I’ve been a Solutions Engineer in SaaS for a while now, and one of the most common questions I get is, “What does your typical week look like?” While no two weeks are exactly alike, and things can change on a dime, I want to pull back the curtain and share how I generally structure my time to maximize impact.
This is my second post, and I’m loving sharing my experiences and passions with you!
Monday: Setting the Week’s Momentum
Mondays are always buzzing for me. My mind is fresh, ideas are flowing, and I’m eager to tackle a lot of work. You’ll notice that the rest of the week is less intensive than this foundational day.
Reviewing Deals & Action Items
My Monday mornings kick off with a thorough review of all active deals. This helps me keep everything top of mind and ensures nothing slips through the cracks. For each deal, I check:
- Last Communication: Review the most recent email received or sent.
- Pending Action Points:
- My Actions: This can be something like sending a documentation or building a workflow for a client. If I can complete a task in under 5 minutes, I do it right away. Otherwise, it goes straight onto my to-do list.
- Client Actions: If a client action was due today (Monday), I’ll send a follow-up email. This could be a “thank you” if they’ve completed it or a gentle reminder if it’s still outstanding. If an action wasn’t explicitly due today, I’ll schedule a reminder to follow up on Tuesday. (I generally avoid sending action-point reminder emails on Mondays and Fridays unless previously agreed upon.)
- CRM Update: I take this time to update our CRM with anything I might have missed from the previous week.
Meeting Preparation
I block out time in my calendar specifically for preparing for important meetings that week. This dedicated slot helps me focus, recall key discussion points, and gather all necessary materials without distractions.
- Pro Tip: Add all relevant preparation materials directly to the meeting invite description, even if you’re the only attendee. This keeps everything organized.
Providing Product Feedback
Product feedback is crucial for continuous improvement. While the exact process varies by company (using tools like Productboard, Notion, or just email), I prefer to write up client feedback with a clear head, and the weekend gives me a little time after the initial discussion. This ensures I fully understand the request’s reasoning and potential impact, avoiding random, unthought-out suggestions.
Setting a Non-Client Goal for the Week
I like to set one goal each week that isn’t directly tied to a client. This could be:
- Documenting an internal process.
- Brainstorming ideas to enhance client communication.
- Researching new tools to improve internal or external workflows.
For instance, the week I’m writing this, my goal is to review a documentation checklist and select an item to begin working on.
End-of-Day CRM Update
My last task of the day is always a comprehensive CRM update. This includes any client insights, new go-live dates, challenges they’re facing, or meeting reschedules.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: “Get Stuff Done” Days
Fun Fact: English isn’t my first language, but I’ve been speaking it for over 10 years! Still, I always have to double-check when it’s Tuesday versus Thursday.
These three days are what I call the “get stuff done” days. They’re typically packed with meetings, leaving less room for deep, uninterrupted work.
Following Up on Action Points
Unlike Mondays and Fridays, these are prime days for following up on client action points. If a client committed to a milestone—like their first API request or an end-to-end integration test—I’ll proactively check in on their progress. If it hasn’t been completed, I’ll work to understand what’s blocking them and offer my direct assistance.
CRM Updates
For these three days, I usually focus on recording major customer updates: hitting significant milestones or encountering critical blockers.
My primary focus during these days is enabling clients to go live or selecting us as their provider. That’s why I dedicate these three days almost entirely to answering emails and following up on actions that directly impact my clients’ success.
Friday: Reflection & Preparation
Happy Friday! Fridays generally have fewer meetings, and let’s be honest, you’re probably not as energetic as you were on Monday. So, I tend to focus on more passive or reflective tasks.
Self-Feedback Friday
I like to kick off Fridays by reviewing how my week went. For example, if I had a meeting that felt off, I’ll re-watch parts of it to understand why. Conversely, if an email generated an excellent response, I’ll analyze what made it so effective. This is largely based on intuition developed from years of client interactions, but if you’re new to the role, I highly recommend reviewing all (or most) of your meetings – that’s certainly what I did when I started!
Tying Up Loose Ends
I’ll refer back to my to-do list from Monday. Is there anything outstanding? Fridays are the perfect time to tackle those remaining items.
Preparing for Monday
I dedicate time to getting ready for the week ahead:
- Product Feedback Notes: Document any product feedback from meetings that need to be reviewed on Monday.
- Goal Check-in: Double-check my weekly goals. Are they on track? Are they still relevant?
- Client Follow-up (Friday Due Dates): Similar to Monday, if a client promised something by Friday, one of the first things I do is follow up on their progress.
CRM Updates
Keeping your CRM updated allows your manager and colleagues to track your work and your clients’ stages. Every Friday, I ensure all client information is up to date.
Celebrating Successes
My current remote team has a ritual I absolutely love: a 5 PM meeting from Tuesday to Friday. I always try to join, but the Friday sessions are special. This meeting also serves as a perfect way for me to close out the week. While I might still tackle some work afterward, it’s invaluable to have that dedicated moment to pause and discuss the week’s happenings with my colleagues. It’s a fantastic opportunity to discuss your deals and share your weekend plans all in one go!
Final Thoughts
Being a Solutions Engineer places you at the intersection of many teams: clients, prospects, product, sales, account management, and more. You possess a unique power to technically understand client needs and identify the best solutions. Use this power to build strong relationships and solve real problems.
One of the things I love most about being a Solutions Engineer is knowing that the guidance I provide to clients and colleagues genuinely helps them in their daily activities. Let’s keep making people’s lives easier!
Thank you for reading! As always, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn if you want to chat.
