Fletch profile picture
Fletch profile picture

Fletch

Full-Time AE/Side-Hustle Owner

Opinionated
Contributor
Fire Starter
+1

AEs of the world: What would make you take an SDR position?

I've been in full-cycle sales roles for the past four years. Was offered an SDR position at a company in an industry in unfamiliar with. Base salary is more than I'm currently making in my AE role. SDR team is young, and the time between hire and promotion to AE is about 14 months. 

With that said, if you are an AE or above, would you ever take an SDR role again? If so, what would be your qualifiers for taking it?

Edit to add: Is it a resume destroyer if you do take an SDR role after successfully performing as an AE?
🧠 Advice
🎯 Career Development
21

31 comment

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CuriousFox
WR Officer
14
🦊
Absolutely not. I move in one direction and that's forward.  
Incognito
WR Officer
4
Master of Disaster
This is why @CuriousFox is Queen 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
Honestly I believe in learning from the past. Don't look back. There's nothing for you there. 🤷‍♀️
Incognito
WR Officer
3
Master of Disaster
Now all you need to do is toss a selfie with cleavage into Canva, put that quote in some trendy font near the top and BAM!!! LinkedIn influencer of the year 🏆
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
1
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
👸 say no more 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
8
🦊
@BigCheese Resume destroyer? What do you think? 🤔
FattySnacks
Politicker
5
Senior Account Executive
You could quadruple my salary and I still wouldn’t do it.
FattySnacks
Politicker
2
Senior Account Executive
Unless I was still trying to break into tech. Only time I would see the step back worth it
Avon
Politicker
4
Senior Account Executive
3 millions dollars is my price
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
2
Rolling 20's all day
Definitely nothing
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
2
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Not personally something I would want to do. Might consider for one FAANG gang depending on dinero. Not unusual for their BDR's to be AE's prior to moving to them. 

Resume destroyer? Really depends on the company - if it's a move to a company that is a similar or smaller size then it ain't a good look. 
Closeitalready
Valued Contributor
1
Head of Sales
Nothing
Fletch
Opinionated
1
Full-Time AE/Side-Hustle Owner
As a follow up to this question, is it a resume destroyer if you do take an SDR role?
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
2
District Manager
Maybe not a destroyer, but it could be hard to explain to future employers why you took a (perceived) step backward… and saying “more money and less responsibility” may not be the right answer
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
I am never taking it even if the base salary is high
barney2021
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
Never again unless you haven’t had much experience as an AE and need to retrain
DFWSpartan2013
Opinionated
1
Presales Manager
The only way I could see this being done and not being a resume destroyer (I still would not do this) would be if you were completely changing industry. And honestly it would have to be an extreme change. Like car sales to software, or recruiting to med device sales. This would be a really hard thing to explain to future employers. So maybe if you do it and plan to stay with that company for a decade plus.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
But really changing industries doesn't matter. You can learn the industry. The closer skills are the same. You have em or you don't. 
DFWSpartan2013
Opinionated
1
Presales Manager
You’re right. I wouldn’t ever take a step back in my career.
Kirby
Politicker
1
Sales Representative
My gut says it’s a resume destroyer.
MSPSales
Politicker
1
Partner Development Manager
Well ya its a resume destroyer. SDR is entry level job into sales. No one will take a step back like that. The incentive would have be ridiculous high and even then personally I will never go back to cold calling 9-5 
MontBlanc
Notable Contributor
1
Senior Account Executive
Qualifiers: a gun to my head... and still not sure
torontowarroomrep
Politicker
0
Account Executive
It would take a significant salary increase from my current AE one. On top of that, I would want a clear direction for promotion and a roadmap with clear targets to get into management. Other than that it makes no sense to downgrade 
RedLightning
Politicker
0
Mid-Market AE
A ton of money and a contractually guaranteed path to leadership. I'd consider something like that if I was able to hire and build out the BDR function. Even then, I'd be extremely skeptical. 
Fletch
Opinionated
0
Full-Time AE/Side-Hustle Owner
I very much appreciate all the responses. Thank you all.
Jewcan_Sam81
Politicker
0
Account Executive
100K base with variable OTE
Jewcan_Sam81
Politicker
0
Account Executive
And even then it’d be highly unlikely I’d jump down the ladder
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
0
Sales Manager
Honestly, if it was a well funded startup that would pay me double my current OTE and not track my metrics and performance and let me have a ridiculous title, sure. Sign me up.
SaaSyBee
Politicker
0
Founder
It depends. If the company is better (like leaps and bounds better) then take it. If the opportunity for growth is better, don't look at it as a step back. 
Invictus1875
0
Enterprise SDR
Literally just took an SDR role after being an AE for a while. My reason was to get into tech sales and also it’s an Enterprise SDR role. Wanted that ENT keyword on the resume.
WomenWantMeFishFearMe
Politicker
0
AM
Only if I'm close to retirement age and I just want less responsibility while I see my grandkids and finish my career with easy tasks. Even then, I'd still need a fuck ton of cash

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