champchamp

Certified Savage

Acclaimed Answer

SDR job with NO AE path

Hi Savages,

I got an offer from a company, salary is good, might be able to get an extra 5k.

It is an SDR role, the only thing that worries me is that it is a startup in a pre-monetization stage, therefore, there are no AEs at this time and do not know when they will open the position.

Here is my dilemma, I have around 1.5 years of SDR experience. I am really looking for my next role to have career development opportunities as I don't want to all of a sudden have 35 years of SDR experience.

This company doesn't fit the criteria as there is no AE path, however, I have been stressed out as I got bills to pay and don't have another job right now.

I already let go of another role 2 weeks ago, and now I got this one, which although it is not perfect, I face the risk of starvation if I don't get a job soon haha, jk... kinda.

I thought about taking it in the meantime and keep looking for another role, which is easier to be patient about the right one once you have some good money coming in.

What worries me is that I was at my 1st company for 16 months, 2nd one for 6 months, 3rd...??

Do you guys have any advice?

💰 Compensation

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

13

26 comments

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Sunbunny31

Politicker

7

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Take care of yourself first. If taking this job keeps you off the street, then do it. Worry about the other details (longevity) after you've solved the immediate problem (being employed).

I'd also do what SaaSam recommends, which is to communicate that you want an AE role and that you're working toward that. If it looks like you'll need to make a jump to get to AE, you can continue to look for an alternate position while working at this one.

Best of luck!

champchamp

Arsonist

2

Certified Savage

Thank you. You are right, first things first. I think Ill test the waters to see if I can get 1 week more to consider it as I have other interviews coming up.

If they don't give me extra time I think I'll take the role and assess the situation once I see how everything develops. Thanks again!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Great that you have other interviews lined up! Ask for the extension and keep interviewing. Best of luck!

champchamp

Arsonist

0

Certified Savage

Thank you, Queen! Will do (:

SaaSam

Politicker

4

Account Executive

Take the job, make it known that you want to be an AE when you do. I personally really like startups. Some here fucking hate them.

I would take the job and continue my search. Nothing says you have to add these guys to your resume. If you find something in the next 6 months no sweat. You start to pass 6 months and maybe you should consider putting it on your resume.

You really don't need to put every job you've ever worked on your resume. Leave out the shit that might worry you.

champchamp

Arsonist

1

Certified Savage

Thank you, my brethren, appreciate that. That's a great point.

champchamp

Arsonist

0

Certified Savage

Question, if I omit a job and they run a background check, wouldn't it pop up?

SaaSam

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Depends on what they're checking for. Say they did and it came up. All you do is say you were doing some SDR work for a friend as a favor while you were job searching.

braintank

Politicker

2

Enterprise Account Executive

I think most background checks are for looking for criminal records and bankruptcies.

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Yup, checking to make sure you're not a risk.

champchamp

Arsonist

1

Certified Savage

Thank you, you're the man.

champchamp

Arsonist

0

Certified Savage

Great point, thank you tank

E_Money

Big Shot

3

💰

Risky move, but any startup will be a gamble. Either way if you work your ass off for a year you will still have a nice shiny star on your resume and can say you worked in a "fast paced dynamic environment" or you will grow with the company.

champchamp

Arsonist

1

Certified Savage

Great way to look at it, thank you

braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

If startup has no AEs and is "pre-monetization" what do they need an SDR for?

bandabanda

Tycoon

3

Senior AE Mid Market

This is real sketch. Getting HR people to post their jobs there sounds even more sketch.

I'm in conversations with 2 Series A companies right now, both with solid rounds but I'm still vetting the hell out of both of them (talking to current reps, previous reps, etc.) And I'm working at a Series A right now. I wouldn't even consider this frankly.

If you absolutely need this job to keep from going dead broke, I understand. But there are plenty of SMB AE jobs out there you could go for. Even Enterprise BDR roles. If you're good, you won't be a SDR for 35. years. Whip ass, make the case to get promoted within 8-12 months.

champchamp

Arsonist

1

Certified Savage

They want SDRs to sign people up for the platform for free. It's recruiting tech so I'll need to get HR people to post their job openings there basically.

So, it doesn't have to be the whole company doing it but it can be an individual person.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

2

🦊

Do what you gotta do til you find something else.

champchamp

Arsonist

0

Certified Savage

Thank you, I think i'll take it and keep interviewing. Might leave the company in 2 weeks if any of my upcoming interviews offer something better

Pachacuti

Politicker

1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

So you’re telemarketing?

If there are no AEs, who are you supporting?

champchamp

Arsonist

1

Certified Savage

Myself haha. I gotta get them to sign up for the platform, which is currently free.

Corpslovechild

Politicker

0

Inbound Sales Manager

leave, no promotion...... why stay

champchamp

Arsonist

0

Certified Savage

I don't plan on staying long if I don't see any opportunities for growth.

countingmyinterest

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Take the job to feed yourself and keep a roof over your head, but I'd keep applying.

Do as sunbunny31 said - apply, but inquire about AE path. If it's an early stage company, they're usually pretty happy to help you achieve your career goals. Results may vary.

salesboi22

Politicker

0

Head of Growth

Who is playing the role of AE's? The CEO, VP of Sales? I'm sure they plan to add AE's as they grow and you should be first in line, unless they plan to go outside. Ask all of those questions and have the conversation.

I was the first SDR where I'm at and our VP of Sales was the sole AE. We then brought in two experienced AE's and then I was the 4th, I had been an SDR for a year there when I got promoted. Now I'm moving into a sale manager role to run our AE team. So it's worked out for me, but I was also prepared to dip after six months if we weren't.

Especially if you don't have a role today I'd take it and make sure you get some equity.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

0

Professional Day Ruiner

if they don't have any AE's right now who are you setting meetings for as an SDR? seems odd to me they would have one and not the other.

Paying your bills is important. Do an analysis on how long you can make it before accepting an offer is a must, not an option. And keep looking for the right fit until then. Don't take a job that isn't what you want unless you absolutely have to. Job hopping isn't the best look in future interviews so avoid it if possible. But obviously don't go hungry to avoid it either.

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