Adam Rose

My best advice for answering the "salary question": 1) Get a sense of what the market is paying for someone like yourself. Websites that offer salary data are not very good at this for eCommerce positions. Ask a Recruiter that specializes in eCommerce. For example, "Hey Adam, how much is a typical VP of eCommerce making at startup, mid-size company, Fortune 500, etc.?". We're happy to share what we see. 2) Give your salary expectation but leave yourself room for negotiation. For example, "I'm targeting at least $150k base salary but that depends on learning more about the role and responsibilities as well as the bonus, equity, benefits, in-office expectation, and other factors." That way, you're not tied to the original number.

Top reasons people tell us they're open to new opportunities in eCommerce: 1) Underpaid (comp is too low) 2) Lack of flexibility (seeking remote opportunities or less in-office, more flexible working hours) 3) Lack of growth opportunities (seeking ability to advance in their role and paid learning & development opportunities) 4) Lack of company stability and/or high turnover rate (particularly of management) 5) Stretched too thin (company refuses to add headcount and they are doing the work of multiple people) 6) Bad boss (managers that may be able to manage up, but not down) 7) eCommerce budget is too low to achieve desired results (hands are tied) 8) eCommerce Placement presents them with a really great opportunity they can't pass up ;)

Prior to landing in eCommerce, I recruited in finance, insurance, and investment banking. One word: BORING. No offense to anyone, roles in these industries are boring. People working in these industries are boring. I didn't realize this really until I started recruiting in eCommerce had something to compare it to. People in eCommerce are generally the nicest, smartest, and happiest employees I've ever met. I think it's because most roles require left-brain and right-brain thinking and a whole lot of cross-functional teamwork. eCommerce is constantly growing and changing, roles in this industry are dynamic, rewarding, challenging, and dare I say...fun. This is a huge benefit of working in eCommerce.

It's important to have your elevator pitch rehearsed and ready to go. Some sort of "Tell me about yourself" is almost always an initial question and this is your time to shine. This pitch needs to answer who you are and what you can bring to the table that sets you apart from all of the other candidates. Then, when discussing your qualifications in detail: Show, Don't Tell. Discuss metrics, KPIs, revenue growth, etc. that you have been responsible for. And, always bring with you ideas and action plans for how to improve the company's eCommerce business. This shows them that 1) you're prepared and did your research 2) you're interested and 3) you know your stuff and can take their eCommerce business to the next level.

I don't believe there is such a thing as "best career paths for eCommerce professionals". There are incredible roles across each functional area of eCommerce from entry-level to VP (sometimes even C-level). There are opportunities at startups through Fortune 50 companies. At brands, retailers, digital agencies, SaaS companies, payment firms, logistics companies, and more. There is lots of opportunity to find the right place for you. For example, some eCommerce professionals LOVE working for digital agencies, being a strategist for their clients, managing large teams, and working with a large portfolio of clients. Others find themselves stretched too thin at agencies and like working at a brand where they can see their long-term impact.

Prior to the pandemic, remote roles in eCommerce were very rare. The reasoning was that eCommerce is highly cross-functional and requires a lot of in-person teamwork to make the dream work. During the pandemic, every eCommerce team went fully remote out of necessity, and guess what? Not only did it work but eCommerce thrived during this time. Now, many companies are returning to either hybrid in-office or full-time back in office, even though poll after poll shows that people want more flexibility and autonomy. The overwhelming majority of eCommerce employees do not want to be in the office full-time. Requiring employees back in the office has a negative impact on employee retention and talent acquisition.