Dunbar

Account Executive

Buyer's Remorse

Hey All, need some advice. I recently started as an AE for Adtech company - back in March. Through the onboarding process, I've realized I don't want to be in the Advertising industry. I've coached college soccer for the past 5 years prior to getting back into the corporate world. I have a about a year of experience as an SDR (SaaS). I know the potential of my OTE (may have been blinded by it during the interview process) but I miss my soccer coaching days. I had a decent SDR manager and think I would make a good one. Problem is - I just started this job and I don't think I have enough sales experience to land a SDR manager position.

I'm wondering how to handle this new position and what route to take to try to become a SDR manager? Suck it up and gain the experience/money? Get more SDR experience? Apply for SDR manager position now? Ultimately, I would like to get back into SaaS but I'm unsure of what the best route is and have come to the internet for help.

Thanks

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23 comments

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braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

So do you want to be in sales or a soccer coach?

If you want to be in management you'll need several years SDR experience.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

0

Rolling 20's all day

Sell some soccer coaching courses! Find the middle point between the two.

Dunbar

Good Citizen

0

Account Executive

That’s not a bad idea!

Dunbar

Good Citizen

0

Account Executive

Sales - yeah that’s what it’s looking like.

Notmyrealname

Politicker

2

AE

1 year is probably low to be a manager tbh

Dunbar

Good Citizen

1

Account Executive

Yea, I agree. I edited my phrasing a bit. Ultimately curious what my
steps Should be to be a good position to apply for that role.

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

Do you have any management experience? where you have to train/manage/and grow a team?

Dunbar

Good Citizen

0

Account Executive

I do not. My main post didn’t really convey what I meant to say. I’m wondering what the best route would be to get to SDR manager role based on my history as a coach

TennisandSales

Politicker

0

Head Of Sales

i think you will need to explain how your years as a soccer coach can translate to coaching SDRs.

You will also need to explain how you know how to SDR work.

bandabanda

Tycoon

2

Senior AE Mid Market

It sounds like the thing you miss about your soccer coaching days is the coaching...is that why you're looking to be an SDR Manager? (trying to connect the dots here)

I'd say you need at least 3 years SDR experience to move to manager. Unless you decide to stick it out at your current company and crush it - leaders get promotions because they are already starting to do some of the work before they get the promotion. They're hungry for more and they show their managers that in words & action.

Dunbar

Good Citizen

1

Account Executive

Yeah - that’s where I can see my coaching skills making an impact. I should have been more clear in that original message. Makes sense. Appreciate the feedback!

bandabanda

Tycoon

0

Senior AE Mid Market

That makes sense. Good luck!

E_Money

Big Shot

2

💰

I am in the "suck it up and gain the experience" camp, at least for a year.

Only problem with going to SDR Manager from AE is now you will need some sort of leadership experience. Because you only have one year as an SDR you'd either need to go back to that and work your way up, or get management experience on the closing side then go back to an SDR Manager role with that experience.

Dunbar

Good Citizen

0

Account Executive

Yeah that’s fair, appreciate the input. I was wondering I could parlay coaching + AE but having direct and more experience as an SDR seems like the better combo

washedD1soccer

Politicker

1

Regional Sales Manager

I would take a look at Hudl if you haven’t already. You may be able to combine your coaching experience with calling on college/pro soccer teams to sell them their product.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

So what exactly are you wanting to do friend? Go back to soccer or stay in sales?

Dunbar

Good Citizen

1

Account Executive

Sorry the connection I should have made in the original post would be that I want to utilize my coaching skills in the sales world but helping others become better SDRs. The main question here being what’s the best route to take

champchamp

Arsonist

1

Certified Savage

You probably need to go back to SaaS as an SDR and work your way up.

Dunbar

Good Citizen

0

Account Executive

Thanks for the input!

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

0

Professional Day Ruiner

I would stick it out longer as an SDR then try to move into an SDR manager role. Trying to move from AE to SDR manager would be an odd jump in my opinion, and 1 year of SDR experience is definitely not enough to get a management job at a good company.

Dunbar

Good Citizen

0

Account Executive

Yeah that’s what I was wondering. It feels like a down grade back to sdr but would set me on the path I’m looking for

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

1

Professional Day Ruiner

If it's one step backwards to set yourself up for multiple steps forward in the future is it really a downgrade?

Pachacuti

Politicker

0

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

So your question is Money or Quality of Life? I know what I’d choose but I can’t tell you what to do. I choose to use my vocation to fund my advocations.

My 2 cents - the corporate world will always be there but the collegiate Ted Lasso thing probably won’t be.

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