There seem to be benefits to both roles: relationship building vs. technical expertise?
AE vs. SE for the best career progression
AE vs. SE
Attached poll
*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.
9
goose
Politicker
3
Sales Executive
Being an SE wouldn't stimulate me enough. Too much nerd stuff.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
You are an Enterprise AE. Are you tired of your role?
RealPatrickBateman
Politicker
3
🔪Amateur Butcher🔪
I'm gonna put this out there.... SE's and Marketing are equally as helpful.... I said what I said
butwhy
Politicker
2
Solutions Engineer
Wow. Just wow. I have never been more insulted in my life.
CaneWolf
Politicker
0
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
I've had great SEs that I've relied heavily on as I sold.
RealPatrickBateman
Politicker
0
🔪Amateur Butcher🔪
@CaneWolf thats great to hear!
I said what I said...
I said what I said...
MCP
Valued Contributor
2
Sales Director
AE’s have the potential to make more $$$ through variable. SE’s make a higher base. SE’s have to be SME’s, AE’s just need to be dangerous and know how to team sell. SE’s don’t prospect but rely on AE’s to make their numbers. Pros & cons. Decide if you want to be smart or (potentially) wealthy and if you want to call your own shots or rely on others to close.
Do.it.for.the.checks
Politicker
0
Account Executive
I mean I vote AE, but I'm an AE.
This seems an entirely a well it depends on what you want to do. Very different jobs
This seems an entirely a well it depends on what you want to do. Very different jobs
NoSuperhero
Politicker
0
BDR LEAD
I can see how SEs can hop up to the VP of sales quicker than AE.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
1
SaaS Eater
How?
MinisterOfChaos
Politicker
0
Commercial Account Executive
I'm curious about this comment as well. What does an SE do that translates to high-level Sales leadership?
Honestly, I feel like the pinnacle of a SE career progression (not counting starting their own business, etc.) would be VP of Product, not VP of Sales.
Honestly, I feel like the pinnacle of a SE career progression (not counting starting their own business, etc.) would be VP of Product, not VP of Sales.
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
I'm not smart enough to be an SE.
butwhy
Politicker
0
Solutions Engineer
I think "best career progression" really depends on what your career end goal is. There are days I think about being an AE because it looks ridiculously easier than what I do, but I would hate contract negotiation and pretending like I care about all the football bullshit that VPs of Sales talk about all the time.
Flippinghubs
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
AE
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14 comments