If you've done it, would love to hear your story!
Bonafidesalesguy
Is it possible to land an AE job at a new company with only SDR experience?
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Ya its possible but its more challenging. You will probably need to find a smaller startup with only a couple sales people that are willing to take a flyer on you. And one that is a full sales cycle role.
Most companies that have SDR teams aren't going to hire an external SDR into an AE role when they can just promote internally someone they have already developed.ย
Most companies that have SDR teams aren't going to hire an external SDR into an AE role when they can just promote internally someone they have already developed.ย
Was going to type basically exactly what @UrAssIsSaaSย said.ย
Depends on the types of companies you are looking at, but it is not impossible. I once took a senior SDR position to get my foot in the door and was promoted to a closing role within the quarter. So sometimes you will just need to swallow your pride and prove yourself.
Depends on the types of companies you are looking at, but it is not impossible. I once took a senior SDR position to get my foot in the door and was promoted to a closing role within the quarter. So sometimes you will just need to swallow your pride and prove yourself.
Agreed. I think the answer to this question is simply a follow up question as to what the type/size of the company the SDR is looking at next.
I was never a SDR ๐คทโโ๏ธ
Possible? Yes.
Recommended? Probably not.
Recommended? Probably not.
Not unheard of but extremely unlikelyย
Yeah it's very possible, I can also see someone walking into an AE position without any B2B sales experience too. I think it should be a requirement, it helps but not a requirement.
I was SDR, then SDR manager, and then found an AE job at a new company. I think it's certainly possible. As with anything, it's a numbers game
Remember one thing - "Nothing is impossible".
Most of us have graduated from SDR to an AE (except a few who directly became an AE).
Most of us have graduated from SDR to an AE (except a few who directly became an AE).
I am getting messages and offers for AE roles. Currently an SDR.ย
How are you doing it - any advise?
Absolutely.
How long have you been an SDR? Is there no upward momentum at your current gig? Have you had any mentoring from an AE currently too?ย
How long have you been an SDR? Is there no upward momentum at your current gig? Have you had any mentoring from an AE currently too?ย
Definitely possible. A lot of the SDRs I've worked with have left a more established public SaaS company and moved to a smaller start-up pre-IPO who is willing to take a chance on the experience you picked up. It's all about selling yourself and putting yourself in the best light/position.ย
Yes very possible if you have had some tenure in your current company and were nearing that progression stage.
I'd say so - particularly if you're applying to an SMB sales role and have been shadowing.ย It might be easier to get that vertical move within your current org, but if you'd like to explore external opportunities, I'd explore SMB and entry level sales rolesย
Yes. Tons of SMB roles that if you have if you interview well you can get a start in. My team has a few SDR brought right into AE role.ย
Yes. Had 6 months BDR experience, got the AE job. Look for full-cycle jobs with small deals, they hire anyone who can coherently speak in complete sentences.
Absolutely. Everyone has to start somewhere, and sometimes the fastest route to that next step is making an organization change. I made the jump direct from BDR/SDR many years ago to an AE with a early stage eComm platform that eventually took off and is now a leader in the space. If you have the ambition and can prove that you are coachable, there is no reason why you couldn't make such a move.
Depends.ย Are you good at being an AE?ย SDRs are often lured into their role with the idea of promotions and future riches only to learn that they really work in a role one step up from telemarketing.ย If I were an SDR I'd do anything I can to get out of that role and move into an AE role.
Being an SDR and then getting promoted to an AE at the same company has value as well.. learning the industry and how to get in front of prospects is important. If you plan on having a long term sales career, in some scenarios itโs best to be an SDR and pay your dues to get promoted internally.
Did it ~18 months ago from an SDR role..got a 3 month ramp period where they had me do an โSDRโ type of job while training.
Pitched them that I was going to be promoted within 3 months to an AE at my previous company (coulda been 3-6 months)..but being in SaaS for hospitality they cut 90% of our sales team (true story).
Long story short, yes you can. But it requires you to sell yourself hard- effectively earning that AE title by pitching your future value.
Pitched them that I was going to be promoted within 3 months to an AE at my previous company (coulda been 3-6 months)..but being in SaaS for hospitality they cut 90% of our sales team (true story).
Long story short, yes you can. But it requires you to sell yourself hard- effectively earning that AE title by pitching your future value.
two of my colleagues did it, but they technically had โclosing experienceโ since we were running the very small, minuscule deals by the time they left. so they just really harped on the fact that they WERE closing but it just didnโt translate to numbers or a title for them.
my advice is to see if youโre SDR manager or your AEs will start letting you run discoveries with them. not sure how they will play out but thatโs what we asked for and it was great practice.
my advice is to see if youโre SDR manager or your AEs will start letting you run discoveries with them. not sure how they will play out but thatโs what we asked for and it was great practice.
Yes it is possible. I think the biggest problem you'll face is knowing how to set appointments, prospect, build pipe in one industry, company vertical, etc. and not yet knowing how to sell. Setting appointments vs selling are different interrelated skillsets but not the same thing. And you'llย face learning new tech, process, industry, buyer persona, etc. anytime you switch orgs, but one of the biggest advantages to being an ADR, BDR, SDR somewhere is you know how the sales process works(theoretically), how / what the value prop is, and you have a leg up on building pipe. You also probably have an idea of some of the inside baseball played in the org.ย
I'm at a company now where a few inside AEs are being hired from roles with BDR experience and little to no closing experience and there is a whole pool of BDRs in pipe that are not ready to be promoted or haven't been for some reason.ย
I'm at a company now where a few inside AEs are being hired from roles with BDR experience and little to no closing experience and there is a whole pool of BDRs in pipe that are not ready to be promoted or haven't been for some reason.ย
Possible? Yes. But i agree with the sentiments above with regards to the challenges youre bound to face. The grass isnt always green, its brown all overย
I did just this. Worked at one of the largest B2B tech firms as SDR. Was promoted to Sr SDR, and was about to get interview for ADR/BDR position. Got fed up with the company and where I was living, and started to look elsewhere.
Found a smaller, pre-IPO company (~500 employees) that was going to start their first office in Europe. I applied and got in. My hiring manager said that I showed understanding of what is needed in calls to move deals forward, and they were using the software I was selling, which was a big plus.ย
I really struggled the first year. Lots of reasons, but it can be really tough to go to closer while switching company, and starting up a new office where there isn't too much guidance in what you need to do. Managed to turn it around, and I'd say the company puts a lot of trust in me, and listen to my ideas.
So it can definitely be done, you will just have to look to take a step down in companies, and find a match where a company might need to hire more for drive&grit rather than experience.
Found a smaller, pre-IPO company (~500 employees) that was going to start their first office in Europe. I applied and got in. My hiring manager said that I showed understanding of what is needed in calls to move deals forward, and they were using the software I was selling, which was a big plus.ย
I really struggled the first year. Lots of reasons, but it can be really tough to go to closer while switching company, and starting up a new office where there isn't too much guidance in what you need to do. Managed to turn it around, and I'd say the company puts a lot of trust in me, and listen to my ideas.
So it can definitely be done, you will just have to look to take a step down in companies, and find a match where a company might need to hire more for drive&grit rather than experience.
Possible yes, but you will need to put your big boy or big girl pants on in the interview. I made the jump from SDR to AE early on in my career and to be honest with you, it was rough. My only saving grace was that I had a phenomenal mentor that saw my potential and fought to bring me in at AE because he knew I would give him 110% every.fucking.day.ย
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