SalesGirlSadness

Account Executive

Leave or stay? Long post but want to give context

I currently am working as an Account Manager at a mid market private company. The account manager role is essentially SDR, AE, and AM all in one. we carry a monthly quota, and our metrics are 100 dials a day & 10 meetings a week. I live in a big city but my base is under what other companies in our industry pay.

I recently got reached out to by a recruiter for a Series A startup, went through the interviews and got a job offer. The base is 5k more, metrics are about half of what I'm doing now, I would be a true AE, and there's a clear path to career advancement unlike where I am now.

I've never worked for a start up so I'm torn on what to do. I've only been at my current company 9 months, and for our company as a whole it's been a shit show the last 5 since we made our most recent acquisition. I wouldn't say I'm totally unhappy, but I definitely don't want to be at my current job long term. But, I'm also doing really well at my current role and have been 190% quota YTD since July.

Do I have room here to negotiate salary? Pros and cons of a start up vs mid market? Is it worth changing jobs? Could I wait until I've been at my current company at least a year and then find something better? HELPPPP

Should I….

Attached poll

stay at my current company longer take the new job offer

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🎯 Career Development

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

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20

26 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

5

🦊

Try something new! Yolo.

desperado

Politicker

2

Head of Sales

If you’re in a shitstorm right now I’d take the new role. You can negotiate a higher salary at any time, but make sure you use the correct approach when asking for more. Also, since there’s no clear career advancement path in your current company, that’s a huge red flag. Startups, to me, are much more fun that working at MM or large companies. If it’s a series A, ask for equity too.

InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

2

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

Honestly, just from reading your post, it doesn't sound like you're loving your new place. I didn't notice anything positive at least.

Being a little apprehensive of change is normal, but definitely worth branching out!

Always room to negotiate with either company.

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

1

Exec Director, Major Accounts

Based on what you’re writing, you’re not in love with where you are, or what you’re doing.

if you’re going to make the switch, tell them you need more base to make the jump as you’re performing well.

Always ask for a bit more on base, but do it politely. “We’re close, but the number I had in my head is X”. Usually they will come up a couple bucks.

RedLightning

Politicker

1

Mid-Market AE

I recently left a role where I was having that type of BDR, AE, and AM role. Personally, I felt it made me good at every aspect but I couldn't put the time in to be great at any single one. Also, the more you close the less time you have for new biz.....

I can't tell you what to choose, but you're looking at a jack of all trades route vs a master of a few

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

0

Rolling 20's all day

Damn I feel that. My current role is AE, AM, and Customer Support...

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

Depends what your goals are. Seems that's you're happy there, over achieving your targets + willing to be there short term. Given your scenario, I would try to work in the same place for couple more months to see there is any career progression.

I am sure you will also be reached out by other recruiters whenever you have made up your mind 100% about the switch.

jefe

Arsonist

0

🍁

Seems like you should get out for a bunch of reasons... No clear path, unhappy, grinding every day with really high metrics.

It can still be a tough choice though, so best of luck!

Wellss

Tycoon

0

Channel sales

I would take the new role! If your only concern about the new company is that it's a start up, then I think it sounds like the better option overall. I'm at my second start up now & can honestly say I've had a positive experience with both, although I do know every company is different.

RandyMoss

Politicker

0

Account Executive

There are always going to be growing pains at a startup versus working at an established company. Based off of what you have written here, it sounds like you've made up your mind to leave already. Doing well in a sales role doesn't always translate into happiness and career satisfaction, especially if you are describing your own company as a "shit show."

I know people say that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, but if you are at 190% in your current role, you should have no problem interviewing well and getting a new job if you find yourself jumping into a pot of boiling water at this potentially new company. I'd say go for it, especially if they've offered you the job already. You can always try to negotiate salary if you want - the worst they can say is no. Do they know that they are offering you $5k more than what your current base is?

turtlefan007

Tycoon

0

Account Executive

Sounds like a tough choice - but you never know til you try.

I once left a role for a $5K DECREASE on base because the commission structure seemed promising.

Long story short - the new role was not what I thought it would be and I ended up losing money.

But I learned a lot in the role, and the title/experience gained in that role helped me land my current role which has me on track to make about 2-3x as much as I made previously.

Like everything else in life, it is all about how you react to each new situation.

I'd also close in saying TRUST YOUR GUT.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

1

Rolling 20's all day

Are you me? Lol
But to add to this, don't jump out of pressure/haste. Jump with calculation and as much qualification (of the new company) as you can.

wholesumdimsum

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

Damn, this is me right now. I left a SDR role and accepted my current AE role that had a lesser base because the comms structure seemed promising! TLDR it didn't turn out as expected and like you, I'm also losing a ton of money.

How long did you take before you left the role?

turtlefan007

Tycoon

0

Account Executive

I was in for 2 years before I finally got out.

But I learned a lot about myself, and used my time there to develop other skills.

wholesumdimsum

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

You could tolerate it for 2 years? How?!

Can you share what are some things you learnt about yourself, and what skills did you develop in that time?

turtlefan007

Tycoon

0

Account Executive

Well just as I started looking for another role - about a year in - I had a health issue come up that took me out of work for a couple of weeks, and the company supported me in my time off.

It was actually a great company, but just not a great fit for me.

But anyway, I focused on other aspects such as marketing, copywriting, video and image editing.

I could do this in that role because that was part of my duties.

In your case, you could try learning new things you would usually never do in another sales role since you have nothing to lose anyway.

Test unusual prospecting strategies and stuff...

Thoughts?

wholesumdimsum

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

Sorry to hear that, hope you're well now!

Yea my current company actually has a pretty cool product, but it's not a great fit for me too. Why was it not a great fit for you btw?

And yea! I've been learning new things because my team is really lean, so I work very closely with the product and marketing team and have helped with new product features and increasing inbound leads =)

turtlefan007

Tycoon

0

Account Executive

One of the reasons it didn't work out is I did not like or vibe with the industry (condominium renovations and restoration).

It was limited by geography.

I never got to speak to decision-makers (only gatekeepers).

Even if I did speak to decision makers, their decisions are price-based in 99% of the cases, as anything that exceeds their project budget means everyone in their building's monthly fees increase.

And since nobody wants to be voted out or have to face their neighbors after a fee increase, they typically pick the cheapest contractor.

And lastly, it's a really small industry so the politics and shady stuff (kickbacks, etc...) are rampant.

--

It sounds like you've already found a great solution to develop yourself though - which probably makes it more tolerable, right?

LordBusiness

Politicker

0

Chief Revenue Officer

Negotiate the hell out of your salary, it’s a tough market for employees right now. I think you could likely get that base salary up another $5-7k.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

0

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Take the offer. There will be more startups.

wholesumdimsum

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

Same here, I don’t like and don’t vibe with the industry (selling to accounting people firms). My company wants to increase market share so they’re willing to have a price war as long as deals can be closed. I dont think that’s right, but who am I to judge 🥴 I’m someone that assesses “vibes”, the vibes in my company are dead as much as I’m involved in marketing and product lol. I just feel bored at work and unmotivated, which makes it hard to tolerate being here. Part of me wants to restart as a SDR in a big firm but that’s a huge gamble also because firms have a tendency to hire externally and I’ll then be back in the dilemma of thinking how to move to an AE.

Jbeans

Opinionated

0

Director of Sales

I literally just went through this. I asked too many of my friends family to help me and it only confused me. I had a great offer on the table, and was 100% prepared to take it, but I didn’t feel excited?What I really wanted was to effect change in my current role. I rolled the dice, resigned -told them I had another offer - and they countered me to stay. Led to a big discussion and positive change. And more money :)

I asked myself what I really wanted, made a list of pros and cons, prioritized things -ie how important is flex schedule to me, future growth, money etc, and took a risk on myself for the win.

don’t let others good opinion sway you bc only you have to live with the choice!

draculina

Fire Starter

0

process development specialist

A li’l story here. Back in January 2021, a competitor company hit me up with a position that I didn’t consider before. I was in sales support, they wanted me for operations. We had the interview, and even in the middle of that I had to send a work email over my phone, my workload was that insane. I loved my then-current company, I liked my colleagues, my management. Granted, I was frustrated with the upper management treating us like second class citizens with the workload etc, but they gave me my career. So I asked for literally twice of the salary I made at the then-current company. In the case they would reject, I still had a job and was applying to other places anyway. I had no experience in what they asked of me, by the way, and I didn’t hide it from them. At the then-current company, I was about to get promoted. It was supposed to happen in April 2020. Then postponed to September 2020. Then to January 2021. And in January 2021, they told us our promotions were postponed, yet again, to April 2021. The very same day my promotion was postponed, I got the call from the competitor. They couldn’t give me exactly twice, but they got too close to that. I asked for some time, even though I was gonna say yes, then consulted with everyone - including my own line manager. I said yes. And man my life is so much better. Yeah, my line management now is shit, but I’ve got my hair back - and I could actually afford a fucking car. Tldr: say yes.

Jewcan_Sam81

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Leverage the metrics you have into a higher salary. Not only that, but since they reached out to you the deck is stacked more in your favor. Passive job candidates can always ask for more money and better benefits. You could even say that you’ll do it if they match your current commission check amount as a signing bonus so you don’t lose out on money owed if that’ll be an issue

pinkiesup

Catalyst

0

AE

100 dials a day? what the fuck! I'd leave ASAP

Fenderbaum

Politicker

0

Retired Choirboy🪕

Take a chance!

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