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justaquick15minutemeeting

SDR

Contributor
Fire Starter

AE Roles for SDR with 6 months exp.?

Hey savages,


I graduated college back in Dec and have been the top SDR at a cyber security SaaS start-up since I got here. I worked retail sales for 3 years throughout high school and college, and really want to get back to closing deals and being in control of the full sales cycle. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions for "entry-level" AE roles for someone with some SDR experience? Would love to stay in cyber security but would be open to other SaaS industries as well. Thanks everyone!!

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19 comments

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TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
I would be searching for AE roles that have "Corporate" or "Mid Market" or "SMB" in the title. 

Those roles will typically require the least amount of experience but you will NOT see a job posting that says "under 1 year experience allowed" so dont be afraid to apply for roles that suggest more years of experience. 
justaquick15minutemeeting
Contributor
1
SDR
Yeah that's what I've been going for but most require 2+ years closing SaaS experience. I'm in a shitty situation with the current company I'm at and people are leaving by the day so I can't wait for a promotion here either
TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
yeah I would point out on your resume or bring up in discussions that you are on pace for a promotion, but that you dont want to be an AE at your current company. 

its important to communicate that you are ready for the next step, and could get it at where you are now, but are choosing not too. 

that is different than an SDR that is looking to get more experience before becoming and AE, which is what most recruiters will think when they see you have been an SDR for 6 months. 
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
1
Professional Day Ruiner
its not so much about time spent in the SDR seat as it is how quickly you learned while in it. The whole goal of being is there to build confidence in talking to customers and learning how to pitch. 

If you want to be in the AE seat, talk to your boss about it. Build a case as to why you feel like you've earned it. Bring some of your better calls to him as examples and be armed with good product knowledge to answer questions since they'll want you to run a mock disco call most likely as part of the process. 

90% of the time its easier to climb the ladder internally than it is to move up from an outside org. 
justaquick15minutemeeting
Contributor
2
SDR
Oh I know and that's why I originally joined a star-up was for the growth potential. But the quota here is insane (I'm top SDR by a mile and even I'm only at 75% of quota) and people all across the company are leaving by the day. 

Doesn't help that leadership refuses to promote within and would rather hire outside people from the past company everyone worked at together
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
1
Professional Day Ruiner
yeah that's always super annoying. Not promoting from within is the best way to lose great talent. Series A is the best bet for getting hired as an AE with no AE experience. That's a very risky path right now though. 
justaquick15minutemeeting
Contributor
0
SDR
Yeah good point. Honestly looks like the best move would just be to take an SDR role at a different company that would actually promote from within. Hard to know for sure what companies will tho since all say they do
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
1
Professional Day Ruiner
Where are you located? My company is scaling the SDR team like crazy right now and has an actual clear cut path to move up. Also only hire SDR's with experience. 
justaquick15minutemeeting
Contributor
0
SDR
Cleveland, OH but definitely open to relocating
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
2
Professional Day Ruiner
We're in Raleigh, NC. definitely recommend checking out the area. Ton of tech companies here and more growing. This is why we need DM's..... 
CatMom
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Grew up in CLE, spent some time in Raleigh last summer. Defffffff worth it to make the move if the opportunity presents itself!
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
1
Professional Day Ruiner
I moved here on impulse last July after having never been to the city and knowing no one. Best decision I've ever made. Didn't even know about the huge tech boom going on here it was pure coincidence. 
justaquick15minutemeeting
Contributor
0
SDR
I've seen a lot of companies around there recently totally see the boom thats been happening. Definitely will look into it... if only there was a way to DM people here. What industry is your company in?
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
There's no requirement saying you must be an SDR for a period of X time, or at all, to become an AE.  Its just applying and them saying "you're the right person for the job".  If can sell yourself to them, then you're ready for the job.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
@CuriousFoxgenerally has good advice on CyberSecurity
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
1
SaaS Eater
What growth opportunity do you have at your current company? If you are that good most sales leaders know that SDRs are short term and if you have a good one you want to promote them to AE if at all possible. 

I would check there before you start looking externally, have convos with your manager and be very clear thats what you want to make happen. 
IYNFYL
Politicker
0
Enterprise SaaS AE
You can get into smaller companies with 6 months of experience.  Many of the AEs at a lot of companies come from the SDR/BDR world
CatMom
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Look for an SMB AE role and go in with confidence telling them how you’ve been number 1 on the team every single day of those 6 months, absolutely crushing it and you’re ready to work for a company that values career development and training and coaching and that’s why you’re putting feelers out there!
jefe
Arsonist
0
🍁
Smaller company, SMB focus would be your best bet.

And you have to have a compelling story with a history of wins. 

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