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25% of SaaS Execs Are on the Bench. Here's Why.

What if 1 in 4 of the most well-connected SaaS execs were unemployed? Well according to Pavilion you don’t have to imagine.

In this episode, we dig into a quiet crisis in tech: the executive talent bench is full. According to internal conversations within Pavilion, 25% of their members are currently “on the bench.” That means CROs, VPs, and heads of sales with proven track records are out of work and struggling to get hired.

This isn’t just about layoffs. It’s about how the hiring market has shifted, why resumes don’t tell the whole story anymore, and how even top-tier talent is now battling stigma, burnout, and broken playbooks.

We get into:

  • What Pavilion’s 25% unemployment figure really reveals about the SaaS downturn

  • Why even great execs with strong references and results are struggling to get interviews

  • The growing trend of CROs applying for SDR and AE roles just to stay in the game

  • How short stints and failed logos are unfairly tanking otherwise stellar careers

  • Why the path forward might mean consulting, sabbaticals—or leaving SaaS entirely

  • What hiring managers get wrong when they judge talent through a 2021 lens

Whether you're a job seeker, a recruiter, or a founder trying to make sense of this hiring freeze at the top, this episode offers an honest, unfiltered look at where executive talent stands today.


Main takeaways:

  • Pavilion’s own data reflects a much deeper issue in SaaS hiring.

  • Burned-out logos and short stints don't mean someone isn't great

  • Consulting (even unpaid) can keep you sharp and create surprising outcomes

  • Hiring managers need to evolve past resume-first filtering and start looking at people again

  • And the best career move might be outside SaaS altogether

This episode is for the execs quietly stuck on the sidelines and for the companies missing out on hiring them.

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