Looking at going back to an AE role after a stint in BD Management. Has anyone made a similar move and if so, what were your struggles/positives of making this move?
BlueJays2591
From BD Management back to AE
6
Moving from a non-closing role to a closing role is never a step back.
2 very seperate skillets. In management you're a coach, you're focused on dealing with other people's problems on making them improve every day.
As an IC it's about you and your skillset.
Comes down to what you want to do and what makes the job enjoyable for you.
2 very seperate skillets. In management you're a coach, you're focused on dealing with other people's problems on making them improve every day.
As an IC it's about you and your skillset.
Comes down to what you want to do and what makes the job enjoyable for you.
Yup sounds like a promotion to me.
Definitely not a step back in my mind, just a different career path. Being in BD Management is making me look at going into Sales Management and I know I need more time in an AE seat as my AE experience is outside of SaaS.
Personally haven’t been management but have had quite a few friends transition back from a management role and they all seemed super happy about it.
That's good to hear. It allows me to be selfish and think about my own pocket book instead of others, which is pretty nice. Sounds bad but I've taken a few Ls to get my BDRs ahead in their career. Far too often it seems like I'm deciding whether to shoot myself in the left foot or the right foot.
That’s really the unfortunate part about bad leadership, and not having a strategy in place that’s mutually beneficial for managers and reps, with achievable milestones.
Sounds like you’re the type of person to be a great manager but at the end of the day, worrying about 5 peoples production you can’t control versus 1, that you can, will always be less stressful.
The ones I’ve known who did it, usually came back and were much better performers because it gave them a different view into the problems they could solve since they experienced them
Yeah not the best position to be in but that's a really good way of looking at it. I appreciate the response!
I did exactly this! For me it was a great move. There's something just so much better about having complete control. Not to mention long term I can make much more money, there's sort of an earnings ceiling when it comes being a BDR manager.
I've noticed there is an earnings ceiling as a BDR Manager. Love the job, but I miss good commission checks. I also think the constant hiring cycle is exhausting. I know this is an issue with any manager role, but BDRs are extremely high turnover.
Personally haven’t been management but have had quite a few friends transition back from a management role and they all seemed super happy about it.
Definitely not a step back in my mind, just a different career path. Being in BD Management is making me look at going into Sales Management and I know I need more time in an AE seat as my AE experience is outside of SaaS.
Personally haven’t been management but have had quite a few friends transition back from a management role and they all seemed super happy about it.
Related posts
Members only
12 comments