Advice for SDR->AE path

Looking for some advice as an SDR looking to become an AE later on. Currently working at a SaaS company selling to marketing teams. Later on, I'd love to work as an AE for a more technical product, things that I've been interested in are companies like Snowflake, Google Cloud, Merge, Varonis, etc. But, I'd also like to "graduate" from the SDR role as quickly as I can for financial reasons. Would it be better for my long-term career for me to look towards pivoting towards a technical company once a healthy amount of time has passed at my current one (don't want to be seen as a job hopper), or is it better to focus on becoming an AE in this current SaaS vertical and then try to transition to a more technical product later on in my career?

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Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

If the goal is to work for a Google Cloud, the quickest way would be to get in the door as an SDR/BDR or work for a competitor. Then get promoted after doing well. Companies like Google will have 100 applicants within the first hour posted on LinkedIn. So it will always be difficult to land a role there, so you need to NETWORK your ass off!
But honestly, you can get there both ways you mentioned, everyone's journey is different and really depends on what you want.

joopiter

Good Citizen

Sales Development Representative

interesting, do you know where I could find some more info on what the internal promotion structure/timeline is for companies like that? Also is there like a "tier list" of top tech/saas orgs you could work for? (just curious)

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

I doubt that information is external

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Just saying that even if they have a timeline, it's usually not set in stone and is based on availability. If they expect SDRs to be in those seats for 18-24 months, but there's no AE role to move the SDR to, there won't be movement. It's also possible that the SDR is promoted earlier than the target timeline - again, based on availability as well as aptitude.
The best thing you can do is to excel at the role you are in. It's absolutely fine to let them know you are interested in a career in sales and moving up the chain, but don't let your eagerness to move up keep you from being the best SDR you can possibly be. I've watched people blow up their careers because they basically sulked through the foot-in-the-door role they took. Don't let that happen to you.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

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Check out the academy tab.

joopiter

Good Citizen

Sales Development Representative

Checked it out already, it had solid information as a starting point but when it came down to things like whether or not you'd be limited to a certain industry based on where you start your career, there wasn't anything relevant there.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

I would then be more specific in your post regarding your questions

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joopiter

Advice for SDR->AE path

7 comments

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