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Modro

Senior Account Executive

Valued Contributor
Executive
Member
+3

From Senior SaaS AE to BDR?

So I’ve been laid off since Feb23 looking for my next AE role. In my most recent role I was a senior AE for the commercial Segment. Since I was laid off I’ve interviewed with 10s of companies for AE roles but they all rejected me. I seem to have ran out of companies to apply for. The only company who's now on the verge of giving me an offer is a FinTech company and the role is a BDR role, however strangely it pays more than the AE position in that company! and as much as I was getting paid as a senior AE in my most recent company. I'm very tempted to go for it due to needing the money desperately but the thought of being a BDR when the past 7 years I've been in closing roles is a super strange thought! 
Has anyone been thorough this before ans how did you deal with it? 
🧠 Advice
🌐 Fintech
📳 SaaS
20

27 comments

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HVACexpert
Politicker
10
sales engineer
Pay the bills man and keep looking.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
This is what I'd do 🦊
oldcloser
Arsonist
7
💀
Take gig. Feed family. Keep looking. Delete BDR from resume over time.
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
You’re right man, I’m leaning towards this too!
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
It pays more than you were making - so is there a path for advancement? What does an AE make?
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
AE makes around 20k less..crazy I know.. but it’s also to do with easy sales etc
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Sorry, I clearly failed reading. Hmmm.
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
Haha it’s ok! I can’t wrap this shit around my head anyway 😄
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
What's the ote for that BDR role?!!
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
I think like 15k on top of basic
Justatitle
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
If it is what is available there isn't anything wrong with taking it and when an AE role opens having the closing experience already
Modro
Valued Contributor
1
Senior Account Executive
Exactly my thoughts too!
punishedlad
Tycoon
2
Business Development Team Lead
It's times like these where you need to swallow your pride and do what you've gotta do. It hurts, but not as much as an empty stomach or a missed rent/mortgage payment.
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
Wise words brother!
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
I mean..
You need it+It offers a better payout than your last role=Go for it at least temporarily till you you find another future AE role again!
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
Sounds like a plan!
FoodForSales
Politicker
1
AE
Take the BDR role and just keep looking.
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
Dude take it for now but keep
looking simultaneously. Will be better career path wise.
Pepe
Opinionated
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Take it and brand it as inside sales vs. BDR?
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
Good idea, I was going to label it “Business Development” .. would that give it away do you think or that’s still BDR?
saltysal
Executive
1
Account Executive
Might be a bit of a tough pill to swallow at first but it’s steady income and resharpening the cold call skills will only make you stronger. I’d say embrace the suck, make some money while you’re looking for the next golden opportunity!
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
Exactly what I was planning to do
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
I think in this situation you should say fuck it. Let go of the ego and just go for it.

You don't even need to put it on your resume or acknowledge the job in any way if you don't want to.

Fintech is a niche thing to get in to and you can make a fuck ton of money as well. So maybe this could be an opp to do just that and be an AE again very soon?
Modro
Valued Contributor
0
Senior Account Executive
That’s exactly what I’m currently thinking, which is why I signed the offer letter and contract and will start work soon with what you mentioned in mind.
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Awesome! You'll know the deal with the job within the first few days.
iamtheone
Executive
0
Enterprise SDR
What is the company 😂
DataCorrupter
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Definitely feed the family.

Beware taking a role where the BDR gig is paid that highly though. Higher comp for BDRs can mean:

1) company has no idea what they're doing and may reduce salaries as soon as they've learned better
2) there are so few inbounds that BDRs have no chance to make quota, so they've gotta pay BDRs better base pay to stick around
3) they're European and extremely generous

I was just at a company where the BDR base pay was just above 6 figures, great for the BDRs, but actually made for less production overall.

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