shoesalesman

AE (Account Executive)

Valued Contributor

Is loving your company enough of a reason to stay?

I am new to SaaS and have a year at a small startup that I absolutely love.

I was hired on as the first SDR, promoted to SMB AE 6 months later, and Mid-Market AE about 3 months ago.

I of course am bias - but I have done a LOT of self education since joining a year ago and I feel that I am a capable AE with solid fundamentals.

Two VP's (Sales & CS) have left in the past month, and I am starting to get the feeling the ship is sinking - or at the very least off course.

I don't know that there is a product market fit, and my concerns are:

A) Do I have enough experience to hop ship?

B) Will I have to take another SDR job and work my way back up?

C) Should I stay for the AE experience even if there isn't a good PMF?

For context, nobody is meeting anything close to their quota.

I am happy to clarify anything or provide details - just struggling with my decision.

🎯 Career Development

26

39 comments

Sort by:

TennisandSales

Politicker

13

Head Of Sales

A. YES. you have enough experience
B. no you should never take another SDR job and if anyone tells you otherwise, run.

C. I would start putting feelers out there and see what traction you get for other AE roles.

TONS of companies understand the start up world and how things fail.

I would just have a good answer to "Why are you looking to leave"

Feel free to share how would answer it if you want feed back.

SalesOctopus

Valued Contributor

4

Enterprise Business Development Representative

Totally agree with all these points. Especially points A&B, you don't need to start as an SDR again. You put in the time and have enough experience to be an AE. You don't need to start from scratch and in fact might even be considered overqualified as an SDR.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

0

AE (Account Executive)

I never even considered that.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

2

AE (Account Executive)

I appreciate your insight.

I would answer it honestly, which is that I am worried about staying when leadership is jumping ship. I want to continue to grow and develop in the industry, and I feel like that won't be possible at my current company.

TennisandSales

Politicker

0

Head Of Sales

i think that is a good response. I would have a 2 reasons why you dont feel like its possible do grow at the current spot in case you get grilled on it.

aSaaSinator

Good Citizen

1

Sales Director

I agree. While companies love to hire people that have succeeded in exceeding their quotas, they also know that startups can be a really tough sell. As TennisandSales said, just be prepared to answer why you are looking to leave as well as why not meeting your quota is okay. Focus on the pipeline you’ve built, the story behind key wins, your rapid rise from SDR to Mid-Market AE in less than a year, etc. Companies will eat that up.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

2

AE (Account Executive)

This all makes a ton of sense, and I actually had two interview today that I used these tips in!

One was for a MidMarket AE at a large professional networking site ;P and one was for an SMB AE role at a top CRM platform.

Both went exceedingly well, so I will keep you all in the loop!

aSaaSinator

Good Citizen

0

Sales Director

That is fantastic! I look forward to hearing about your new position.

salessavant

Executive

0

SAE (Senior Account Executive)

100% agree with you

braintank

Politicker

10

Enterprise Account Executive

Leave. Your company doesn't love you back, trust me.. especially with no product market fit.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

0

AE (Account Executive)

Short and to the point, I can appreciate that.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

7

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Loyalty doesn't pay bills. Sounds like you have gotten a good start and an entry way into a career path that you enjoy. As others have said, start getting that resume out and get some interviews. With no product market fit, it's going to be a challenge to stay enthusiastic, and it would be a shame to struggle more than you need to.

Good luck!

shoesalesman

Opinionated

1

AE (Account Executive)

That make sense - I guess these are all the answers I was expecting, though not really the answers I was hoping for.

I appreciate the feedback

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Yeah, it's hard to quit something that has been good to you. But - it's evolving into something that isn't what you had when you started and ultimately sounds like a dead end.

cap

Opinionated

1

Enterprise Sales

I was loyal to a company for over 4 years then I doubled my salary by leaving.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

1

AE (Account Executive)

That's bonkers!

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

3

Officer of ♥️

Bounce. You will make more money and be more capable as an AE elsewhere. Reasons: management and quota

shoesalesman

Opinionated

2

AE (Account Executive)

I do honestly feel like I am lacking in mentorship here. I am (as I mentioned) adept at doing my own research/analysis on my calls and pipeline management - but you can only learn so much in a vacuum.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

From your title - my answer is hell no.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

1

AE (Account Executive)

Ha! Love it

DataSlangah

Politicker

2

SAE

Stay AE, believe in your skills, and keep learning. You can do the job.

Pachacuti

Politicker

1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

"Is loving your company enough of a reason to stay?"
Yes and No

To answer your questions:
A - yes
B - maybe, but hopefully not
C - If you are determined to leave, stay until you have the new job you want.

Good luck!

shoesalesman

Opinionated

1

AE (Account Executive)

I appreciate that. I guess my thoughts on restarting at an SDR/BDR would be that I would do so at a "Top 10" company to cut my teeth

Sourpatch100

Valued Contributor

1

Account Executive

A) Do I have enough experience to hop ship? 100% you have enough experience. Some small businesses and SaaS companies start and burn within 12 months, so you’re a vet a this point 🙃B) Will I have to take another SDR job and work my way back up? At a bigger company where you don’t have the equivalent closing experience you may need to restart, but the truth is if you can speak to your strengths and eagerness to bring in new business they’ll view you as an AE. C) Should I stay for the AE experience even if there isn't a good PMF? No, never stay for the experience, maybe pre pandemic but the job market is in YOUR favor. Recruiters are on the hunt and there are companies with teams actually hitting and surpassing quota.

Bonus:
If you are staying on the account of good leadership that’s one thing but there are companies who have both. Use your emotional intelligence and common sense to grow with the next company you feel good about and have a product you feel pumped to sell.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

0

AE (Account Executive)

I am not opposed to starting as a BDR/SDR at a larger company. I have no doubt I will be able to prove my worth relatively quickly, though I am also applying for AE roles at smaller public companies that seem like they would be good for development.

Sourpatch100

Valued Contributor

1

Account Executive

Love the openness to explore both roles. The right company will see that and place you rightfully in your AE seat. Go get em!

kSlay

Old School Bravo

1

AE (Account Executive)

The fact you have to ask this - which I can appreciate because I’m sure many of us here can relate - means you’re ready to spread your seeds and see where they bloom. It doesn’t hurt to look around because money talks, and if it doesn’t talk loud enough for you then ya gotta get out of sales. I go where the money goes, and that means a product I sell that there is a demand for and a future for.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

1

AE (Account Executive)

If I am applying for a new job (or 50) it will definitely be with companies that are more mature. There are things I like about early startups, but also a lot to be desired.

Jbeans

Opinionated

1

Director of Sales

Do you have another offer lined up? If not, no harm to look at what’s out there. Get a gage for where you are vs where you want to be or could be with a diff company.

In regards to starting at next job at the same role? Absolutely not imo. Only takes one yes to change the course of your career! Or even if you do? Doesn't mean you’d be stuck there- We hired an inside rep that we all know will be an account manager in under 6 months but the on-boarding in the Inside /bdr role is More extensive and manageable. Then we let her swim with sharks once she knows the lay of land. I’d ask the opp for growth with any new offer!!

sometimes we stay bc we are comfortable with what we know. And that’s ok too, but if you want growth and forward momentum you don’t have where you’re at? look out for yourself first always :)

shoesalesman

Opinionated

1

AE (Account Executive)

Probably my favorite response - but probably because it validates my original line of thinking 🤔

salessavant

Executive

1

SAE (Senior Account Executive)

Been there early and later in my career.

First thing is first, if you don't know there is a product/market fit - that would be reflected in the opportunities you are getting with prospective clients. Sounds like you're selling, don't always look at others leaving as a sign. The startup game loses key people to higher paying, more prestigious jobs all the time.

a) You didn't have experience and landed that job, a year later you do have more experience but might start lower somewhere else. Look at the long game.

b) answered in a) - you might but then again, I had my first director level position by proving my worth. Sell yourself

c) If you're selling, making money and being paid on time, stay. Is the company scarce on funds? Are they in the midst of a raise (seed, series A, etc.).

If nobody is meeting their quota then their maybe a leadership problem instead of a product/market fit problem.

Who's leading the ship? What impact are they making to the sales team?

I've left positions within a company solely because the value alignment wasn't there from the higher ups. A poor sales leader can kill product momentum very quickly.

SPT

Valued Contributor

1

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

This guy says leave.

shoesalesman

Opinionated

0

AE (Account Executive)

Jesus Christ

JohnnyDamone

Opinionated

0

AE Inside Sales

So you're not making any money and the product is a crappy fit? Yo you gotta bounce!

LightingLeader

Politicker

0

Specification Sales

Money talks or this little shit walks

Justatitle

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

No, money is.

10XQLA

Politicker

0

Medical Sales Assassin

Deuces......

666ABC

Good Citizen

0

RM (Relationship Manager) Director of Sales

Loyalty is fear and laziness disguised as positive trait. Believe me, if you think your company is dying, it is, and there will be no good to come of staying any longer on a sinking ship. I made this mistake, reasoning that things could get better, that people were leaving because they were afraid to stick it out until things turned around. They most often do not, and will not, so the clock is ticking, take the positives with you to your next role, they will understand why you left. Unless they never paid you, you owe your current employer nothing. Loyalty is never rewarded by employers. Don’t think that they will notice, they won’t, and even if they do, they won’t reward you for it with anything more than a pink slip and a pat on the back when it comes time to end things.

andrea

Valued Contributor

0

Global Head of Partnerships

Corporate loyalty doesn't exist anymore. Companies would always replace you if they found someone better, why wouldn't you do the same if you found a better opportunity?

A) It's never too early or too late to hop ship - yet, you should do it rationally and make sure you don't end up in the same situation again.

B) Don't go backward - unless it's an opportunity of a lifetime with a very clear progression path and where you can learn a lot.

C) Stay until you find something better. PMF or not, each new day at work can teach you something.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.