SaasSlingin profile picture
SaasSlingin profile picture

SaasSlingin

Sr AE

Politicker
Valued Contributor
Opinionated
+5

From AE to… BDR?

Anyone ever take a step back after being an AE to land a gig at a target company or somethin early stage with massive potential? 

I'm thinking it through (ironically after cutting short an all inbound AE role) but I'd work as a BDR for 6-12 months and eventually become a MM-Enterprise AE.  I'm a commercial AE looking for earlier stage comm AE roles.

worth it? hell no? depends?
🚀 Career Goals
☁️ Software Tech
16

15 comments

Sort by:
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
6
Account Executive
Its not a good look on a resume
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
Don't look back. You aren't going that way.
GingerBarbarian
Opinionated
3
Lead Sales
It can be a great move for some. I do not like the sales promotion funnel as it sits now. SDRs tend to be hunters. AEs tend to be fishers. Account Managers tend to be farmers. They are three distinctly different syles of selling.

Likewise there is a theory that people are often promoted to their level of mediocrity. For instance, an A+ employee gets promoted to a B- team lead and then to a C- manager. That manager is never promoted or fired. Eventually the entire organization is just mediocre.

I have seen many reps get promoted, not get the training they need to adjust, and end up making LESS money.

I do not know whether staying is the right move or not since I do not know you, but there are some cases it is the right move.
TennisandSales
Politicker
3
Head Of Sales
100% would NOT recommend this.

the whole "6 - 12 months then become an AE" almost NEVER happens and smoothly as they say.

the hardest thing to do in sales is getting closing experience.

if you have it, then go find a company that values that.

if your looking for early stage AE roles, you shouldn't have as many issues.
braintank
Politicker
4
Enterprise Account Executive
This!

Show me a company that doesn't promise promotion in 6-12 months. Sorta like every tech CEO says they'll IPO in 2 years.
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
I am sure you have done your own research; do what’s best for you. I personally won’t take a step back unless that’s the only option left out for me.
braintank
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Don't
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
1
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Sometimes, if you see a rocket ship, you just need to find a seat. Never take a back seat though. Not right now when the valuations will only go down. Wait it out a year.
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Depends if it’s getting your foot in the door at a company or in and industry you want. Sometimes you gotta start in the mail room to reach the C-level corner office.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I wouldn’t, but I’m not you.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
1
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Nope. If I were ever to step back, it would be to step back out of sales entirely.
countingmyinterest
Politicker
1
Account Executive
good lord no.
SalesBeast
Politicker
1
Sales Director
No way Jose.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
It would need to be an amazing company for me to take a step back/most likely pay cut or a huge change of my current situation
Binner82
Fire Starter
0
VP Europe
Can you tell us a bit more about the company and the difference between the 2?

On the face of it I wouldn’t make the move from AE to SDR - no way! But want to make sure I’m not missing some key information here….


My reasons are (without the information)


The salary is likely to be worse

As an AE you get to do all the great SDR work as well but also the rest of the sales cycle

Resume impact - “why did you move back to SDR” question in future interviews

GL!

Related posts

32
Members only

AE to BDR? What would you do?

Advice
🐱
🎈
🚀
59
9

BDR to AE

Question
🎈
🚀
🎯
7
20
Members only

AM or AE?

Discussion
🎈
🚀
33
Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.
Apple Store logo
Products
The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U
Company
About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty
Contact
Press Careers
© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs
If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.