Blog
Notes:
In this episode, host Ramzi Marjaba sits down with Raphael Joseph, a former software engineer who became a sales engineering leader and is now the founder of his own specialist recruitment firm for SEs. Raphael shares how he stumbled into sales engineering from banking, scaled a global SE team from 1 to 40, and later built a recruitment business tailored to the unique challenges of hiring pre-sales professionals.
He discusses the evolving SE landscape, hiring trends, and the stark contrast between candidate vs. employer markets. Raphael also reveals how he overcame self-doubt, learned business development from scratch, and why personal branding — especially on LinkedIn — is now essential for every professional.
This episode is a must-listen for sales engineers, hiring managers, and anyone navigating career pivots or entrepreneurship.
Key Topics:
- Transitioning from software development to sales engineering
- Scaling and managing global SE teams
- Hiring during the pandemic and adapting to changing markets
- The differences between candidate-driven and employer-driven markets
- Why SE recruitment is misunderstood — and how Raphael bridges that gap
- Moving from leadership to entrepreneurship
- Building a business in a downturn and learning business development
- The importance of personal branding and visibility on LinkedIn
- Treating your career like a product or a business
Quotes:
“I didn’t even know what a sales engineer was — I just found myself doing it.” – Raphael Joseph
“During COVID, it was a candidate market. Now, it’s an employer’s market — and companies aren’t compromising anymore.” – Raphael Joseph
“Starting a business in a down market is smart. Your competitors are struggling, your costs are low, and you can learn while they’re retrenching.” – Raphael Joseph
“Your LinkedIn profile is your website. Your CV is just a brochure nobody sees.” – Raphael Joseph
“You are the product — and the salesperson for your own product.” – Ramzi Marjaba
