Working at Cbeyond — Reviews by Employees

CBeyond was a great place to work. It was a competitive environment filled with young mostly college grads. The training I received was top notch and made the job worthwhile in itself. It does require a very tough skin. Being in the DC market, most business owners are skeptical to let people they don't know sit down and talk with them about their business. This being said, they will often send you away before you get a chance to say anything.

Overall Pluses:
-Great opportunity to advance
-Young and energetic environment
-Good benefits and pay
-Excellent training
-Looks good on a resume for future sales jobs
-Cool co-workers

Overall Negatives:
-Depending on your territory, could be working 12+ hours every day.
-Extremely high turnover rate
-Little marketing leading to little brand recognition

Overall if you can deal with constant rejection and long days, this is a fantastic job, especially for someone right out of college.

I have actually written a review on Cbeyond in the past where I completely bashed them company. However, after being gone from the company for several months, my perspective has changed somewhat. Here is my honest view on Cbeyond.

The work is hard, it is challenging, and it may feel like a year of hell or bootcamp. However, the experience and knowledge gained from Cbeyond will pay off in the future. Cbeyond is not the most reputable company, but business owners are aware of the aggressive sales approach Cbeyond requires, and other businesses do respect that. I think there are a lot of improvements to be made within the company. The should focus on improving management styles and treat their employees with a little more respect, but no company is perfect.

If you can do a year at Cbeyond, you can do anything. However, many people find very quickly that Cbeyond is not for them, and that's udnerstandable and respectable, too.

The benefits are good, the work is hard, but it does look good on a resume.

My name is Jeff Ducharme and I have worked for Cbeyond since June 25, 2007. I have been located in the Farmington Hills, MI branch for my entire tenure with Cbeyond.

I am shocked to hear some of these negative reviews.

I applied for Cbeyond while attending college in mid-Michigan. During this time, I was very impressed with the interviewing structure. I was given the opportunity to meet the branch recruiting manager, a market director and the VP/GM of operations before I was offered a position as a outside sales representative. They also allowed me to "field ride" with another sales rep, just so that I had the opportunity to make sure that this position is right for me. Needless to say, I accepted the offer.

Next, I attended a seven day, paid training period in which I was taught, by a former Cbeyond sales manager, every aspect of the product offering and many different sales skills. (Note: The process has now changed to a six week, paid training period).

After training, I spent the next six months as an outside sales rep for Cbeyond. I was given my own territory and both my manager and team leader spent countless days in the field with me. I was also awarded a base pay and a great commission structure based on however many accounts I sold in a given month. I managed to close about half of my deals by myself and if I struggled, my manager would come with me and help me close an account, even though I did not have to sacrifice any of my commission in order for him to do so.

My hard work and great attitude payed off as I was promoted to a team leader on January 5, 2008. I was very excited to earn my first taste of management. I also became very proud to work for a company that promotes from within and based on merit, not tenure. I excelled as a team leader because I worked hard to coach my reps to be successful. They were and so was I.

On April 5, 2008, I was promoted to Sales Activity Manager (now Territory Sales Manager). In this position, I was responsible for the growth of 10 sales representatives. Some excelled and now find themselves in various management positions. Some busted their butts for over a year and now have good positions with other companies in other industries. The rest chose to cut corners and now are professional "job hoppers."

On August 2, 2010, I was promoted to Market Director. In this position, I am responsible for the growth of senior sales consultants. I will continue to bust my butt for Cbeyond, because I know that career goals are attainable when you have the support from a great, growing company.


What I am most proud of...

I became 100% financially independent by the age of 23. I own a house, a new truck, many nice things, and I never have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck. Cbeyond also rewards it's employees with stock options and 401k matching.

I have made many friends and business associations at Cbeyond. That is not what I originally intended to do, but it is inevitable while working in such a great culture.

The product offering that Cbeyond offers is robust, easy to sell, and changing constantly to fit the demands of customers and potential customers alike. Cbeyond also offers continuous trainings to help you grow as a businessperson.

The recognition and reward this company gives to it's employees is outstanding. TVs, quota events, and money is given away on a monthly basis, simply for meeting or exceeding expectations. Then, top that off with an inclusive company trip that rewards the top performers every year.

In 2010, Cbeyond created a sales consultant team in each of it's markets to create this same opportunity for sales professionals with over two years of B2B experience. This has had immediate impact on sales numbers nationwide.


Most importantly, everyday I wake up and I am excited to go to work and advance my career!



Feel free to email me jeff.ducharme@cbeyond.net with any comments or questions.

I must say that based on some of the prior negative reviews posted about Cbeyond I feel there are some incredible resume fluffers who lied their nuts off during their interview with Cbeyond. Much like the rest of you optimistic recent college graduates out there; in 2006 I had painted a picture that due to earning a B.A. I should receive a 65k salary+bonuses job in advertising and get my own private helicopter ride each morning to avoid the magical traffic that we are all plagued by. Frankly if you want to make 28k for five years, enjoy working unpaid hours at an Ad agency, but I personally wasn’t interested in dealing with those sad bastard Ad agency pay rates. In 2006 Cbeyond took me under its wing and armed me with the skills and knowledge to learn how to sell to businesses. Don’t get me wrong the first two months were really hard. However after I proved to my superiors I could do this job with a hand behind my back, life got pretty easy. I received rapid advancement, and although I’m no longer with Cbeyond I owe these folks a handshake for nearly everything I own today, my house, cars, and the job the resume building skills I received here.
Thanks to Cbeyond I got to travel on three company paid vacations, met Kool Keith while on a company trip to Jamaica, and get the experience needed to own the title I poses today. Trust me though, if you can’t sell, this isn’t the gig for you. I saw probably 30 people in my time at Cbeyond who lied their asses off to get this job and they failed miserably. If you have some seeds, you’re competitive, and you don’t want to eat Ramen for the rest of your life this is a great after college opportunity. Trust me when I say that if you can climb the ranks for two years with Cbeyond you will be able to make a really solid living. Like any sales job, the hoops you jump through for the first two months is awful, but well worth it if you are armed with a solid shell.

I have worked for this company for over 6 years and have worked in 4 different cities in my career. I started as an entry level rep right out of college and by 26 years old had the opportunity to open the San Diego branch, you tell me another publically traded company where you could do that! This job requires that you work the same way you would if you owned your own business - REALLY HARD. You start with nothing and have to build a business from scratch - that included cold calling for business until you start to develop a network and connections that include your happy customers. The company has a structured model that works if you follow it, but is by no means easy. It is extremely rewarding and the experience you gain here can be taken and applied to any job or business that you will do for the rest of your life. Managers are highly involved in your business to teach to do it on your own after only several months. That is called development, not micromanagement. I have also met some of the best people I have ever known here as this is an environment of high expectations, accountability and winning. Two of the groomsmen in my wedding I met at Cbeyond. If you are looking for a coosh job where you don't have to earn what you get then you should look somewhere else. If you want to learn how to run a business and be able to make great money because you establish a career with a growing company that is going to be around for the next 10 years, then this is the place.

I worked for Cbeyond in sales from 03 to 05 so I'm not as familiar with what the job is like now. I received good training and the pay was excellent. The management team was very supportive and willing to help you succeed. I wasn't crazy about cold calling but I did it enough to hit my numbers on a consistent basis. I now work for a medical supply company and enjoy a lot of success due to my experience at Cbeyond. I would refer my friend to this company both for employment and the service they provide. The company that I currently work for uses Cbeyond service and has no complaints.

Pay attention to the bad reviews on this website. If they look to you like legitimate complaints, this job is not for you. This job is not for everyone. You will work very long hours for not very much pay for the first few months, but if you are any good, you will make more money. I have been at the company for 5 months now and the company not only was Cbeyond very up front about what the job would be, but you will spend an entire day with a rep to see exactly what it is like to work here.

My experience here has been a very good one. It is an extremely tough job, but management does everything they can to help you out. The employees are very young, including the managers, so if you are an experienced salesperson, I would not suggest this job. However, if you want a place that will train you right out of college, this is a great place to start.

I have been at Cbeyond for almost 4 years and have no regrets. This company has a great philosophy and really has a great company culture. Benefits and perks are awesome. Training is ranked and respected so much that recruiters openly try to poach Cbeyond reps. The model they provide ensures good pay, as long as your willing to work. ( I'm shocked by how may people in my generation are shocked to learn that they have to work hard to make money!? It's a J-O-B people, that's why you get a paycheck because it requires you to work! )
CHURN rate is an industry low and product evolution is always expanding to meet the needs of the customer base.

I reccomend this job to anyone new to Sales and seeking training and an opportunity to make money. If you don't want to work or you aren't the type of personality that can handle sales, then I would not suggest the job for you. The turnover we have is normally from people who weren't cut out for sales to begin with.

The culture, trips, events, and people you get to work really make it a desirable work enviroment.

Quick progression is easy to achieve, most of the VPGM's and MD's all started as reps and worked their way up. Cbeyond believes in developing talent early and fostering it so that one day that person can be an executive leader in the company. Their are also many other avenues you can take to further your career besides moving up in the Direct side of sales.

Go for it!

PS - If you can't handle working and want to get paid for sitting at home all day, then this isn't for you. If you can't handle rejection and someone developing your sales skills, then don't take the job. I say this only because you aren't meant for sales to begin with, so don't even try.

I am sick and tired of reading negative reviews from people on this site who couldn't cut it in a fast paced, challenging sales environment. If you can't make it a few weeks at Cbeyond, then I honestly consider you lazy and unmotivated.

Yes.....
They micromanage you the first 3-4 months.
You have to cold call (which sucks) until you build up other ways to earn people's business.
You work a lot considering what the BASE pay is. The easiest way to fix that is to WORK HARD, FOLLOW THE MODEL, and SUCK IT UP. Then, you make a lot more than just the base.

My paychecks AFTER taxes have been between $2,000 and $2,500 every two weeks.

If you care to actually listen to bad reviews and have ANY doubts that you may not cut it in this type of job then I strongly encourage you to seek employment elsewhere. However, if you desire to be challenged, learn a lot, and meet some fun people, then come on in for an interview.

And to potential customers out there, I wouldn't take the opinions of a few angry young adults up against the success of a 470 million dollar company.

*No, this is not a post from a recruiter. I started working out of the Dallas branch in December of 2009.

Thanks for reading.

Cbeyond has taught me a lot about how to be successful in sales. I received great training and work on an amazing team. Yes it is a LOT of cold calling but it beats sitting behind a desk from 9 to 5! If you are selling you can make good money and move up. If you are looking for a career in sales then this is the place to start. Hope this is helpful.