account executive

inside sales account executive

account manager

enterprise account executive

solutions engineer

SHI International

A typical day at work:
Days were structured and process-driven. As an Account Executive, I worked closely with clients, internal teams, and vendors to deliver IT solutions. The work moved quickly and required frequent coordination across departments to meet client expectations and internal timelines.

What I learned:
I gained valuable experience in enterprise IT solutions, pricing strategy, and client relationship management. I also learned how essential clear cross-departmental communication is when working through complex deals.

Management:
Direct management was generally supportive in helping me navigate the sales process. However, some internal policies and higher-level decisions felt rigid or unclear, which occasionally made it challenging to manage certain situations effectively.

Workplace culture:
The culture at SHI is professional and strongly metrics-driven. The company provides employees with solid tools and resources to support them. However, cross-departmental communication can be challenging at times, and some internal policies feel inflexible or insufficiently explained, which may impact the ability to achieve the best outcomes for SHI, its customers, and vendor partners.

The hardest part of the job:
Coordinating with multiple internal teams on tight timelines, especially when finalizing contracts, could be challenging. Additionally, some management and HR decisions that impacted my employment experience felt abrupt and, at times, unclear.

The most enjoyable part of the job:
Building relationships with clients and delivering solutions that met their needs was rewarding. SHI invests in tools and training to help employees succeed.

Overall experience:
While SHI offers solid resources and structure, my employment ended unexpectedly under circumstances I found difficult to understand. In hindsight, I’d encourage future employees to be clear on how they’re onboarded, what documents they sign, and to stay informed about company policies and expectations. Keeping thorough records of key communications is also a good practice.



My time at SHI was marked by disillusionment and a disheartening experience that greatly impacted my well-being. While initially enticed by the promises of an 'inclusive work culture,' the reality was far from the enticing facade they projected. SHI excelled at spinning tales and weaving fantasies, creating an illusion of inclusivity that swiftly faded upon joining.

The toxic culture within SHI was palpable from day one. The pervasive tension among key departments within this multi-billion-dollar organization was disconcerting, signaling deep-rooted issues that marred the workplace environment. Employee well-being seemed far from a priority, evident in the lack of support and avenues for professional growth. The stagnant opportunities for advancement left little hope for those seeking to progress within the company.

One of the most glaring disappointments was the abysmally low pay scale, a striking incongruity for a company of such financial magnitude. SHI fell significantly below industry standards, failing to acknowledge or compete with prevailing market trends. The financial remuneration was far from commensurate with the company's size and resources.

The pervasive micromanaging atmosphere only exacerbated the dismal work environment. It was a stifling and joyless place to be, where individuality and innovation were suffocated under the weight of constant oversight. As the months passed, I witnessed a severe decline in my mental health, a consequence of the oppressive atmosphere and lack of support for my personal well-being.

One of the most disheartening aspects was the suppression of voices; the culture did not foster an environment where concerns could be voiced without fear of repercussions. Speaking up or offering constructive criticism was met with resistance or dismissal, creating a stifling environment where genuine dialogue was impossible.

In summary, my time at SHI was marred by an overwhelming toxic culture, stagnant growth prospects, substandard compensation for an organization of its size, and a micromanaging environment that severely impacted mental health. It's disheartening to see such potential overshadowed by systemic issues that deter professional and personal growth

A typical day at work depends on what your customers need. For the first 3 or so months, you are working to establish a secure book of business. This takes time to sort out companies that you don't want to work with, and companies that don't have the budget to work with you. After that, it's all hard work from then on out. You grind constantly to make what you can. Some days you walk away with a few thousand extra dollars in your pocket, and some days you go home empty handed. It's a difficult job to say the least, but the atmosphere makes up for it. The people you are surrounded with are competitive, outgoing and friendly. They are all recent graduates, so everyone is basically your age.

I understood systems that I didn't know before to complete my job, I built relationships with companies that I either worked with, or just talked with. I learned that sales is extremely difficult, but can pay off if you have a good month.

Management is INCREDIBLE. There is nothing wrong with these people. They are not there to micromanage, but only to help. They get paid based off of what you make, so they want to support you in any way they possibly can. I have never had a bad experience with any individual in a management position. They are caring, and willing to put in the time it takes for you to improve.

Workplace culture is great. Again, it's a bunch of 20-something year old's running the place. We all have a great time in a relaxed atmosphere, and help each other when needed. Everyone also enjoys happy hours on a weekly basis, so if your into that, this is the place to work!

The hardest part of the job was knowing that no matter how hard you grind, you might end up walking away with little or no commission check at the end of the month. Salaries are all the same, but your book of business really determines your overall compensation.

The most enjoyable part of the job is bonding with others your age throughout Austin. Most people I know work at a company with older adults who have families and want to go home after work. Here, we are all young, so going out to the park or heading to a local watering hole is what this company's after hours is about.

I started working at SHI over a year ago. I got interviewed by three high ranking managers in the configuration center. I got asked a series of soft and hard skill questions then got an offer later that week for which I am grateful. Here are a few positive(s) and negative(s) in my experience at SHI.  

The positives at SHI are work-life balance, shift flexibility, over time, company bbq's, quarterly bonuses, and unscheduled/scheduled PTO (paid time off) for when it's needed. During a day's work, the pace falls right on the medium pace scale. Since this is a warehouse IT job, you do not have to bring IT work home since you are not in a corporate setting.  

The negatives are in the following areas: job culture, healthy environment, and compensation. Working at SHI in the integration center, I've seen many people come and go in just one year. It seems that technicians stay about a full year and look for a job elsewhere. This stems from having to do repetitive work, lack of fair compensation, or an unhealthy political environment. If you have skills, there is a high possibility you will not be utilized correctly. 

Doing IT work under the umbrella of a warehouse has been an eye-opening experience. One thing I've learned is that this job will help you decide quickly what you want to do in life. If you are just starting your career, you will benefit, but if you are an established veteran in the field, this place will not hold you.  

Lastly, the company is growing at a fast pace. They are building a new warehouse in the general area. I do not know if this is part of their growth strategy but it seems that the majority of folks are being underpaid. It is really a sacrifice working in a warehouse environment because low compensation is the most important factor in this review. Doing this type of special work yields decent compensation but this is the first company I've seen fall below that. Overall, my experience lands right in the middle.

Pros
A paycheck. That is genuinely the most I can say.

Cons
Where do I start. SHI International is one of the worst companies I have ever worked for, and after years here I can say that with full confidence.

The pay is notoriously low. This is not a secret. It is widely known and the company does nothing to fix it. You will be underpaid for your skill level and experience, and there is no meaningful path to change that from within.

There is also no real path for advancement. Growth at this company is an illusion. You can do excellent work year after year and watch it go nowhere. Promotions and opportunities are not earned. They are arbitrary.

Management is a significant part of the problem. My direct manager was hot and cold, genuinely warm one day and completely checked out the next, with no explanation. Communication was passive, indirect, and unclear. They had difficulty separating their personal life from their professional one, which created an unpredictable work environment. Favoritism was visible and consistent. When I raised legitimate concerns, they were acknowledged in a way that felt like they were being handled, but in reality they were being quietly held against me.

Policies like hybrid and remote work do not apply equally to everyone. Certain people receive flexibility that others simply do not get, with no transparency about why.

And if you speak up about any of this, the pay, the inconsistency, the unfair treatment, be prepared for it to be used against you. The culture punishes honesty and protects the status quo.

If you are someone who values transparency, fair treatment, and genuine growth, look elsewhere. This company will drain you.

SHI was a decent company to work for 4-5 years ago. They made a ton of changes to comp plans and employee benefits over the past year in a half. They took away work from home days for tenured reps and slashed pay. It seems like they are trying to replace tenured reps with new hires that save the company money. 

Their metrics are completely untainable in certain books and markets. If you are one of the lucky few placed in a good district you will succeed and can make great money. If you get a less favorable market they will ramp your quota the exact same way as a big metro, even if your market has less propensity to spend on IT ( such as markets where there are more cows than people). It’s completely flawed and you’ll find that only the good markets tend to retain Account Executive past year 3. Oh and by the way you have no say or control over what market they place you in. 

In summary, if you’re well liked by SHI or lucky enough to get the right market, you can stay in role and make some good money. The same top 10-15 reps are consistently making great money, but they also started back in 2013 when the SMB division was fresh. 

Don’t expect to make the same amount of money as them. They are a lucky few and SHI will no longer provide the same comp plan, nor are there enough good accounts to go around for you ever to make the same money. 

Oh and forget about work from home days. SHI treats the SMB division like a group of grown babies. You will be micromanaged down to your last breath there.

As the title says, don't stay longer than you need to. While it's a good way to get inside sales experience, you're going to find that there is little synergy between teams. Anytime there is a slowdown, the support teams will almost never take responsibility, and then you're getting yelled at by customers because the partner team responsible for getting you a quote are taking forever.

You'll be expected to be a Jack-of-All while processing orders, following orders that are getting delayed all the time because of the hectic changes in the U.S. economy and trade, and generating quotes with outdated software that will give you errors and crash for unforseen reasons.

People constantly quit and get fired, so get ready to help train a new person every half-year while balancing everything because your old teammate had enough and split.

Some managers are great and definitely try to help you as they can, but the overall workculture is very surface-level and mostly for show. You'll get interrupted every half a month to go to an assembly no one wants to go to. There's always this claim that your "concerns" are taken seriously, but it just seems like a cover while the company just goes with whatever trend is popular right now.

Pay is very suboptimal, and promotions are limited mostly to being a team leader/manager (which aren't commonly open) or to switch to a different department (which also don't have amazing pay)

First off, the turnover rate is super high!  They’re working on new logos and new company goals but what they need to focus on, is treating their employees right.  They have no remorse for their workers, but each year they sit and tell you how much billions they make and the employees can’t even get a decent raise.  Their employees are living paycheck to paycheck, they can barely survive! Yes! It is a great entry-level opportunity but the pay is insulting while the workload is unbearable.  Mentally, a lot of workers suffer, they are just afraid to speak on it because they want to keep their jobs.  Managers forcing you to stay pass your working hours is just a red flag and that will never change at SHI.  The CEO doesn’t even care about the employees, not to mention the managers.  The entire company needs to be reformed.  It’s horrible there.  The pay is disrespectful for the workload they put on you.  All positions given are based off connections and favoritism.  People who did not and do not qualify for positions got them because of who they know while other employees suffer with little to no room to grow.  There’s no internal growth/no room for opportunities. You’ll get promoted if they like you and they MIGHT increase your pay.  It all depends on who you are and who you know. 

SHI is a place that appeals to the softer needs in a job. Culture, throughout, from upper management down is very fun and easy going. This almost looks like coupled with the free meals and social events as though they need to cover up and compensate for a very small salary. The base salary is extremely low for such a profitable entity that doles out all of the sales cycle responsibilities to the revenue earners. As the source of income beyond the poor compensation there is a lack of support and development in a concentrated and meaningful way. There are many, many, processes and hierarchies to navigate which waste time and cause confusion where better systems alone would improve functionality and add time into the revenue generating actions. Beyond the processes the hierarchy's to navigate and channels of escalation can be convoluted and shrugged off easily. (not my department syndrome) Good learning experience for new disposable employees. Management should focus on making employees happier by developing skill for the role and its many functions involved, by way of development and proper compensation.

The starting salary for many positions is 33k, and that SUCKS. These positions are paid well under the market average. People come here to get their foot in the door, gain great experience sure, but are paid way less than average. 

It’s not enough to make a living. It’s barely enough to manage your life and have a roommate. 
Employees are well under paid, as are interns. 
The company just hit 10B in revenue, which is actually almost double what many IT companies at SHI’s level make. And yet people at other companies start with a higher paycheck than us. 

If you need the experience, go for it. The managers are SO NICE. the culture is wonderful. My manager told me that he believed we should be paid higher but he can’t make the decisions. I’m glad he atleast gave me a raise to boost me a bit. 

But the pay? Wow. Terrible, terrible pay. Most people I know who left, left because the pay was so low. On top of that, you need to be in the company for 10 months minimum before being able to apply to another position that could offer more pay. 

So is SHI a good place to work? Depends on how you view it. You will meet great people, the experience will definitely help you out, and the location is well managed. But you will take a big hit on your paycheck and probably end up making $10,000-12,000 less than what you deserve.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Account executive 21 salaries reported	$45,714 per year
Inside sales account executive 11 salaries reported	$38,636 per year
Account manager 46 salaries reported	$45,435 per year
Enterprise account executive 59 salaries reported	$161,186 per year
Solutions engineer 4 salaries reported	$83,250 per year

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