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champchamp

Certified Savage

Arsonist
Politicker
Acclaimed Answer
+7

Land AE job and leave in 6 months?

What's up savages,


It's me again, If you have seen my last post you already know a bit of the situation but here is a brief recap and more context.


Last role was as an SDR, interviewed and landed a job as an AE with a company that is just expanding in the US.


They said they will make an offer but asked to see my last paycheck, when I asked why they mentioned the following:

  • Corroborate the info I mentioned regarding how much I was making at previous co
  • Benchmark me in the system with people with similar experience
  • Offer the right package based on the previous to prevent discrepancies


There have been some challenges with this company:

  • Asked for last paycheck
  • Will be among the first 3 hires in the U.S. so will not have much support nor tools


I have a strong opportunity coming up next week as a friend (Director of Sales) referred me to his company for either SDR Manager or AE roles.


In case things don't work out with my friend's company (knock on wood), and I am only left with this company and they end up in fact lowballing me or ends up being a shit show.


Would it be a good idea to just accept the job and leave in 6 months but with AE experience?


Landing AE interviews with just SDR experience has proven very difficult, in fact, this is only the 2nd AE interview I've had. Next week would be the 3rd.


Which is why I am thinking about just landing this job, getting the AE title on my resume, and moving on if things don't move in the right direction after 6 months.


Any thoughts on this?

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30 comments

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poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
9
☕️
That move is a fast red flag to anyone looking at your resume. I’d be hesitant to talk.

Say no. Whatever you’re doing now is worth more than this absolutely shit practice that feels far too intrusive for a firm trying to expand to the US. Find another role and apply.
braintank
Politicker
4
Enterprise Account Executive
Amen. Don't subject yourself to this crap. Keep applying.
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
Will do, sir!
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
3
Officer of ♥️
Listen to father.
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
Thank you, I am! Got a great opportunity lined up for next week. Great company, great people, great growth, product, etc. and will have a friend in an upper management position, who also offered to mentor me whether I get the role at his company or somewhere else.

However, nothing is official yet, so although I'm excited and feel positive about this other opportunity I want to be prepared just in case. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst kinda thing, you know?
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
2
Officer of ♥️
while optimism is a great to have. be realistic. chances are u will get fucked.
champchamp
Arsonist
0
Certified Savage
About which one are you talking about?
braintank
Politicker
6
Enterprise Account Executive
With limited AE experience you don't want to be the pioneer selling in the US. You're going to be miserable and frustrated. Especially given this Busch league HR BS.

They even offering you any equity?
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
No equity it seems like x_x 

I've thought about that and a lot of potential red flags but also feel like this is my chance to prove I can close SaaS. My time to play with the big dawgssss, you feel me? haha
braintank
Politicker
6
Enterprise Account Executive
I'll try to put this as gently as possible. You're getting fucked with.

Let's say I'm an potential investor in this 1k person Indian tech company. They come to me asking for money to expand into the most lucrative market in the world. 

My first question is: Tell me about the team.

Their response: We're hiring @champchamp they have 18 months experience as an SDR and this is their first real sales job.

I'd get up an leave the room.

Again, not trying to denigrate you but how serious is this company if they're entrusting launching their business in the US to someone who's never been an AE before? That shows tremendous lack of forethought and strategy.

Hell I've been in sales for 15 years and I would feel ill-prepared to take this on.

Have they asked you to present a GTM strategy? Have they shown you theirs? 

Flip the script. Let's say lightning strikes and you're tremendously successful. The company becomes a unicorn and you're on the cover of Forbes. What is your reward? They're not offering you any equity and seem to be nickel and dimeing to offer you the lowest OTE possible. Does that seem fair given the tremendous amount of work and risk you're taking on?

I know you want to be an AE and I commend your efforts, but this just seems so ... off.
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
I appreciate the honest and thorough response, my man. I agree it seems off, they will send an offer today, I'll see what they come up with!
braintank
Politicker
0
Enterprise Account Executive
keep us posted!
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
I wouldn't even be considering the current role man. I'd move on.
champchamp
Arsonist
2
Certified Savage
Thank you, always nice to get advice from the one and only! The CuriousFox (:
Sellerguy
Opinionated
2
Sellerguy
Agree with PBC this is a red flag. Just pull Glassdoor AE comp ranges for your area and tell them you expect market rate. If they balk then it’s likely they were looking for ways to get you for cheap. 

the reality is, the whole point of moving from SDR to AE is to significantly boost your base and OTE. It has nothing to do with what you’re currently being paid, and never should be.

If they don’t want to pay up, in this insanely hot market, then it’s not even worth taking. What else will they skimp on or try and lowball once you’ve signed? 

Stay in your role, keep taking calls, and if it doesn’t work out with your friends company then leverage him (and even people you interview with) for referrals to others. Good people want to help. Good luck!
champchamp
Arsonist
2
Certified Savage
You're right, I will make a list of potential people that could refer me and reach out. Thank you for the advice man.
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
2
Officer of ♥️
that sounds like a bunch of corporate BS. beware. you need the proper tools and tech in place to succeed. nothing worse than dialing out of a useless CRM.
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
Definitely agree
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Fyi - I never tell them what I’m making. I tell them what I am targeting. Example - I’m targeting $100k base positions with a 50/50 split between base and OTE.
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
I like that approach, I just ended up fucking myself once because I asked 60K base for an SDR role which I thought was fucking dope as I was straight out of college, just to later find out that there were people on the team with 70k base 30k commission while I was on 60k base 15k commission.

Lesson learned and now I always go as high as possible while still being realistic, this one just caught me off guard as I was a bit hesitant to ask for more as I have never been an AE.

Anyway, they're sending the offer today so I'll see what they come up with
Pachacuti
Politicker
0
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I always tell them I can't share my compensation due to a Confidentiality Agreement but I am targeting $X OTE with a 50/50 split - so some other reasonable combination.  THEY can google the same stuff I can, so they know approximately how much they should be offering to get the right person.  And sometimes I have told them - the amount of $ you offer indicates to me (1) how serious you are & (2) the type of person you want in the role.  You pay more for A players.
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
Lol, I was literally anticipating that this exact question would be coming next from this exact guy, and sure enough…

The short answer is yes. 

People with your best interest at heart will say it is a red flag on your resume, and it certainly is. But it will not rule out most companies from being willing to hire you, and it certainly will not rule out all of them.

If you interview well, short of that very anal few companies that won’t hire unless you meet tenure requirements, this move will work out fine for you, especially if you are a new AE, or relatively junior position.  It starts becomes very risky the higher you move up the totem pole.  

The key is not to repeat this kind of move too often. Then your resume really is shot, and you’ll be in trouble.

Good luck
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
Fortune teller haha! Certainly not looking to repeat it too often. Especially since I've only held a few roles as I am early on in my career. Thank you for the advice, kind sir!
playerone
Politicker
1
Regional Account Executive
You could always say that the company wasn’t a fit and you gave it 6 months
champchamp
Arsonist
0
Certified Savage
Thank you, though. about this but don't know how well this response would be taken in general. I guess like everything, right? Some will be cool with it, some will not.
thadeuce
Opinionated
1
SDR (Sales Development Rep)
Hire someone on fiver to Photoshop your paycheck and inflate the numbers.

This is some pretty old school nonsense that I wouldn’t be interested in. But if you are desperate for the experience and your friends company doesn’t work or you might be stuck.
champchamp
Arsonist
0
Certified Savage
Exactly, I am hoping to not be in that situation so we'll see! Haha like the photoshop idea too
Hoopnip
Politicker
1
Commercial AE
If you’re based in CA it’s illegal to ask for W2 or paychecks. Lots of roles out there and this sounds like a possible disaster but I do agree with The Negotiator. It’s ok to get kicked in your teeth while your young and learn lessons from being burned. You only succeed in life from past failures….
champchamp
Arsonist
0
Certified Savage
I am indeed in California haha. It does sound like a possible disaster haha, but... I'll get an official offer today. Let's see what they come up with!
Aurelius
Member
0
SDR
Champchamp, I would love to know how things went. DId you receive an offer and did you take it?
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