Receiving AE Offer at separate Company with limited experience. Advice?

The gist of this is the title, but some more background is below.


I am a pretty young guy who currently works as a Client Success Manager at a managed service provider. I also do account management. Been in this role for a couple years now and it is my main experience in the world of sales.


I like to think I am pretty good at what I do and see myself going down the path of sales deeper in the future, however my current experience is limited to this industry and the smb space.


I received a verbal offer, going to review the official offer tomorrow for an account executive position in what would be a foreign industry to me. It would be in freight, selling current & new customers on LTL (less than truckload) freight.


It sounds pretty straight forward, has a 6 month or so onboarding but I have a lot of concerns. Only expected to land a few sales a week, relatively small pipeline expectations and sounded like a fair amount of the team was hitting their numbers.


It is a significant salary increase, solid benefits, kind of mediocre commission but the experience would be awesome.


I am mainly seeking advice from those that have went this route? How is it? Is it a good start to take that next step? If I am not ready, is it career suicide to jump into an AE role without proper SDR experience?


Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

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10
DevSomeBiz
Valued Contributor
4
Senior B2B Sales Guy.
"SDR" is a new thing. They started to appear about 10 years ago. You know those old grizzled guys on your team who are making $400k a year? Those dudes were never SDRs. They were thrown into the deep end, death or glory.

Take the job. Don't screw it up.
jefe
Arsonist
3
๐Ÿ
THIS. SDR wasn't a thing I'd ever heard of when I got into B2B sales in 2011.

I think it existed in silicon valley/at some major tech companies, but it's not necessary.

I'd say go for it, @cornfedconnor
cornfedconnor
Contributor
2
CSM
Appreciate the response and insight. Had no idea it was a newer position.

That is the plan. It'll involve some relocation but seems like too large good of an opportunity to pass up. I've just heard mixed things on working in freight.
DevSomeBiz
Valued Contributor
2
Senior B2B Sales Guy.
Yeah, I know nothing about the industry, I'm just speaking at a macro level.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
As an old grizzled sales vet who never was a BDR/SDR - yup.

Many AEs are expected to be able to cold call and overcome objections. You don't need to do this in a grinder in order to be able to do it as an AE. With a 6 mo onboarding, I hope there's plenty of opportunity to learn and be confident in the value prop of what you're selling. Good luck!
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
3
Rolling 20's all day
Make sure they have at least a halfway solid onboarding, but if you're willing to learn and put in the work then go for it!
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Best I can tell you to do is reach out to a few current AEs and check it out.
TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
you do NOT need SDR experience to be an AE. that is just something the software industry created.

its also totally normal to feel like you are not ready. when you feel like you are ready, then you will be over qualified.

take the jump, get that title and get that FAT base!!!
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
Check Glassdoor/Rep Vue
cornfedconnor
Contributor
0
CSM
Good idea on Rep Vue. I'll revisit Glassdoor as well, the reviews I was seeing didn't give a ton of insight as to their positive/negative feedback. I'll look harder.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
๐ŸฆŠ
You don't need to be a SDR first boo. Go for it. Good luck!
ChumpChange
Politicker
0
Channel Manager
Fail up! At the very least, you'll get the pay and the experience and you can always leverage that as you continue to grow your career.
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