Professionals in a very non-professional industry. - Sales Engineer Sweetwater Employee Review

3.0
13 Oct 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

100% commission, you decide how much you wish to work and/or earn. Ft Wayne cost of living is close to the lowest in the nation which can be attractive for young couples and/or families. Constant manufacturer training on products will keep you on top of technology. If you're into recording equipment, you can obtain a lot of gear cheap if not free through spiffs and offers. The occasional phone conversation with well-known professional artists is fun. Once settled into the job, your coworkers feel like fraternity brothers.

Cons

Make no mistake, inside the cool building, nice modern decor, and people making 60K-90K a year...this is a telephone sales job in a music store. There is not much work/life balance at the beginning; it's all work, long hours, weekends, etc... Stressful environment, highly competitive, and management does not intervene between salesperson conflicts. Unless you are dedicated to making 100+ outbound calls a day, everyday for the first year, it can be difficult to earn more than $35K. While it is true there are people who have worked there for 20 years, most new hires quit within the first 2. Most sales engineers stop doing music and eventually lose interest in music once they start working at Sweetwater due to the stress of the job. While you can buy a nice house for cheap there, you may not be able to sell it when you leave Sweetwater due to the steady declining Ft Wayne economy that has been dying for the last 50 years. Once a major factory town, Ft Wayne is in the heart of America's Rust Belt.

Explore other reviews about Sweetwater

5.0
10 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The job requires a versatile mindset. It is not just one job, it is multiple jobs. For me I like switching it up and staying on my feet. This job is not only customer facing but also warehouse. So it is the best of both worlds.

Cons

Sometimes you are required to lift heavier boxes but you usually get help if needed.

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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