sales representative entry level

sales representative

solar installer

direct sales representative

project coordinator

Blue Raven Solar

This is a company owned and operated by salesmen. If you like sales, and are good at it, it is a company where you will be able to find a role that meets your needs and goals. I wasn't in sales but I understand that the sales employees were compensated much better than average across the board. If you aren't sales / marketing-minded, you will likely find yourself struggling to fit in with the work culture. Non-sales staff (basically all other departments not actively selling solar panels to customers) are asked to "do more with less" and "work as a team," which you can interpret as meaning they will compel you to do 5x the work you are capable of doing; this culture can and does lead to intense burnout for almost everyone who lasts more than 6-12 months in their role. There's a constant cycle of having too much staffing / not enough to do, and then 1/4 the amount of needed staffing / overwhelming amount of stuff to do. It can be described as miserable at times. There are other times where the work flow is just right, and then the job is a lot nicer. Sometimes the job is an absolute breeze and it can be great. 

Going off of that, if you are interested in promotion / raises, you'd better make that happen during downtime, because as soon as everyone gets overwhelmed with work, management support / training for additional skills and roles essentially gets wiped out for weeks at a time. You have to show tremendous initiative to guarantee your leadership can afford to carve out the time to train you to improve skills and learn new work tasks. For someone attempting to get higher wages through diligent work, this process of working hard and being ignored can be immensely frustrating. The ratio of firm discipline and "we need everyone working as hard as possible" to praise and promotion is (estimated) 9:1 or so. Not ideal for most people.

This job, full-stop, will not compensate you at a reasonable rate. They have done everything imaginable to make life better for employees short of paying them a decent wage. You can enjoy extra weight gain from the "Free" soda and snacks in the break room, and there is catered lunch from local restaurants once a week. Some people in some departments have become pretty genuine friends off the clock, so if you find the right fit, there will likely be friends to make. There are some interesting and fun people to commiserate with there. 

Many of the non-sales staff have the opportunity to take dozens of phone calls a week (sometimes 20-50 phone calls in a single shift, which is truly excruciating), from both customers and sales reps (depending on the role); the customers are customers so nothing unique there, but the sales reps can be truly difficult to stomach; demanding, rude, condescending, impatient, combative, and just about every other politely-worded criticism you can imagine. You will almost certainly become more misanthropic due to interacting with these frustrating people (obviously there are some exceptions and fulfillment can be found through interacting with the few sales reps who are humane and decent over the phone). Surviving (and I mean surviving) these non-sales roles at BRS requires the thickest of skin. 

Many of the departments suffer (or thrive, depending on your perspective) from the "utah county bro culture," which can only be experienced, not described. There's a lot of cool people and an equal measure of unsavory personalities, more so at this company due to the heavy prioritization of machismo and sales-bro-vibes. The sales staff are frequently touted as creating record-breaking profits for the company while the support staff turnover is abysmal, creating a rift between sales and non-sales departments where the sales staff earn considerably more and are treated like royalty whereas the integral, in-the-trenches support staff are treated almost with contempt. 

Management is hit or miss. Some low-mid tier supervisors/managers are awesome and many of them are just completely incompetent and/or overwhelmed with the work / turnover rate in their department (see aforementioned issues). Basically all of the higher level leadership in the Corporate hierarchy are somewhat insufferable. There is a ton of hero worship of the CEO and it can be a toxic environment with brown-nosing and ranting about "the future of energy, today." We have the ability as a society to produce nearly-unlimited energy from renewables such as solar, but due to meddling capitalists / government lobbying efforts / greedy utility companies, we are forced to accept companies like Blue Raven Solar giving us the privilege of putting essentially limitless energy on our homes for what can often be an exorbitant price.

The sales pitch contains multiple flaws and half-truths meant to get the customer to sign an Installation-Agreement worth 5+ figures loan financing. One example would be that they include a smart thermostat and LED light bulbs to bulk up the projected solar offset (the amount the solar panels are replacing the need to use electricity; the goal being that you pay the same amount you are currently paying to your power company, just on the financing for the solar panels). 

The production estimates shown are usually from specs on brand new panels, disregarding the natural degradation that happens during the 25 year lifespan of this emerging residential technology. I would describe residential solar panels as being in the "Ford Model T" phase of technological innovation, in that, give it 15-30 years, and every American homeowner will be wasting money by NOT getting solar panels. Right now it is still a bit too pricey to source the panels to be worth it for people who are not very financially-secure. 

The pipeline from sales pitch to panels-actually-working-on-top-of-customers'-roofs can be fraught with misunderstanding, design layout changes, extra fees that materialize after the initial binding agreements are signed, municipal hurdles and inspections, installation mishaps and logistics failures. With all of those potential setbacks, its no wonder that only a fraction of people who meet with sales reps for Blue Raven actually end up with viable, high-efficiency solar panels on their home without paying more than what their normal monthly utility bill costs. The adjective "Predatory" comes to mind when thinking about the way the company sells its' products and services to often-ignorant would-be consumers. 

For college students or young parents / single parents / new workers there are variety of nice aspects to the work. Most departments are tremendously empathetic towards time-off , and they get that a huge part of the entry level staffers are just there to help get themselves through college. Probably only 10% of the entry level staff stay and get promoted and build actual careers at Blue Raven; the rest either find new jobs or stay until they graduate college and move on to better work opportunities. The turnover can lead to whiplash as old co-workers leave and new names show up all the time. Most of the support staff are older gen Z, Zillenials, and some Millenials. If you were born before 1992-1996, you will feel your age starkly. If you like hanging out with people at your job on and off the clock, there are definitely some fun and cool people with diverse interests and hobbies. Solar and Renewable Energy is a growing market and if you can find a role you excel in / enjoy, there is plenty of room for growth. Remote Work is available for most support and several sales roles, so if you enjoy working from home, you could likely get into a role that allows you to have no commute while using company-provided computers. There isn't a super strict dress code if you work at the Orem corporate office, lots of khakis/denim, people wearing comfortable tops and hairstyles etc. They're more progressive than more traditional industries in allowing workers to arrive in what they feel comfortable wearing and self-expression (tattoos, hair-dye, piercings, are permitted/tolerated within reason). 

If you've read this far, hopefully I've given you a reasonably-objective, unbiased look into the culture and expectations of work at Blue Raven Solar Corporate Office in Orem, UT. Some people find more success than others due to their disposition and personality. There's a lot of "we care and we want the team to succeed" talk, but very few instances of that talk being made manifest in meaningful ways. Many people I've talked to in different support-adjacent departments have said they struggle with similar elements I've described in this review. Ultimately there are probably jobs that would be even more difficult / unfair, but I would encourage people to check it out for themselves, because many of the problems I've detailed here don't apply to all personalities / job positions. You may love it. This is simply the expression of many of the opinions and thoughts swirling through my head as I move on to other work in hopes of finding something that makes me happy and pays the bills. Best of luck in your job search, and if you haven't already, go buy a copy of "What Color is Your Parachute?"

Working for Blue Raven Solar had been an amazing journey with very flexible hours. A strong support in management and the backend (HQ). The company made everything extremely easy from knocking a door and setting an appointment. All the way to install everything is seamless and very well put together.

Title: Stellar Experience with Blue Raven Solar: A Shining Review

Rating: ★★★★★

I am delighted to share my exceptional experience working for Blue Raven Solar—an outstanding solar company committed to clean energy solutions. As an employee, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with this innovative company, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

First and foremost, Blue Raven Solar places a strong emphasis on its employees and work culture. From the moment I joined the team, I felt a genuine sense of belonging and support. The company fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment, encouraging everyone to contribute their ideas and expertise. Management is approachable and attentive, creating an atmosphere that prioritizes individual growth and professional development. It's refreshing to be part of a company that truly values its employees' well-being and personal satisfaction.

Blue Raven Solar's commitment to clean energy is truly commendable. The company's dedication to sustainability and reducing carbon footprints is evident in every project they undertake. The team is passionate about creating solar solutions that benefit both the environment and their customers. Their expertise in solar installation and design is unparalleled, ensuring the highest quality workmanship and customer satisfaction. It's inspiring to work for a company that not only provides efficient solar installations but genuinely cares about making a positive impact on our planet.

Moreover, Blue Raven Solar's professionalism and dedication to customer service have been consistently impressive. The company goes above and beyond to ensure that customers receive top-notch service from start to finish. From the initial consultation to the final installation, the entire process is seamless and transparent. The team is responsive, knowledgeable, and responsive to customers' needs and concerns, ensuring that every client feels supported and informed. It's truly a pleasure to work for a company that values its customers and prioritizes their satisfaction.

In conclusion, Blue Raven Solar is an exceptional company to work for, and I feel fortunate to be a part of their team. Their commitment to sustainability, employee well-being, and customer satisfaction make them stand out from the competition. If you're looking for a solar company that always goes the extra mile, Blue Raven Solar is the clear choice. I am proud to be associated with a company that is making a significant impact on clean energy adoption and genuinely cares about the planet and its people.

Disclaimer: This review is based on my personal experience as an employee of Blue Raven Solar and does not necessarily represent the views of all employees.

I could go on and on. I understand this is a sales job but they expect you to work for them for free until you close these sales. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
They called us independent contractors and didn't give us any tools to use other than a phone number to corporate in Utah and an app that basically... communicated with their corporate in Orem, Utah. Not to mention, we were anything but independent contractors. We were expected to follow a long, sometimes unnecessary list of rules that didn't make sense to me. Instead of training their employees that're running cold leads for them for free for things like how to properly market on social media they told us no, we handle the social media/ads, you're not allowed (unless you find a loophole which one of the managers in my city exploits endlessly and everyone's just fine with it) as a small example.
I'll start to carry this over to training. We got a "closer playbook" that was hodgepodged together by sales reps from other states that had no idea what was going on in my state as we're relatively new to the market, so naturally it was vague. It was like a couple days course, bad grammar, and I came out the other end feeling like I hadn't learned all that much about solar  or how to sell it except the basics. They expect you to fill in the gaps by shadowing other sales. 
They're still establishing a bit in our state, but there's a lack of professionalism and communication throughout - corporate heavily relies on computers and automated systems so getting an answer for issues that come up (and they come up all the time) are even more of a pain.
I spent a ton of money trying to get these people sales and couldn't even get a phone call back from my manager during business hours because he was probably out picking up the hot leads.
There was a spreadsheet of every rep in the office on the app and the amount of leads they closed deals with and by march it was an average of 3 with a manager at the top with 11. Figures.
This leads into their residual incentive. $100 monthly residual for every sale you close. Months in though I heard through the grapevine that you only get your residual if you close 3 deals in a month.
They also tend to forget customer orders, delay installs, and expect reps to clean up after corporate messes.
So much small print yuck. Good, friendly people, terrible business model.
I stopped showing up to meetings because they expect us to use our own  vehicles/gas to show up and listen to them rumble on about book reports and weekly numbers, and stopped running leads for them, so they removed me from the group chat that we all used to communicate, which other reps were in for months and weren't showing up to the meetings. Without any of them reaching out beforehand to even ask me if I was alright. 
It's backwards.

Title: A Radiant Experience: Working at SunPower Corporation

Rating: ★★★★★

Working at SunPower Corporation has been an illuminating journey, marked by innovation, sustainability, and a vibrant community. As a global leader in solar technology, SunPower stands at the forefront of renewable energy, and my time here has been nothing short of inspiring.

From day one, the company's commitment to sustainability is palpable. SunPower not only talks the talk but walks the walk when it comes to environmental responsibility. The culture encourages employees to think critically about their environmental impact and offers numerous opportunities to contribute to a greener future. Whether it's through developing cutting-edge solar technologies or participating in community outreach programs, SunPower fosters a sense of purpose that transcends the typical 9-to-5 grind.

One aspect that sets SunPower apart is its emphasis on innovation. The company thrives on pushing the boundaries of what's possible in solar energy. I've had the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry, where creativity is not just encouraged but celebrated. The collaborative atmosphere fosters a culture of continuous learning, where every day presents new challenges and opportunities for growth.

Moreover, the company's dedication to employee well-being is commendable. SunPower understands that its greatest asset is its people, and it goes above and beyond to support their professional and personal development. From comprehensive benefits packages to flexible work arrangements, SunPower prioritizes the holistic well-being of its employees, creating a work environment where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working at SunPower is the sense of community. Despite being a global company, there's a strong sense of camaraderie among employees. Whether it's through company-wide events, team-building activities, or informal gatherings, SunPower fosters a supportive and inclusive culture where everyone's voice is valued.

In conclusion, working at SunPower Corporation has been an enlightening experience. The company's unwavering commitment to sustainability, innovation, employee well-being, and community sets it apart as an exceptional place to work. If you're passionate about making a positive impact on the world while being surrounded by like-minded individuals, SunPower is the place to be.

Been with the company for two years now. Every decision is dedicated by upper management which strips power away from ROMs from making actual change. People in office are amazing and the crews as well. Seems to be a major disconnect with op centers and upper management in the Bay Area. Bringing up new ideas for improvement go to the wayside unfortunately and things remain the same which impacts the business as a whole. Sunpower is an okay company but you will most likely stay in your role indefinitely as there’s no career path opportunities unless someone quits. They’d rather hire outside than promote tenured employees. Sunpower also doesn’t seem to pay based on market rates and the “range” they’re mandated to provide by CA is so wide but expect to receive the lower end of that range. Raises are also really below par when upper management in the Bay Area spends top dollar on their swanky office to be net zero and drop a lot on annual management conferences. The company totally has the ability to upend Sunrun as the dominant solar company if they invested in the branches and their employees as a whole by retention and advancement thru on hands training and education. Currently with inflation I’m making less now two years in than when I first started. 

Lastly it is expected it work long hours and to have a no excuse attitude which lowers employee morale. Everyone seems to be afraid to be the first person to leave the office even if they’ve worked a normal shift. Also there’s no accountability for low performing departments and at the end everything funnels to branches to oversee even if it’s an admin responsibility or not seen as an ops related responsibility. 

I really hope Sunpower sees all of this but personally for my career objectives I’m looking for other opportunities since I know if I stick around I’ll be doing the same things I’m doing now but with additional tasks I have to oversee since other departments can drop the ball and not do what they’re essentially hired to perform.

After years of working for blue raven solar,  I willingly resigned a few months ago.

I am scarred from working at this company.  To say the culture is toxic would be an understatement.  I feel for my former coworkers and their situation. 

Let me tell you what blue raven does well: Their operations management strategy is phenomenal.  This process is world class and managers and even front-line leads and employees have the opportunity to grasp their “lean management” training and implement this to success.  This is a successful McKinsey and Co business management strategy. It works really well and I would say is the backbone of their success despite the major senior management downfalls of this company.

Sales has high opinions of this company. Rightly so. Many of these sale reps make 5-10k a month in just their residual pay.  Many make over 200k per year as a door to door sales man.  Their management is also super uplifting and supportive.

The same can not be said for the operations side.  Executive management has extremely poor management skills.  This has caused management dept and many great employees to turn over over the years.  There is a tremendous lack of trust. Employees continuously feel like they will at any day get stabbed in the back for some unknown expectation or metric and quickly removed. Employees under this leadership are not up-skilled.  Their is little to no management feedback or training in anyway that helps managers change what they are not good at in to a strength.  They are thrown in to a position and expected to sink or swim. Executive management lacks the ability to recognize, foresee, and predict employee performance. Their judgement calls cause management positions throughout the company to cycle in someone new every 3-6 months. And that may be an understatement.  2 HR directors, both with incredible, experience recently resigned and announced publicly and privately they were leaving as the culture at blue raven is so terrible and unable to do anything about it.  Blue raven talks the talk about core values, but fails tremendously in actually walking the walk and meeting theses.

This is literally the best job I've had yet, and there are so many aspects that build into this amazing place. First working in Sales Development you'd think you wouldn't get to know really anyone else in the workplace, but with company activities and our once a month company meetings together I get to know hard workers around Blue Raven Solar, and they have the opportunity to know me if I want them to. Ben Peterson, the CEO, is concerned more about the companies values and the well being of us as workers than anyone else I've ever met, and he shows it too. Our teams are strong in each department, there are incentives for work every week, almost every day, and most valued employee's are nominated once a month for prizes and recognition. That's not even mentioning how you can grow in the work tier system to get raises almost every 6 weeks, and that's not even including bonuses! Another great aspect of Blue Raven is they appreciate someone who puts their family and schooling first and will work around your schedule daily. You can ask for days off in a weeks notice and you'll most likely be able to take it off with caution to not do it so often, but even in sickness or emergencies I've never felt shunned if I needed a day or two off. I've been told to take time off before for my benefit! And on top of all of that this is the most chill place ever to relax and take breaks! The break room is always stocked with tons of soda, snacks, candy, and unlimited breakfast cereal and milk for those running late on their morning schedule to get to work. I've taken advantage of those benefits more times than I can count, and they're life savers, especially since there's fresh fruit too. And with Ping pong, shuffle board, corn hole, a gym, and hammocks throughout the building's break areas we're encouraged to take breaks often so we can work to our utmost ability. If you're not filling out a job application after reading this, I don't know what other job would fulfill more requirements for you. Best decision of my working life is working for Blue Raven Solar.

I would like to start this with Blue Raven took a chance on me and I’m forever grateful. From the CFO, Accounting Team &  Payroll co workers were amazing! It may have helped me get to where I am now. My boss was a good human being. 

But for the position I was working, with the work I was doing. You would assume there would be a good comp plan in place. When I was hired on I have a screenshot showing the pay to be anywhere from $44,000 - $55,000. I got a whopping $16.50 to start and was told it must have been a typo. But where I was at that time in my life I just had to take it. Then found out they were hiring newer employees $1.50 more an hour than me but I was expected to train them. When I had asked for a raise I was told I could get up to what the new hires are making but not what I wanted to make. I was told that the pay is low but “I’m not working in a McDonalds” which I don’t even know what that meant because McDonald employees are getting paid close to the same. Along with McDonald’s employees not being responsible for the process of over a half a million dollars every week. So it was insulting in that aspect to say the least. But the free food Fridays, stocked break room, overall cleanliness was pretty good. SelectHealth is the insurance provider and I liked them as a provider. Overall it gets a 3 stars from me. Could be better, could be worse but I really think the whole payroll department shouldn’t be a stepping stone for current/future employees. Blue Raven should attract, retain & develop this team as they are responsible for making sure everyone that works there gets paid. When I had left I had caught on that a lot of people were wanting to leave. That should be a pretty big red flag to Blue Raven that you’ve been a company for 8 years and no one in Payroll has been there more than 3. My team of 7 had 4 people (including myself) who were there less than a year. But this was just my experience, if you’re someone with no experience and can afford to make less than other payroll positions then it could be a good place for you for sure! 

Blue Raven provides the opportunity to learn lots of new skills/wear different hats. The place is growing fast and they've got a lot of great people working there. Certainly one of the better solar companies I've worked for.

However, there is a gap between upper management and the rest of the company. This is due to several factors: low compensation and high expectations, pressure from unrealistic goals, and a lack of understanding of obstacles that the entry level team is encountering.

Employees often do not feel heard because they try to explain the problem they are encountering, and their solutions are either ignored, or they are given solutions that are unreasonable. Often, employees in that situation feel their job is threatened if they are required to solve a problem with a solution they don't buy into. They go into a "problem solving session" or meeting, and upper management can decide a solution without collaborating or seeking to understand first, making the problem solving session a moot point.

If you look at the management history in the last 2 years, there have been quite a few mid level manager and entry level employees who have left, and a high turnover rate because of the stress of the level of performance. I said earlier the company attracts a lot of great talent, but they can't seem to keep it for more than a year or two. With the complexity of problems we encountered, it was difficult to lose people with institutional/industry knowledge and start over again and again. It was also hard on the entry level team members who have more institutional knowledge to adjust to new managers consistently. As a bi-product, those team members feel their value drop.

In terms of compensation, expect it to be extremely difficult to get a raise once you get a job there. Even after a year, you can expect a $0.50 raise in most positions unless you get a clear promotion. Even 2 years, you'd get about that much. Even with a promotion, it's hard to negotiate a salary because there is not much negotiation that happens, it is more like executive decisions.

I left my last solar company a little over a year and a half ago for BRS, even though I was being given more leads than I could keep up with. The first couple of months were an investment period and couldn’t be happier to have made the jump and weathered that phase.
This is the only solar company with closer 1099 positions with a very incentivizing base pay program. For someone who wants stability this creates a much different work week, smoothing our the emotional rollercoaster that inherently comes with a straight 1099. For every account we do, it pads our base pay so we effectively give ourself a raise every week, if productive. 
I’ve had high salaries in the past, managing in two completely different industries but this is the first time I’ve felt financially stress free which allowed my wife and I to chose to pursue growing our family last year.
Exec’s are highly educated, experienced, individually successful, creative, innovative, considerate, available and fair. 
Local office culture is positive and prioritizes personal development, constantly reading books together, and is  willing and able to collectively and individually coach and train. 
Operations/Design/back end is super crisp and helpful. This is huge. Corporate carries the weight so closers and close and it’s awesome.
This job requires self management, time management, etc. It REALLY rewards people who can treat this like a job and not just wait until they feel like working to actually tie their shoes. 
Like many things in life, this is what you make it. The important thing here is, all the tools, coaching, opportunities, structure is there for the taking. I probably worked more hours at my last solar company but made significantly less because I was spinning my wheels with cancellations due to subcontracting, back end mistakes and delays, etc. 
Sales/Closing is not nearly for everyone but this is a great place to be if you’re that person.

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