohort #4 which started in June and ended in August 2022. I interviewed with several companies and landed a role at the end of September. I started my job in mid October 2022. I have a background in sales, real estate and healthcare. Although not required, I came with a degree in Biology and tech skills in HTML, CSS and Javascript. I also had prior experience with Salesforce CRM. During the program (in my free time), I also learned the basics of APIs and cloud computing. 

PSA only offers the course at one time in the weekday evenings, which was 6pm central time for me. This worked perfectly for me as it was after my 8-5pm workday. The curriculum was a mix of self paced learning assignments and live sessions with guest speakers and role plays. There is a ton of support during and after the program, including being connected with an advisor, coach, and mentor. You'll also have your cohort peers to lean on as well as previous alumni. 

The program emphasizes how important the soft skills such as good communication, relationship building, public speaking/presenting, and organization/time management are. They also go into great detail/teaching on how to be a good solution consultant (sales engineer/solutions engineer/presales consultant) - which is based in collaborating well with your account executive (sales rep), asking good discovery questions of the prospect, value based selling, and demo skills. 

There is support after graduation with interviewing and landing a job. They give a ton of resources to help keep you organized and be prepared for your interviews. They are also always available for questions or practice. They do have hiring partners and if I have to make one complaint, it would be that very few of those partners were hiring at the time of my graduation. Therefore, the job hunt was in my hands completely (understandable in my opinion). But, the program teaches you how to make the most of your LinkedIn network and the PreSales Collective community where there are 1000s of current presales professionals including hiring managers and recruiters.

Overall, I'd recommend PSA to anyone looking to make this pivot in their career to becoming a PreSales consultant. I learned so much about the role and myself. I increased my technical and business acumen. I am SO HAPPY in this career as well, and I don't think I would have been able to do it without PSA.  Read less

PreSales academy provided me with the knowledge and support I needed before and AFTER the program that helped me make the transition from teacher to Solutions Consultant. They provide a mentor, coach, personal advisor, and career advisor. With their support I got the job! Live sessions, live roleplays, and E-learning provided me everything I needed in just 8 weeks!  Read less

PreSales Academy is an amazing program.  I can't recommend it enough.  The live instruction and online learning modules are fantastic, but beyond that, the individual attention, coaching, and mentorship are what make PSA really stand out. I was so supported and encouraged every step of the way. I not only learned the skills needed to land and succeed in an SE role, but I built relationships with mentors, advisors, and peers that I will carry with me. The resources provided are substantial and understandable for someone coming from a non-technical background, and when I did have questions, I knew who to go to for clarification.  Finally, As a queer person and woman, I appreciated PSA's commitment to diversity and creating opportunities for minorities in the tech space.  I was given advice and mentorship that took those particular parts of my identity into account, which was so incredibly helpful.   Read less

This was hands down the best decision I made to help navigate a major career change. PSA followed through on all of their promises. They have a well developed curriculum that is a conglomerate of wisdom and best practices from around the PSC. They are constantly updating and refining materials. The staff is outstanding, and above all, will do anything to support the students. They bring in outstanding lecturers and guest speakers. The mentors and coaches are extremely well qualified to be assisting students and are very supportive will developing critical presales competences through 1:1 practice. The program is hard work, but everybody at PSA wants to see you succeed. I loved the comradery with my peers, as well as the many opportunities to network throughout the presales community. I accepted an offer as an Associate Solutions Consultant 3 weeks after graduating. Read less

PreSales Academy was personally and professionally the best decision I made in my life. I landed an amazing job (Solutions Consultant) with an amazing company (Gainsight!!!) in less than 3 months upon completion. I came from a non-traditional background in construction (AEC sector), and by following the steps laid out by PSA I was able to break into tech industry. Don't let the part-time aspect of PSA be misleading. This academy will make you dig deep and encourage you to constantly be learning/growing/networking. I was enrolled in the first co-hort and thought PSA nailed it! Thank you Yuji Higashi and James Kaikis for giving me a chance to be apart of the PreSales Academy. Forever grateful!!! Read less

If you are looking to break into Presales as a Sales Engineer then this program is for you. My background was in Customer Success and I tried to interview on my own for SE roles, but I was getting rejected after the demo stage. The program pairs you with a coach and a mentor. The coach is the one that you do each demo with and they give you feedback and grades for each one; the idea is that you get better with each live demo; they also act as a mentor while you are in the program ( and after). Solutions/Sales Engineering is all about the demo. Throughout the course, we had 10 demos that we did live and recorded with our coach and peers so, at the very least, you will leave this program knowing how to demo software. Another positive thing about the program is the hiring partners. I received a job offer a month after the program ended due to being introduced to a variety of hiring managers at different companies affiliated with the program. Another amazing aspect of the program is the networking. The sessions and workshops are run by actual sales engineers, so there's a connection to all of those people, but the demo sessions were run by Great Demo! & 2Win! (two widely recognized training programs in Presales Industry) which you can reference on your resume and Linkedin. Overall, I enjoyed the program and left with a complete understanding of the ins and outs of the role and a pipeline of opportunities to explore.  Read less

I was please to be part of the inaugural group of students with PreSales Academy. Thanks to the excellently designed coursework, the familial camaraderie between participants and coaches, and the great networking, I landed a job one month after graduation. My coach was integral to my success: thanks to his extremely helpful constructive feedback and continuous coaching, I was confident in my application to my job and the subsequent vetting process. I am pleased to have made professional and personal connections through PSA as well as grown and stretched myself professionally through this experience. I would suggest PSA to anyone who wants a fresh take on their career!  Read less

Applied and joined the PreSales Academy based on a referral from a friend.  I am so happy that I did!  The instructors, the lessons, the coaching, and the training helped me land a position as an Associate Sales Engineer soon after graduation.  I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a career change.   Read less

I had a great overall experience with PreSales Academy and I highly recommend to anyone who is new to PreSales and ultimately landing a role in PreSales. I was part of the inaugural cohort of PSA, and it will only get better in the future. The instructor and the coaches are very helpful with job searching and interviewing. Can't wait to see what the future holds for PSA! Read less

I was a high school Spanish teacher for 5 years and wanted to break into tech to have a better work-life balance & higher salary. For someone coming from a completely different industry, the foundational skills I learned in this course were instrumental in my success to break into tech sales. The live-demo/discovery role plays and access to industry professionals were the most valuable portion of this course. Something important to note as well: the program sets you up well to not just become an SE but really to get any Presales adjacent role. Read less

The journey to becoming a Solutions Engineer was a marathon that was full of beautiful and challenging moments. I’m not saying it’s impossible to go at it alone, but what the Presales Academy provided with training, a cohort of peers, and mentors/coaches was the reason I made it through to the other side. Read less

The PreSales Academy provided the perfect amount of background information to get me up to speed with the tech industry. Coming from the healthcare industry I felt like the information provided made me feel competent and confident to speak the lingo. Building off of this information then allowed me to excel in discovery calls, RFPs, and technical demos. By working with the staff, mentors, and coaches, I was able to develop the skills to compete in a highly competitive application process. This ultimately laid the ground work for me to crush the interviews and demo presentations leading me to land a job as a Solution Architect. The PSA guided me through the whole process of getting into the program all the way to getting the job. The PSA delivers what is expected and helps you obtain the skills to be a competent presales professional.  Read less

I'm a seasoned sales professional with years of experience working in the tech industry, and I initially debated if this program was really going to add any value for someone like me.  I initially attempted to land a Solutions Engineering position on my own, making it through 3 different interview processes and being turned down each time.  After enrolling in the PreSales Academy and going through the extensive training, coaching, roleplays, and mentoring that they provide, I was able to receive 2 offers from great companies to become a solutions engineer!  I can say with 100% confidence that the PSA gave me the extra skills and the network that I needed to get over the hump and really impress the hiring teams throughout my interviews.  I can't recommend this program enough to anyone who is looking to make the transition into Solutions Engineering, even if you think you already have the skills and resume to succeed on your own.  It's the best career decision I've made to date. Read less

Major respect to the PreSales Academy / PreSales Collective on running an awesome training, from beginning to end. Prior to applying, I attended a really professional webinar and scheduled an informative 1:1 Q&A session with one of their reps. I quickly recognized quality throughout PSA's operations, from their informational material and website, to the curriculum of the course itself, to their amazing instructors, mentors and coaches, extensive network, and so much more. In 2 months time I went from just another person interested in "transitioning into Tech" to growing knowledge and confidence. Within weeks of graduating I was able to leverage my new skills to land an awesome new job! I couldn't be happier, and have been recommending PSA to people in my life. Read less

*Spoiler Alert* I went from an entry-level sales role to working at a Fortune 500 company. When it comes to "boot camps", I'm no stranger to them. In fact, I honestly prefer them and the PreSales Academy nailed it. With advisors, mentors, and hands-on training, there's no better decision than joining PSA. Most of my cohort members held down full-time jobs and families while attending PSA, and the effort you put in will 100% reflect what you get back (a few of my cohort members even did additional relevant work outside of what is required and landed jobs immediately). You will be paired with a mentor that is actually in the presales profession and run live demos to warm up your muscles for your new solutions career. The workload is doable and as soon as you begin to feel overwhelmed, you graduate! The support I received during my job hunt is what really sets PSA apart. On a professional and personal level, they will be your safety and you will be introduced to opportunities that only a network like PSA can provide for you. If you're considering a career change or additional professional development then I encourage you just go for it.  Read less

I am a former teacher of 6 years who excitedly applied, interviewed and enrolled in the April PreSales Academy in February! 
Honesty it was the best decision that I ever made. My family and friends thought I was insane. No one thought it was legit but I did a lot of research before enrolling!
The support I got while in the program was pivotal for me in helping me develop the confidence and skills required to thrive.
I put 100% effort into the program and also was sure to be active and network on LinkedIn. 
Towards the end of the program I was involved in over a dozen job interview processes none of which I applied for because hiring managers were genuinely interested in me because of my clear drive and do whatever it takes attitude.
Being in the PreSales Academy showed companies I was serious and they were eager to talk to me.
I highly recommend the program for anyone interested in a PreSales role.
I had multiple offers less than a month after completing the program and I ended up taking a role making over six figures, more money than I could ever imagine!
If you ever have any questions feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn! Read less

I honestly can't say enough about this course.  I was very skeptical going in and almost convinced myself to not go through with joining the program. But ultimately figured that I would look at it as an investment and hope for the best. 

My experience was amazing. Actually today is the last day of my 2 month crash course to becoming a Sales Engineer.  My background is 15 years as a school social worker with a passion for people and technology.  PreSales Academy helped me understand what goes into a successful presentation (demo) so that I can use this skill during interviews.  The program has several guest speakers who all have been wonderful and have years of experience in this field.  You are also paired with a seasoned coach and mentor (volunteers) that help prepare you and stay with you indefinitely.  My plan is to stay connected with my pair for years to come.  

Lastly the cohort becomes a resource all of its own. With so many talented people pushing each other and sharing ideas and methods,  I can't thank my group members enough.  We all came in anxious and oblivious to the challenges we were going to be facing together during 2 months of hands on training. We leaned on each other and I'll likely remain in contact with this group well after completing the course.

I started looking for employment 1 week ago but others in my cohort started sooner. I have been pleased with the level of attention PSA provides me with and the attention to detail they gave my resume.  I am 100% convinced that they will support me throughout my career. I simply can't wait to pay it forward. Read less