I don’t want to be an AE

I, like many others, just changed jobs. I was an SDR and just moved to Another SDR role after a year.

I was very successful in my previous role (3.2 in qualified pipeline revenue) but I can't find my groove in this new role.

I'm not sure I want to do sales anymore, I don't find it rewarding or have the motivation.

I don't want to quit and have this blemish on my resume. 

The money is good but this is soul sucking nonsense work.

what options do I have?
🧠 Advice
🙏 Mental Wellness
☁️ Software Tech
18
braintank
Politicker
7
Enterprise Account Executive
Find something else? There's always marketing...
ADudeBeingAGuy
Politicker
7
Account Executive
Pretty sure the application could just be this post tbh
youngsmoky
Celebrated Contributor
7
Senior Account Executive
Use your current skills to land a different job! Network.

Start asking people in positions like Media Buying or Operations to chat. “I’m looking to use my sales and communication skills in a different role. Mind if I pick your brain/ ask you a few questions about what you do?”

Or talk to people like Talent Directors. Ask them where they would place someone like you in their company.

There are a ton of jobs that aren’t “sales” but would kill for your skill set. Like ecommerce buyers. Or advertising account managers.
Dovah
Opinionated
1
BDR (Business Development Rep)
Good feedback thank you
CanadianSales
Valued Contributor
3
MBA graduate
Consider Sales Enablement. It's between Sales and Marketing 
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
I am currently. That or revops.
LordBusiness
Politicker
2
Chief Revenue Officer
At the end of the day, everything feels like work, and some days that work feels soul sucking. Doesn’t matter what you do, if you are good at it, it feels painful. Sounds like your just in a funk, maybe talk to a therapist and see if there is a different root cause. (If you sell, and don’t have one, I’d highly recommend it)
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
I have a lot of mental health problems growing up. So maybe it is a good idea to invest in one.
SalesMama
Executive
1
Senior Account Executive
“Soul sucking nonsense work” sounds like maybe a company/culture fit… can you share more about why you feel sales is definitely not for you?
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
I think I’m better with face to face interactions. Just cold calling all day everyday is mind numbing. The culture is fine, it’s remote but can’t complain. I just don’t have conviction that what I’m selling will make a difference
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
3
SaaS Eater
Sounds like you're at a shitty company. 

Or, if you don't want to be in sales, leave sales and find something you care about. The money won't be as good but you'll probably be happier so depending on how you value those things, you'll end up ahead. 
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
1
Professional Day Ruiner
If you do better with face to face sounds like you want to be an AE. find an outside sales role and start meeting customers in person. There's also other in person sales models but they're generally B2C. Solar, real estate, cars, all things that come to mind. Important to note those are all also heavily dependent on a good economy. 
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
I’ve thought about solar but it gets a bad reputation. EV’s and electric vehicles have been a thought
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
1
Professional Day Ruiner
I almost took the leap and left SaaS for solar a few months ago. Them all being 1099 with no base or benefits is what steered me away. 
theRad1
Acclaimed Answer
0
Account Executive
I'm right there with you. Selling and working deals is cool... When there's deals to work. But most of the time I feel like a glorified SDR and it's shit work for sure. Call me crazy, but why the hell do people hire sales reps when there's next to no pipeline to support them? It's a lose lose.
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
2
Professional Day Ruiner
Being able to build your own pipeline is part of being in sales. Anyone can close an inbound lead. Going out and hunting for new clients who have never heard of you before, moving them through the funnel, and closing them, is what separates the good from the great
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
(1) Your resume is what you make it - you don't have to include your entire work history.  

(2) Why did you quit the old job?  Sounds like you were doing ok?

(3) Its often best to fail fast.  Figure out why this job isn't working for you and move to fix it.  That may be moving on or speaking with your mngt to see if there is another role in the company better suited (instead of AE, move to AM or CS).

good luck!
Dovah
Opinionated
2
BDR (Business Development Rep)
My manager left my old role basically leaving me in charge because I had the longest tenure. I had tried to facilitate conversations around how to become a lead, manager, or AE and they just patted me on the back and said keep it up. The pay was pretty bad for SDR standards. I was the only rep hitting quota. Multitude of reasons the biggest being that I didn’t feel there was room to grow and I wasn’t being trained.
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Don't build a career in something you don't like. Mind you, I don't think anybody LIKES sales. We do it, it pays well, it's one of most important functions, etc. But if you're going to hate it, do not keep going.

Also, being a SDR fucking blows. Being an AE is way better but it's stressful in its own way.
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
Can you expand on that?
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
How so?
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
How it is better and how the stress differs
finboi
Notorious Answer
1
Fi-nance
Remember that every job has its flaws.

That said, look for jobs that are at the intersection of:
Things you are good at
Things you like to do
Things you can get paid well for
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
why dont you want to be an AE? its for sure not for everyone but it can be incredibly different than the SDR world

Dovah
Opinionated
1
BDR (Business Development Rep)
I see this position just being more outbound jockeying for deals with competitors and customer service type shit
CatMom
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Be a stay at home cat parent 😸
Dovah
Opinionated
1
BDR (Business Development Rep)
Name checks out
Gasty
Notable Contributor
0
War Room Community Manager
Join Marketing.
Regret.
Join Sales.
Dovah
Opinionated
0
BDR (Business Development Rep)
A vicious cycle
IYNFYL
Politicker
0
Enterprise SaaS AE
Always can go to Account Management
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
0
Enterprise AE
Customer success / Account manager
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
Look around for other companies. Maybe it’s just not a product fit for you. Or look into adjacent jobs like deal desk
12

Do you still wear a full suit to your 1st meeting with a prospect, or is that completely dust now and feel like a used car salesman?

Question
21
7

Any SDRs that actually don’t wanna be an AE?

Question
13
21

When you were an SDR, what did you want to be?

Question
14
When you were an SDR, what did you want to be next?
65% Sales
14% SDR Manager
9% CX
12% Other
165 people voted