What do you need to do to be a great CSA?

New / Eng
nd7

New Eng

nd7
Aug 18, 2018 13 Comments

Being under CSU, what is the big bang for the buck for CSAs in terms of his most important activity. What skills are most important. I hear its more sales focused. How can a Techie core developer (10yoe) be able to perform.

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TOP 13 Comments
  • 4 year CSA here and TSP (tech presales) prior to that. My experience is that it's about perception because you don't actually deliver anything. So, if you're customer is consuming well ($$) then have some good stories about how you helped the customer (regardless of what you actually did). If your customer isn't doing well, have some good stories of how you're helping the account team with DBM.
    Aug 18, 2018 3
    • I would say we can help the customer consume "more" in the terms of PaaS, and add-on services like Azure backup. We can also help with BDM and identifying new workloads. Outside of that, I don't see how we make a workload that is going to cost $100K / year and have it go to $200K / year. I mean, the workload is what it is. Yes, the customer has to want to put it in Azure and most importantly (which the ATU and STYU dont grasp) the customer has to do the work (and want to do the work).
      Aug 18, 2018
    • Completely agree, perception is everything to CSA managers and leadership. Also, make sure you post on Teams!
      Sep 29, 2018
  • Hand jobs
    Aug 19, 2018 5
    • New / Eng
      nd7

      New Eng

      nd7
      OP
      I see what you mean!
      Aug 19, 2018
    • +1 on the need for the manager to have a deep technical background. Peer managers would probably disagree but take a look at the mess that is the ATS role. Stems from sales managers managing technical roles. It's why, today, the thing that matters most is your talk track (unfortunately).
      Aug 19, 2018
  • Am a CSA.
    Imo the CSU is still finding out what it wants not be. Gut is that it's going to be less technical going forward. More presales than implementation experience

    My background is software dev, of about 15 years experience. I'm doing well, but you need to manage your expectations about how hands on you will be. You can seek out those technical engagements and spend time with the dev team - just manage your management.
    Aug 21, 2018 0
  • New / Eng
    nd7

    New Eng

    nd7
    OP
    Cloud Solution Architect
    Aug 19, 2018 0
  • Dell
    lance_klus

    Go to company page Dell

    lance_klus
    What is a CSA ?
    Aug 19, 2018 0