Laid off in July, he found two offers in 60 days

The 33-year-old Minneapolis resident had about three months of severance and savings set aside for a home down payment. He began applying within days, connecting on LinkedIn with five to 10 people at companies he was interested in. Both offers came after people on social media, including hiring managers and employees, encouraged him to consider their companies.

Specht interviewed with 12 companies and took part in about 27 interviews. He accepted Company A’s offer while still interviewing with Company B, then worked at Company A for two and a half weeks before deciding to leave for Company B in October 2025. Company A’s manager was understanding, he said.

The choice came down to the roles’ prospects and practical differences. Both jobs were remote and in SaaS, with on-target earnings built from salary and commission. Company A required some travel and offered an individual-contributor sales role. Company B, a Series A startup with 40 employees, offered a manager-level position as head of sales development and enablement, with exposure to leadership decisions and more room to advance, in Specht’s view.

Company A offered $85,000 with a 50/50 salary-and-commission split, or about $170,000 if he met his sales goals. Company B’s base salary was almost 50% higher, but its 80/20 split meant less potential total pay. With a wife and child at home and a home purchase in mind, Specht valued the steadier base. He also asked former colleagues affected by the layoff for advice and chose the job he thought he would enjoy more.

A year after joining Company B, Specht said he remains happy with the decision. He has gained experience working close to leadership and negotiating with vendors—opportunities he said might have taken five or 10 years to get in his previous role.