Smilesndialz

SDR

Been an SDR for 8 months, thinking about finding another role

Hi everyone! I've been an SDR for about 8 months now at my current company. I sell a DevOps tool but I've been wanting to get into HR tech (I.e Lattice) or cybersecurity (I.e Wiz). Since I don't have closing experience, I'd have to start as an SDR again and work my way up to an AE role. Majority of people on my team are not hitting quota or their activity metrics. I have not applied for any roles yet but it's so tempting to leave for another SDR role if it means being in an industry I want to get into. What are your thoughts?

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👨‍🌾 SDR

42 comments

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TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

i would stop telling your self you cant get an AE role.

it will be MUCH easier to get an SDR role BUT most AEs are former SDRs.

Id look for "corporate" or "mid market" AE roles and talk about how you are ready for a promotion but dont think your current company is the best fit for that .

SunTzu

Opinionated

Legendary Historical Figure

^ This

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@TennisandSales It’s tricky because all of them want closing experience or 2-4 years of experience

TheEnglishMajor

Opinionated

Account Executive

For at least you, are you hitting quota and hitting activity metrics?

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@TheEnglishMajor I hit quota consistently and I exceeded it last month. My activity metrics have always been at least 2x the team.

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Is there a reason you aren't looking to move up to AE at your current place if you are killing it there? Once you have that on your resume you shouldn't have to start the BDR/SDR rodeo over again.

So even if you are looking to conquer another realm, I would see if you could get some closing under your belt where you are now, but this is obviously an outsider perspective, so you'll know from a feel whether its time to bolt or if you can still squeeze some value/$ out of the current gig.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@Filth I am looking to move up and I’ve talked with my manager about it and idk when there will be an opening.

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Hmmm, in that case, see what is out there and find an org that will either bring you in as AE (duh I know) or put in writing that after working x months in BDR/SDR role and training, you'll get moved up to AE. I know my company uses the SDR role to judge and weed out and then eventually turn into AEs, and I assume others do too (process no longer than a year).

While you are doing this, and if you catch some bites, leverage that greener pasture to your manager and possibly his boss, and explain that you'd rather be an AE here where you know the product and the company. If you are one of the few people hitting metrics and goals they'd be dumb to let you leave, especially in this hiring market, and once you get some good experience you can jump ships anyhow, with that AE on the resume and a higher pay to level up on.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Never hurts to apply.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@Pachacuti That’s true. It’s so much effort though lol.

Account Manager

I was in your same position about 4 months ago. I got an AM role without closing experience based off of interviews. Show you have the desire to succeed and that you have the work ethic. Will say, it is kind of daunting moving into a higher role with a new company all at once, at least in my experience. Good luck!

SgtAE

WR Officer

Talk to your manager and ask them this. "If i exceed quota this month, any deals I bring in after that can I take them to close?"

Allows you to get closing experience while still being in the SDR role, and from the manager perspective gives incentive for the SDR to work harder and exceed target.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@SgtSDR They wouldn’t even let me run a discovery call or tag team with my AE.

SgtAE

WR Officer

I'm in the DevOps space too, and unless you're slinging Github/Microsoft stack or atlassian you're gonna have a hard time in industry i reckon.

Theirs nothing wrong with taking another BDR role, but you get one shot at a switch honestly after that hiring managers start asking questions.

If you get the chance to work remote, try going and living somewhere else for a bit to work and see if that makes life better. I'm chilling in SE Asia right now selling, my paycheck goes hella further and my gf doesn't need to work over here because I can afford to take care of both of us on a BDR salary.

Try see if you can change your lifestyle instead of the job, you're close to the year mark and have a chance. Get the AE role then jump to another company then!

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@SgtSDR Wow I did not know that. I’d rather work in cybersecurity sales tbh even if It meant taking on another BDR role. I’m actually moving to the east coast, where I live right now, it’s way too overpriced. That’s awesome that your work lets you work in SE Asia, I bet you’re living like royalty.

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

just stick around to be AE if you have a path. get to AE, stick around for 4-6 months, then jump.

harder to become AE directly

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@countingmyinterest There’s sort of a path but nothing super clear. I was told I was next in line for promotion but then wasn’t considered. I agree it’s harder to become an AE directly, companies want someone with closing experience.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

@braintank Got any advice for the cyber ways?

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

My recommendation is to not leave unless the door has been completely closed to being an AE in your current company. Your SDR clock completely resets at whatever new company you go to and if the current company moves you to an AE it’s a lot easier to go to another company and be an AE

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@Justatitle that’s what I want to do but we had a bad quarter. We are still hiring for AE’s this year and we do have spots but I worry that could change.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Bad AEs currently means great opportunity for you. Headcount is a lot easier to fill within as opposed to externally and usually cheaper too

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@Justatitle I completely agree! We have an AE opening but I think they want to hire externally which sucks.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Push and make it known that you want it.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@Justatitle I’ve already talked to our regional VP of sales and let my manager know. What else should I do to really stand out from the pack? :)

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Ask them what they need to see to promote you and approach the manager for the AEs and make it known to him/her

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

You wouldn't necessarily have to start over in a new SDR role. SDR experience is the same regardless of the platform. Find a hiring manager that has SMB AE seats open that need filled and apply. If all else fails, then start looking at staying as an SDR but at another company.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough I’ll start looking for those roles. The only thing I’ve noticed is some of them pay less than what I make as an SDR

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

some companies are paying SDR's insane amounts of money now to attract good talent. My company for example most SDR's make around 120/year if not a little bit more. That's not including equity or that you get a crazy ramp plan.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough Really?! That’s pretty amazing.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

yessir. comp plan is nuts. and you get paid on more than just meetings so there's a lot of room to make money.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough Any companies you know of that are offering this?

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

where are you located? My company is trying to add on 10 SDR's by august.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough I am in AZ but moving to South Carolina in about a month.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

If you decide to end up in Raleigh, NC instead hit me up. Happy to refer you in. We're remote but still required to be local. Its the weirdest thing to me but it's what they want

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough that is super weird to me, y’all are missing out on talent. How do I add ya on LinkedIn if we’re all anonymous here? 😂

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

bro that's why we need DM's.

Also, I agree whole heartedly. No reason we couldn't be completely remote. Some of us do go into the office from time to time and we do have team happy hours and stuff though. So it is nice that everyone is local so we can still actually feel like a team even if we aren't regularly in the office or required to be there

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough DM’s are coming in June, I believe so we can be friends then. :)

Going into the office has its perks but we shouldn’t be forced IMO.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

which is my favorite part. we aren't forced at all. but the office is there if you choose to and those of us who do like going in occasionally will coordinate days so there will be several of us there

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough I don’t get why I’d have to be local then if I’m not required to be in office. I’ll be in the next state so I could fly in when needed.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

trust me, I get it. I have made that same argument many times. My fiancé wants to be a travel nurse instead of a regular nurse to make more but its basically impossible for us to do.

Smilesndialz

Politicker

SDR

@NotCreativeEnough keep making the argument haha. Your company is making a mistake, there’s no evidence that people who work in the office are more productive than remote workers.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

If your total SDR experience is also 8 months, maybe, hold off on the AE. Personal advice, can be wrong, but i mean what i said. Have seen way too many not able to cope up since they jumped the gun too soon. Again, might be wrong here in your context.

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