thebritaliansalesguy

account executive

Career advice

good people 👋 I'm lost

as an AE in EdTech, should I step to SDR for a better company?

I am currently working at a company where I have been for 1.5years now. the situation is pretty secure.

However, the commission plan has been changed and now it's crazy low. in some cases could get .9% whilst the sales cycle is not fast (5 months on average). we have no marketing and zero sales support for the country I am working in.

I have been patient looking to implement several aspects but I can do so much.

would you consider switching back to an SDR role for a better company with more growth?!

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24 comments

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poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Never step down. Get a role as an AE elsewhere.

The story of “I need to step back to step forward” is bullshit. Closers close. Lost souls subject themselves to hell voluntarily aka become an SDR again.

LambyCorn

Arsonist

A mfkn E

100%, go become an AE else where!! best of luck, you can get it

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

Damn! Needed this! Thanks for the direct comment! That’s actually true. Need to be a bit more patient instead of rushing and find myself back to help

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

DO NOT GO BACK TO SDR.
Be patient and become an AE at another company.
0.9% commission is laughable. How is that an incentive?

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

That’s really annoying. I mean we have no tools helping us aside SFDC which actually slows me down ahah
And with all the hard work, hustling and all to get 200 for a 17k sale is frustrating. I never got to the .9% cause is for when the margin is very very low. I preferred losing a good brand deal than getting .9%
To me is just astonishing and I’m reaching a a concerning point where I don’t care if I close or not

GDO

Politicker

BDM

I would not go AE -> SDR. Try to do AE ->AE in a different comapny

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

That’s my concern - have to admit that where I’m located there very very few AE opportunities at the moment. It’s been two months the AE job market has been incredibly quiet - seems every one is looking for SDR/ndr here now
That’s why my doubt

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

It completely depends on what you want from your career.
If you want fast growth, stepping down as a SDR in any other company might not give you that satisfaction.
If it's stability, money and learning that you want - this would be a good move to go to another company (bigger and better, I assume) as an SDR and then grow from there internally or externally.

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

Good point! It seems it wouldn’t be the best move for me. However I’m thinking of it just because the AE opportunities where I am based have been so few for the last 2 months while SDRs have been everywhere

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

No option to become an AE in your current company? How many interviews have you had?

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

I’m currently AE here but we’re an international small team in a mid sized company and we are completely left on our own. I do not see changes happening in the very short future and it’s been 4/5 months providing active solutions without being considered. That’s why I looking to leave asap

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

As far as you are in TECH (which you are), if I were you I will find another company to join as an AE especially when I have 1.5 yr experience already.

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

Yeah - that’s what I have been trying to find - but it’s 2 months it seems the AE job market is really flat. I see 1 AE job every 7/8 SDR.
But it’s frustrating needing to wait some more months before seeing real opportunities. Also, of those AE jobs I see, many have language requirements I don’t have like French and German. Hence I thought of this move

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Should I go jump in a pile of shit to get my shoes clean? Methinks thou knoweth bettah.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

It's something I have considered. After I was laid off, I jumped at the first job offer that came in (thus far the only one). Unfortunately (despite being an AE job in tech) it's with a base of $50k and an OTE at $75k. Advancement is into leadership/management, and not into something like MM or Enterprise. Considering the lack of advancement and my pay being lower than many SDR jobs, and the fact that my AE experience seems to be discounted by hiring managers and recruiters (8 years in sales but "only" one year as an AE in tech before I started this job in January), I've tossed in a few SDR apps from time to time. Interviewed for a couple.

So I don't know. I'd strongly recommend not going that route if you can avoid it. But I definitely get the logic.

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

Surely I can slow down and wait for better opportunities - which seems the best way. Thanks for sharing your experience - are you looking to change or just looking how is out there

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

I have been actively looking the entire time I've worked at my current job. I'm not particularly interested in the software we sell, I'm not excited at the prospect of selling to microbusinesses and self-employed entrepreneurs, and I'm definitely not happy about making significantly less money than I was last year (where I was at $75k base/$150k OTE). This is literally just a place to collect a paycheck.

thebritaliansalesguy

Contributor

account executive

Jeez - that’s a big cut! But I definitely understand! It’s a taught time to change now. Honestly now it’s just for paycheck for me also - nothing more until I change

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

No, never.
Your skills are transferable regardless of product.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

I do think you should leave for a better company but have patience to not take a step down. SDR/BDR is a tough level to rise from, even if you've been an AE before.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Definitely look for that AE job. Even though it may be a challenge right now, keep applying and looking until something comes up. You'll find something.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Just go find a better place to be an AE, no?

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Nope

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

"Better company with more growth" is always preferred.

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thebritaliansalesguy

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