hafasham

BDR

Enterprise SaaS SDR or SMB AE

I know this isn't the first time its been asked, but I am curious to hear y'alls thoughts again.

I'm currently and Enterprise SDR at a Series C SaaS Company and a top performer on the team. Career Development has been a re-occuring conversation with my manager and VP, but timeline has been murky (at best).

I recently got an offer for a full cycle AE role selling to SMBs (mostly mom & pop shops in a very niche industry). Company is growing like crazy, but the transactions are small (2-3k avg deal size).

My current VP has made it clear that they would like to promote me, they are building out the sales team and will have room for me to move up to AE, but can't offer me a timeline.

Do I stick it out as an SDR for a few more months, booking meetings with C level execs at Fortune 100 companies, or do I take the title and run?

🚀 Career Goals

🤘 Personal Growth

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

15 comments

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cw95

Politicker

Sales Development Lead

Personally, take the title, see how it works out, then decide.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I would always vouch for an AE

FormerStartupJobHopper

Tycoon

The real answer to this is which of these places AEs have better quota attainment and make more money. In a year or less, you will likely be an AE at either place. Which one do you wanna work at long term?

hafasham

Fire Starter

BDR

Both have very good quota attainment, granted the series A shop has only been in business for about 1 yr.

In terms of comp, AEs at my current job make roughly 30-40% more than what I was offered for the SMB role.

This has been the biggest struggle for me: Do I take the AE role and make transactional sales? or hang on for another 6 mos and make big boy/girl sales?

FormerStartupJobHopper

Tycoon

My instinct would be to hang on. The ROI on 6 more months as an SDR to make 30-40% more makes a lot of sense.

I get that you're impatient, I was too. It's better to move up in one company if you can, if you can tell my name I haven't always done that.

Maybe I'm wrong though. Forget the next 6 months for a minute. In 2 years, which decision will you be glad you made?

Grant_Horun

Politicker

Account Executive

I hold on. Enterprise Sales is the place to be in my opinion and once you go to commercial it will be a while before you are in the enterprise space again, or have to move on to another opportunity that will get you there.

MinisterOfChaos

Politicker

Commercial Account Executive

I'd hold on. Since they've claimed they are "building out the sales team" I would get clarity on what that means. If they start, or continue, to hire outside candidates rather than promote from within, then it may make sense to move one.

There are always SMB AE positions available. Moving up in Enterprise is a much longer grind.

FormallyUneducated

Opinionated

Account Executive

You don’t have to make a choice right now. Sounds like this AE role fell into your lap, and it may not be what you want in your next role (based on comp, quota attainment, selling to mom n pop shops). You can keep crushing in your current role and start actively seeking out SMB AE roles that you’re excited about. If something comes up at your company, then great. If not, then at least you’ve done your due diligence on the right next move for you vs jumping at the first closing role you could get.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

AE. Always AE.

MoonDog349

Valued Contributor

Sales Manager

It’s pretty typical to see a pay cut from less commission starting out as an SMB AE. I was in your exact same position, took the promotion, and am now going to W2 3x higher than I earned as a 150% to target ENT SDR. It’s a grind but there is no long term SDR play. Plus, closing is much more engaging, difficult, and requires you to step your game and your business acumen to succeed.

Wildcard

Opinionated

Account Executive

The fact that your current company cannot give you a timeline is a red flag. Get outta there.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

Depends on where you want to go in your career. If you want to end up as an enterprise AE then you'll probably be better off taking the enterprise SDR roll. You'll rub shoulders with the folks that are in the space you want to be in and there's a good chance you'd be promoted to enterprise AE in that same company where the knowledge you've gained will be more applicable.

Should you go the SMB AE route, in my experience, you'll be looking at between 3 to 5 years before you'll likely land an Ent. AE roll.

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

AE, AE, AE, AE. The next 15 times this is asked, it will be AE.

countingmyinterest

Politicker

Account Executive

Take the title and bounce out. Do you have enough gas in the tank to be another BDR for a period of time?

If the company is also saying "We want to build the sales team", ask them what they have so far.

How long have you been at your org?

whathaveyousoldtomorrow

Opinionated

sales

SMB AE > BDR to linkedin recruiters

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hafasham

Enterprise SaaS SDR or SMB AE

15 comments

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