sadguy

Moving down the ladder due to the market (AE->SDR)

Would love to hear thoughts from any folks who have been laid off from there AE roles and are considering moving down to an SDR just to land a job.

I was 6 months in to my full cycle SMB AE role and performing well before my company let us go. That was in September. Now every AE role I apply for I don't have enough closing experience and they want SMB reps to have 2 years of closing experience. 100's of seasoned AE's are competing with roles I am seeking and at this point I just need health insurance and some sort of paycheck.

Has anybody else moved "down" the ladder to an SDR role due to the saturated talent that is on the market. Im looking a significant pay cut and transparently a blow to my ego, but I also have to eat.

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Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

There have been a few posts on this topic. There is nothing wrong with “moving down” in order to just get a job or get in the door to a company where you want to work. Especially if you really need the insurance or you’re providing for a family. Don’t let your ego or pride get on the way here.

Good luck in your job hunt!

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

I'm in a similar boat as you, but I was an AE at a startup with no set market segment, so I sold to SMB, but also Mid-Market and Enterprise. Got some great logos for those guys before they laid off the whole sales team in October.

In any case, getting another AE job has been very difficult, so I applied for SDR jobs along with AM, and Customer Success roles (and AE of course). Luckily I was able to land an AE job, but unfortunately at a huge cut in pay (went from $75k base/$150k OTE to $50k base/$80k OTE). I'm still applying and interviewing at other places in hopes that I don't end up stuck here. But yeah, the market is really rough, especially for those of us without a ton of SaaS experience.

Anyway, I don't have any concrete advice, other than to say that getting another AE job isn't impossible, but it may be at less money than you were hoping for.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Land a SDR job for the time being and then keep applying to show that company why you should be an AE anyway. It's going to be rough, but do what you need to.

SaaSguy

Tycoon

Account Executive

IME, my company often hires SDR's to become full cycle SMB AE without any closing experience. They also totally dangle the carrot of starting back as an SDR to join the SMB AE team down the line for some candidates. Fight for the AE role or take another one elsewhere. I personally would never recommend stepping back into an SDR role once you reach a closing role because ive seen many people crush it as an SDR become an AE, then take a SDR role at a better company as a way in and then fail. They then take another SDR job somewhere else and the cycle kinda repeats itself and its a couple years before they are closing again.

Lambda

Tycoon

Sales Consultant

Finding the right company and moving down the ladder isn’t always a bad thing, you get to see everything from the ground up

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Take the SDR role for the pay check, but continue to look. You need to look out for yourself, but not undervalue your skillset

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

so i would agree staying an AE would be preferred. but going down to SDR out of necessity is NOT a bad thing.

Remember, this ONE career decision WILL NOT determine the fate of your entire career.

i know it may seem like it will, but it wont.

get the best job you can get. if its SDR then so be it.

Armageddon

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

just commented on another post about this. If thats what you gotta do its what you gotta do. Just go in and be the best SDR and fast track yourself back up. Also, make sure you're going to a top company if that skill set

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I would take the SDR but only to pay my bills and would keep actively looking for an AE role

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Best of luck to you - you have to do what's best for you for now. Being employed is better than being unemployed. That next AE job is going to happen, even if it's not this time around. But keep applying and see what happens.

Cafe.con.Leche

Executive

SDR

I was in a hybrid AE / SDR role for a small media agency with straight commission earnings. The deliverables and management left a lot to be desired to say the least so I began looking elsewhere.

I went into a company as outbound SDR, but its a more stable startup in SAaS / Fintech with clear promotion and compensation packages.

I “lost” the AE title lol, but gained a lot more at the end.

GingerBarbarian

Opinionated

Lead Sales

Dont let it hurt your ego too much. Remember that SDRs and AEs are very different skills sets. Not all sales are the same.

SDRs are hunters. They go out in the world and find food from nothing.

AEs are fishers. They get a pond stocked for them and have to reel them in.

Both put food on the table, but the skill set is different. Going from SDR > AE > AM is like going from hunter, to fisher, to farmer. Just because someone is good at one is no indicator that they will be good at others.

These roles should not be "laddered" in my mind. I believe each should have similar compensation and and we fill the roles based on what each person is best at

ASP23

Good Citizen

Founder

I think it depends on what kind of SDR role and for how long you were an SDR previously (if you were). Sometimes a step back can help you build a good foundation to perform even better in another role.

However, you were performing well as an AE so you're in a different boat, but sometimes you need to pay the bills and a good SDR role is a very respectable role.

Nairobi

Politicker

I would take an SDR role until things cool down and then apply aggressively for an AE role when things open up. Like people said, you gotta do what you need to. Good luck!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

I don't know that I'd 100% consider it moving down. Yes SDR work is repetitive and tedious. However, SDR's are being comped far better than what it used to be because companies are better understanding their value. additionally if the SDR role at the new org is being setup to promote to AE on a clear path then it is a great opportunity for you. I wouldn't get too lost in the title if I were you.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

I personally wouldn't take the step back.

kelvin26

Fire Starter

administrative manager

https://timebrookinvestment.com/u/sign_up?r=kryptotitan

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sadguy

Moving down the ladder due to the market (AE->SDR)

17 comments

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