carbonpro

Account Executive

Go back to BDR after limited AE experience?

Per the title, was an AE at a small (dying) fintech company and had less than 1 year of AE experience, closed a few deals avg $30k, and was laid off with the rest of the sales team a few months ago. Didn't get a lot of training and was treading water most of the time, leadership had poorly defined processes.

Been very hard to get past 1st or 2nd rounds of interviews, and recently been hard to even get a yes to an interview.

Is it worth it to take a step back to a BDR but at a larger company where I can get a job (I like to not starve) but get some actual structured AE training where I have a chance to actually hit quota?

Thanks!

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25 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Do what you need to do and keep interviewing.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Take care of yourself and your family. Take a BDR role if that's what you can find and you need to work.

Nothing to stop you from continuing to pursue an AE gig even if you take a BDR job.

bonez

Politicker

Account Executive

First and foremost you have to do what's right for you to survive. Sometimes you gotta take a job to have a job.
That said, sliding back in your career isn't always the best idea considering you want to keep moving up. If you were an AE then you are an AE now.
I have a lot of experience and it wasn't easy for me to land an interview. A couple years ago I had recruiters pounding down my door. This last year I leveraged my entire network just to get a couple of interviews. I even had a few references into places and wasn't given an interview. It's rough right now but won't be forever - the perpetual ebb and flow of the market.
If you can, I'd say hold out for an AE position and stay with what you already know how to do. If you cannot then BDR may be easier. If nothing else, believe in yourself, know your worth, and you got this my dude.

carbonpro

Politicker

Account Executive

Love this response, thanks homie. Market will turn around eventually. Afterall, I did hop SDR roles from 2020-2022 to AE for a 50% raise during that time lol. Guess the music had to stop at some point. I'll hold my ground.

bonez

Politicker

Account Executive

You got this! Just a blip on the timeline.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

You really don't want to go backwards, but I don't really think its a life or death call. Take any job, hunt and parley. Its really easy to get paralyzed with these quandaries, and you gotta eat. It's just so much easier to get one when you've got one. You really never know what will present itself next.

Founding BDR

Keep applying and try to grab as many AE opps as possible.
Having said that, I don’t think moving back to a BDR is a bad idea. As you mentioned, you didn’t have a lot of training and mentorship as a brand new AE. Gaining the experience with a more structured company and working your way up from there wouldn’t be a bad option.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Obviously you need to do what’s best for you. Everyone would prefer to have the higher paid AE role, so I would continue focus on those roles. Continue to ask for advice from the hiring manager and the recruiter to help improve in the interview process. Post an anonymous resume to receive feedback. Prospect into roles that you are excited about.

I would recommend taking an SDR role since you would prefer to be an AE and have AE experience. However if you come across a great sdr role and like the culture, it can be great in the long run.

Basically all I am saying is focus on the AE role and if it’s a SDR role be picky

Founding BDR

Yeah this is what I was thinking too - you just worded it a lot better

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

I have a bit more experience than you, but I often wonder the same thing.

carbonpro

Politicker

Account Executive

what's your current situation?

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

I was in financial sales (banking and insurance) for ~6 years, transitioned into tech as an SDR. 10 months in I got recruited for an AE role (higher pay, full cycle, more fitting my experience), was there exactly one year and they laid everyone off. Got another AE role but with a substantial pay cut and reduction in job duties, etc. Got fired in October. Been looking for a role even while employed there honestly, nothing ever panned out.

My thinking is that my AE experience wasn't much to brag about. Yeah I hit quota at one place and brought in some large clients, but I wasn't there long enough to demonstrate sustained success. And my most recent role was definitely not a role that would impress anyone. My banking experience might demonstrate my length of time in sales, but it's becoming less relevant every year that goes by. Maybe if I go back to SDR I can just scrap everything and start over. Complete clean slate. Only problem is most SDR roles are hybrid or in office, which I'm not opposed to in theory, but nearest tech hub is 90 minutes away and I'm not sure it's a commute I'd want to do for SDR pay. But, desperate times might call for desperate measure.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

You need to provide - so take what you can get in the short term. But apply to the jobs you really want.

FYI - there isn't much "structured AE training" out there - its all OTJ training for the most part.

lajefa

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

Hoping this isn't the same Fintech I left some months ago, same scenario, etc. You can make a great living at BDR/SDR position if that still appeals to you. Check RepVue for base salary/OTE numbers. You can probably land an entry level AE role depending on what you've done in the past, less likely at a larger company, though.
DO NOT buy into the 'desperation' that frequently comes with being laid off. It is what it is, be open to positions, tailor your resume to the roles you're seeking. Above all make sure you're comfortable with the Comp Plan going in, especially BASE salary, it makes a huge mental difference knowing that the base is something you can live with then the bonus is just gravy. BE SMART when looking for a new role. Don't let them lure you with fancy talk, shiny objects and FauxTE. Verify, Verify, Verify
Good Luck!

carbonpro

Politicker

Account Executive

Thanks for this response. And I think the desperation has crept in somewhat. Curious what the product was at your old fintech company? No need to give away the shop ;)

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Just don’t starve. It’s often easier to find a job when you have a job.

Best of luck to you!

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Anything you can get, take it. If it is BDR role for now I am sure you will get promoted quickly enough.

TheSDR

Old School Bravo

SDR Leader

It depends on what you need. If you join an early-stage company, go for an AE role. But if you join a more established company, a BDR position is fine, especially if you like the company and the career path is clear.
Returning to a BDR role is perfectly okay, it's not a step backwards. It's better to join the right company in a BDR role than to take an AE position at a shitty company.

Tres

Politicker

Account Executive

If the company is good, then yeah. You should be able to crush it from the start as a BDR with your experience

wolfofmiami

Opinionated

🐺

Always move forward

Armageddon

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

Sometimes to takes a step back to take two steps forward. Be picky about the company you join (as a BDR) you have experience and that is an asset to the company, so you're in the drivers seat

LMHandle7

Personal Narrative

Sales Director

You can always get a SDR/BDR role that offers more than what you got earlier..shoot for the stars!

ppg

Catalyst

All around good guy

Bravado Flex in the meantime?

FinTechAE

Valued Contributor

Accountexecutive

Some of my biggest times of growth were from BDR roles. If you find a reasonable BDR role at a good company take it. Look for opportunities to learn. It’s easier said than done but, the title should mean nothing. Grind your ass off as a BDR as many times as you need to and eventually you’ll end up being one of the most valuable AEs out there.

commissionaccomplished

Good Citizen

VP Sales and Account Management

I think this is a be thankful you have a job market. An SDR role at a company that would allow you to hit consistently and move up in 2-3 years is pretty solid IMHO.

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carbonpro

Go back to BDR after limited AE experience?

25 comments

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