Hambalang profile picture
Hambalang profile picture

Hambalang

Enterprise AE

Politicker
Valued Contributor
Opinionated
+3

SDR Career Advancement

Got a call from my VP yesterday and was offered the chance of either becoming my team's SDR Manager or an AE! 

I thought about it for a little and told him I'd like to become an AE. Since I'm fairly young and new in my career, I thought it was important for me to get closing experience before I consider stepping into a management role. (Not even sure if I want to be a manager anyway.)

Did I make the right call here? What would be the benefits of becoming an SDR Manager? 🤔
🧠 Advice
🎯 Career Development
🚀 Career Goals
16

16 comments

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InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
6
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Can't speak to the benefits but think about what you enjoy. 

An SDR manager is about being able to take that step back from the limelight and focus on the teams success instead. 

If you love smashing quotas, win sensation and riding solo maybe AE route is better. 

Just my 5 cents. 
someoneinsales
Tycoon
3
Director of Sales
Closing experience will help everything in your sales career. You made a good choice and can always get into management with eyes wide open
desperado
Politicker
3
Head of Sales
You might be pigeonholing yourself if you don’t go AE. Something to consider
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
3
Account Executive
I'd choose the AE job if i was offered it. I'd maybe get into ops or management at a later date, but I'd love to have some closing experience. 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Did you make your decision?
Hambalang
Politicker
1
Enterprise AE
I did! Went for the AE promotion 🙂
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Congrats to you!
thegrinch
Politicker
1
SDR
Some people are better players, and some people are better coaches. Wayne Gretsky the best hockey player of all time sucked in a coaching role. So long story short, do what you're best at! 
HindsightHarry
Praised Answer
1
Account Executive
Depends if you wanna impress people at the bar tbh
LordBusiness
Politicker
1
Chief Revenue Officer
If your gut didn't instantly say "I can't wait to lead people" then you likely made the right call.  
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
To be fair, there are probably plenty of shitty leaders who feel that way as well.
DaveGreen
Arsonist
1
Head of Sales
First of all, congrats - that's awesome!

There's up- and downsides to both, the most important thing is to align it with your own goals - if that's not managing people (for now) you made the right choice. 

Talking from experience, I did the opposite and went down the managerial path, which was what I wanted. However a little further in my career I was managing AEs as well without much closing experience, which was hard. 

But in the end I figured it out and so will you if you ever want to get to the management side ;)
PhillySales
Opinionated
1
Director of Inside Sales
Good call, your perspective will help you if you want to manage later
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
AE is absolutely the right play. Way more future flexibility and you can always go the SDR manager route in the future.
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
0
Rolling 20's all day
Curious to hear how this worked out
Cyberjarre
Politicker
0
BDR
I don't understand why the prospect would be mad at you for that and say he'd never do business with you. Not like you were the one that did anything wrong.

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