youngsmoky

Senior Account Executive

Celebrated Contributor

Oh god it's my turn - what to do about my job?

I see posts like this all the time and now it's my turn.

Current job: Solid product - best on the market by far. Necessary for performance marketing and lead generation. It will definitely blow up/ get acquired within 3-5 years. In-office, $52k base, earned $66k last year as the top performing AE. The owners have regressive views, think remote work is a sham, but also profit share so I could make up to 5 figures by staying a couple more years (allegedly).

Looking for: Remote or hybrid. I'm planning to move across the country this year and remote work is probably not an option with current job. I'm an Enterprise-Level Senior AE and I truly believe I can earn more but I don't want to start a new job and get immediately laid off in this climate. I'm terrified to lose my pipeline because I took a full calendar year to close my first solid deal here. But I believe that I've learned all I can learn about SaaS sales from my team at this point. And I'd rather join a new team than hire a coach out of pocket. But what if I'm wrong and get shit canned from a different sales team right away?

TLDR: I'm struggling because I think I've outgrown the team, but not the product. Anyone else ever felt that way?

Should I stay or should I go?

Attached poll

If I go, there will be trouble And if I stay it will be double (but for real) look for work or stay until you max out the $

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

🤷‍♂ Poll

🎯 Career Development

17

32 comments

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saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

14

Enterprise AE

66k earned as a Sr Ent AE top performer is so brutal, leave.

youngsmoky

Celebrated Contributor

2

Senior Account Executive

I know you’re right and yet I’m terrified to leave. Thank you for a kick in the pants.

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

1

Enterprise AE

most saas roles are 50/50 split, 50% base, 50% commission for your comp.
i.e. you should/could have made 104k for hitting your number, and getting 14k of commission over 12 months for hitting your number at your level is so below market - fight for yourself.
think of it this way, your base is 52k over 12 months, it took you 12 months to close one deal, why take home less than 52k for 12 months of work on a closed deal. i know deal size comes into this but your time is valuable.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

1

Rolling 20's all day

This is what an SMB AE should expect for OTE. Especially in SaaS. 6 fig base for ENT AE's is standard in SaaS

punishedlad

Tycoon

1

Business Development Team Lead

Remote work isn't the only regressive view your boss has. Compensating their reps seems to be top of the list...

youngsmoky

Celebrated Contributor

1

Senior Account Executive

Oh boy if only I could repeat some of the stuff I’ve heard them say…

JustGonnaSendIt

Politicker

1

Burn Towns, Get Money

100% - Criminally underpaid unless your product costs like $500 or less / deal.

coletrain

Politicker

8

Account Executive

You're a Senior Enterprise AE that all in is making less than SMB AE at base.
Like an Eagle, fly FAR away.

braintank

Politicker

6

Enterprise Account Executive

making less than an SDR

youngsmoky

Celebrated Contributor

1

Senior Account Executive

Oof it’s true.

Nairobi

Politicker

5

AE

Yes I'm shocked by the numbers as well, I'm a BDR and I make 75k base...

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

6

Sales Rep

Love the clash reference!
What stands out to me is$66k last year as the top performing AE. Is that 66k total or in commish?
Since I think its very possible to find a role with 66k base alone that is fully remote. It sucks to give up your pipeline, but if if the main motivators are remote and $$, I do not think it hurts to update the resume

youngsmoky

Celebrated Contributor

4

Senior Account Executive

God bless you. That’s total.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

4

Retired Choirboy🪕

.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

4

War Room Community Manager

Here's my 2 cents on this, @youngsmoky

- Your apprehensions about starting a new gig in this climate are understandable. Nobody wants to take a risk right now. Neither companies nor salespeople.

- $66k for a top-performing Ent. AE is a straight-up beatdown.They could've given you the chance to become a big fish in a small pond, but instead, they made you a guppy in a kiddie pool.

- Fear around losing pipeline is Sunk Cost. Think about a year from now, your pipeline will be even bigger, which means more reasons for you to not leave.

<TLDR> I see it like this: You're in the prime position to take the risk. JUMP SHIP!!! Let's effin' do this

Diablo

Politicker

3

Sr. AE

I would forget my solid pipeline and find a new job because I won’t earn anything better even after closing.

youngsmoky

Celebrated Contributor

1

Senior Account Executive

You’re so right. I have so few reasons to stay and yet I do because it’s comfortable. And most jobs pay better than the commission I could earn at this spot.

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

Yes, I agree. Not to bog you down but you deserve to earn much more as a Ent top performer. All the very best and hope you nail something more better :)

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

That is rather low pay for a us-based AE. But I don’t know your location or experience.

I ALWAYS keep my eyes open for opportunities. Been screwed too many times. You’d be wise to also keep some feelers out there.

TennisandSales

Politicker

2

Head Of Sales

I would at least start looking / interviewing. No need to leave you gig until you find something awesome.

If you don’t find anything awesome then just stay!

If you decide to stay i would talk to your boss and see if they would pay for you to get a coach or something like that if you think it would help

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

2

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Jump! Go ahead and jump.

Justatitle

Big Shot

2

Account Executive

Dude, they are dangling the carrot in front of you hoping to keep you on for cheap. the potential to make 6 figures in 4 years holds no water and stock is the furthest thing from guaranteed. I would rather take 150k with no equity than 80 with 2%.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

2

Sales Director

Look elsewhere. You got this.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

1

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

If you can sell and close, you can make a lot more.

salesking

Politicker

1

Manager of Business Development

You can make more are McDonalds... so leave

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

If you were making more money, it would be a tougher decision.
In this case, you're honestly not making that much as AE.
And nobody can tell the future. It doesn't hurt to be cautious and think through all the things that might go wrong, but to let that stop you from getting out from under a job that has gotten you where you are but that you've outgrown would be a disservice. Go get that new job.
Out of nothing more than curiosity, why are you moving?

youngsmoky

Celebrated Contributor

2

Senior Account Executive

We actually moved across the country a few years ago for my husband to finish school. We want to move back closer to family. There’s really nothing here for us.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Totally makes sense! You should find something better for you when you move. Have you started looking?

youngsmoky

Celebrated Contributor

2

Senior Account Executive

Just applied to a few on RepVue and LinkedIn!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

0

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Best of luck to you!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

I'd be looking friend.

astrob3

Good Citizen

0

Associate Account Director

What’s your average acv?

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