Is it generally best practice to upgrade internally from SDR to AE, or to make move directly to SMB or Commercial AE at another company?
Seen both happen, would like your opinions
ScorpionZD
Jump from SDR to AE in another company
15
Getting an AE job without AE experience is near impossible. Grind it out internally and get that promo then put 1+ year in and KILL IT then start looking
Exactly. It’s not about best practice, it’s about what’s realistic
There’s no “best practice” per se. Instead do what’s best for you. Some companies have a clear path from SDR to AE; others do not. It can be a benefit to move from SDR to AE in the same company - after all, you already know the product, the company MO, and where to find resources; on the other hand, the promotion path may get stalled or be non-existent, or lead to a role you don’t really want, in which case, looking externally may be the better path. This is something you’ll have to sort out for yourself based on your goals and what your company offers in relation to those goals.
Ideally, you’re promoted while entertaining offers from outside orgs. But on this earth, it’s really tough to move out without prior experience or move up when you’ve got an internal label. You gotta pound all avenues.
Be open for both - grab what’s comes first
If your only sales experience is as an SDR, even in the best of job markets it's going to be tough to get an external promotion. In this job market it's going to be even more difficult. There are a lot of seasoned AEs out of work right now, many of whom will be going after the same AE jobs you will be.
Your best bet is to network, and maybe even focus on competitors of your current company because it will be the easiest way to demonstrate that you can sell for them (since you'd already have experience in the space). But it's going to be difficult until the market turns around.
Your best bet is to network, and maybe even focus on competitors of your current company because it will be the easiest way to demonstrate that you can sell for them (since you'd already have experience in the space). But it's going to be difficult until the market turns around.
Its been my experience, and I have said so often here, that to move up you often need to move out. You get categorized as a certain thing (SDR, IC, AE, AM, etc...) and can't move out.
Dude. Use the search bar. This topic has been pickled to death.
No you
No you
Internal promotions are the best path for success, you know the talk tracks, right people to lean on, and a solid baseline understanding of the product.
You'll need to focus on process more than anything else when you get bumped and you're not drinking through a firehose anymore.
You'll need to focus on process more than anything else when you get bumped and you're not drinking through a firehose anymore.
I've done it. My SDR role required heavy qualification before we could get an AE aligned, so I found myself well prepared to run an intro call and qualify the opportunity at the new company as an AE.
I would focus on honing in these skills while you're an SDR. Even if your comp plan just tells you to get a living body on a call for your AEs, take ownership into your own hands by qualifying the meeting as best you can. Learn about their pain, gaps, needs, timeline, and other stakeholders so you can pass that information along to your AE. It will make you a better AE down the road, it will better prepare your AE for the meeting, and it will set you apart from your peers for internal promotion eligibility.
It always looks better if you can make a jump internally, as you do not need to learn product + deal strategy at the same time. But the latter can definitely be done.
Good luck!
I would focus on honing in these skills while you're an SDR. Even if your comp plan just tells you to get a living body on a call for your AEs, take ownership into your own hands by qualifying the meeting as best you can. Learn about their pain, gaps, needs, timeline, and other stakeholders so you can pass that information along to your AE. It will make you a better AE down the road, it will better prepare your AE for the meeting, and it will set you apart from your peers for internal promotion eligibility.
It always looks better if you can make a jump internally, as you do not need to learn product + deal strategy at the same time. But the latter can definitely be done.
Good luck!
Thank you, yes I’m not super keen at becoming an AE where I am now. And definitely not wanting to be an SDR again
No such thing as best practice. Sounds like you're in a pickle? If I loved my company, I'd want to stick around and get that promo. The later only happens when people are unhappy and/or their company hardly does internal promos.
If you want to get an AE job outside of your company, you need to have a substantial experience as an AE or doing the work of an AE within the company you are in. Once you have enough stuff to talk about as an AE in the current company, you can then start looking outside of your company for better hikes.
Both happen I think internal could be a bit easier
Sometimes you have to back yourself, get a clear list of strengths and areas to improve then when searching for a new role make sure you look for mentors and managers that can help you enhance or improve all those areas.
most of the time i see internal promotions get like 50% less money, which leads to distrust and resentment seeing new AEs making more for the same job
I see you post a lot of old questions 👀
If you can prove to people that you are the best for the job, you can do it.
Make sure your resume is outcome driven.
Make some videos or blogs about what you do, can do, and how you would manage your territory.
Do the job before doing the job.
Make sure your resume is outcome driven.
Make some videos or blogs about what you do, can do, and how you would manage your territory.
Do the job before doing the job.
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