iamtheone

Enterprise SDR

Valued Contributor

Should I leave?

SDR here at a series B company, here is the rundown:

I signed a promotion and comp plan that said: if you hit 150% of quota, you will be promoted to senior SDR and then AE (respectfully after 2 quarters)

Well it’s now been 6 months and I’m going into the 3rd quarter and I hit both of the goals (158% and then 163% in back to back quarters)

for the first quarter they changed the rule to 200% a week before EOQ and said “do it again next quarter and it’s yours!”

then after the 2nd quarter they said we are now on promotion freeze company wide, because we will not hit 100% of our target

tl;dr i hit the goals they asked 2 quarters they asked and haven’t been promoted once.

im fighting internally with my manager to at least get the sr SDR position and I still haven’t heard back after follows ups and a month in

i know budget and tech is brutal right now…its tough because it I leave then I start all over again, but I now have zero trust in management.

the icing on the cake, my quota went from 25 SQLs to 40 SQLs with NO comp increase! They took bonus points away for adding multiple people to ops, and took our closed won % away too (our comp was really good for accelerators but the whole team believes this is why they raised quota so basically no accelerators, as zero SDRS in the past two quarters would have hit 40)

I have discovery call and customer success experience working deals through the enterprise level

I’m hoping to leverage this to maybe get a junior AE position somewhere

any advice is greatly appreciated

☁️ Software Tech

💰 Compensation

🧢 Sales Management

14

22 comments

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Pachacuti

Politicker

6

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Great performance numbers, congrats.

I wouldn’t rage quit here if I were you. But I would start looking at options to leave. They obviously don’t value you or there are things going on which you are not aware of. It’s time to sharpen the résumé.

iamtheone

Executive

1

Enterprise SDR

Thanks man. It just sucks to be a top performer at two companies, literally win awards and still got promotions taken under you. I left my first one on a rage quit because I didn’t have any accounts I literally burned them out. I found a company that solved this problem but now I’m seeing the promotion shaft again.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

5

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

So they keep moving goal posts, which I'm sure you've figured out is because times are tough. You personally may be excelling, but the company as a whole is probably struggling.

You could start looking for another role while continuing to work this one and see if you get any traction on the promotion. I wouldn't quit until you've secured something new, and I'd also not tell anybody there you are looking. See what's out there - there may be SMB AE that you're ready to take on. Do realize that SDR/BDR is a different motion than AE, so there will be a learning curve for you, which is why it's a shame you're not getting to that role within a company you're familiar with and a product you know, because that helps with the learning curve somewhat. That said, there's no reason not to leverage your experience and achievement to see if there's a role out there for you.

I'm curious as to what a "junior AE" is in your sphere.

iamtheone

Executive

2

Enterprise SDR

Yeah I never tell anybody I’m looking…and I agree I’ll see what happens but if I get another off it’ll be up for consideration. The product is amazing too it’s just expensive. They laid off an AE manager and like 7 AEs in the last 2 months. It’s a small company so I’m wondering if I even wanna be an AE here.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

The best reason to be an AE is to get that experience and have that title on your resume. And usually the easiest way to do that is to transition from SDR within the company. Even if it's a little dysfunctional from time to time.

But - if that's not possible, then certainly looking outside makes a lot of sense.

It's also far easier to sell something you believe in and is a good product. Question: is it a nice-to-have or a need-to-have? And is it in an expensive item in comparison to other solutions, or expensive because that's what the reps are hearing? (Really just curiosity speaking here)

iamtheone

Executive

1

Enterprise SDR

Nice to have 100%…very expensive 400-600 a month per license. Amazing product though. It’s a sales acceleration tool.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

0

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Assuming that this is a tough sell if the value can't be articulated and you can't point to ROI. Product can be great, but if there's no market fit, it's going to be a huge challenge.

RandyLahey

Politicker

4

Account Executive

Yeah; it's time to dip my friend.

Sorry you are going through this.

Polish up that CV, ask us for more advice, but I would actively be interviewing in your position. You're worth more.

iamtheone

Executive

1

Enterprise SDR

It’s tough man…this literally happened at my last company too…got shafted on a promotion and dipped. I’ve never missed a monthly or quarterly quota at either company. I feel like rage quitting for a 2nd time and being at a 3rd company would really fuck up my resume though.

RandyLahey

Politicker

0

Account Executive

I hear you brother. Rage quitting, I did once, and yeah it felt fucking amazing, but it burned bridges and was super annoying to get references sorted afterwards. Not worth it…

Nairobi

Politicker

3

AE

I was in that exact same spot last year and it sucks. I finally got my Sr BDR role after 6 months of fighting with my manager, stayed 3 more months and then left for another company. I got the higher base I wanted and eventually got my AE promotion recently.

How many years of experience do you have? I had 1.5 years of BDR experience with amazing stats with proof to back it up, but still managers wanted closing experience for SMB roles. So it will be hard to go from BDR to AE externally with the current market, but sill possible. Getting an Sr. BDR role at another company can also be an option for you.

oldcloser

Arsonist

3

💀

You’ve gotten great advise here. I’ll just add that your command of the game seems to be towering above others who already have the title. I happen to think your experience justifies a pure sales role. Go get you one ✊

RelationshipMaker

Opinionated

3

Head of Sales

In my experience, these carrot-danglers are the worst. They keep promising stuff to salespeople to get them performing at their best and then “oh, try harder and THEN you’ll get promoted/bonus/raise/3rd kid named after you.
Sorry you’re in this position. I’d give them one last shot and let them know this.
Then, it’s up to to you to leave or for them to deliver (seeing that you already have delivered).
In interviews, I don’t listen to the “possibility of a promotion in 12 months”, I make up my mind if the job is what I want and if the company is one that I can see myself at, regardless of role.
Good luck and congrats on the sales achievements to date.

Maximas

Tycoon

2

Senior Sales Executive

Tbh,I would seek somewhere else with a better comp plan if I were you.

iamtheone

Executive

0

Enterprise SDR

Do you think I could get an AE position if u have discovery and customer success XP. I just have never negotiated but I’m familiar with MEDICC.

iamtheone

Executive

2

Enterprise SDR

To clarify: it’s not my manager they are cool, we just have investors who are on our ass

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Budget freezes are a PIA. Sorry this is happening to you.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

1

🦊

It's easier to find a job when you have a job. Look on the down low.

QuotaKiller

1

Account Executive/Team Lead

Get your brag book together and put your resume out there. A candidate hitting 150+% of quota will be always be an asset to a competitor.

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

I do believe that would be considered a breach of contract.

ask a lawyer.

oneoffsales

Personal Narrative

0

Senior Account Executive

I wouldn’t trust people that did not keep their word and change their mind that’s a terrible company to work for

oneoffsales

Personal Narrative

0

Senior Account Executive

Also if you want higher pay simply work there for a year and switch companies

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