Should I Stay or Go?

I just started my career in tech sales as an SDR with a well funded Startup (Under 10M in revenue). I’ve been there roughly 5 months. My OTE is 100k, which is mainly due to the fact that my quota is double that of the typical SDR.


My main issue here is management. Currently, I report to the VP, but he is too busy to train or mentor the SDR team because he is focused on the AE’s. There is no SDR manager. The VP has also never managed an SDR team, so the advice he gives is typically irrelevant or tone deaf. Everything I’ve learned to this point, I’ve learned online. All the processes the SDR currently uses were built by me.


Even though I’m hitting quota, ultimately I feel as though my career would be best served by working with a leader who has the time and expertise to mentor and train me. I have serious doubts that the AE team will have the resources to hit their high quotas(~$1m per year) because those numbers are based on the SDR team hitting quota, which it does not look like they will do.


I currently have two offers. One for another startup for $140k OTE ($85k Base), and another for a large, established company $75k OTE full-cycle AE with mentorship I am certain I can count on.


Will it destroy my career to leave a company after 5 months? What would you do in my situation? If you’d leave would you go startup again or large company?


Thanks.




🎈 Mentorship
11
Gasty
Notable Contributor
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TennisandSales
Politicker
1
Head Of Sales
NO! leaving after 5 months becuase management sucks is NEVER a bad thing. 

Look your for your self and your career ALWAYS. 

congrats on getting the AE offer! Is the $140K OTE job an AE as well? 

And is the OTE really only $75K??? or is that just the base?
VFG
Good Citizen
1
SDR
The $140k offer is actually an SDR manager offer. I’d have a personal quota and responsibilities around interviewing, hiring, and training reps. 

The $75k offer is low mainly bc the quota is pretty low. Its 8% commission up to quota($60k per quarter) that goes up to 12% past quota and is retroactive. 
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
As others have said, leaving is not an issue. It might be downroad if you make a habit of job-hopping, but that’s not relevant right now. Take care of yourself and your family.
GreenSide
Politicker
0
Sales manager
No leaving after 5 months will not hurt you unless it becomes a pattern.

Startup vs large company is truly subjective. You gotta figure out which environment energizes you more. There are other threads here that go into pros and cons.

That said, is the $140k OTE another SDR role? And $75k OTE for an AE seems laughably low.
VFG
Good Citizen
0
SDR
The $140k OTE is an SDR manager role that I got offered bc it became pretty well known that I was crushing a pretty high quota as an SDR. 

The OTE on the AE offer is low because the quota is super low. It’s 8% commission with 12% at accelerators. Quota is $240k per year full cycle. 
GreenSide
Politicker
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Sales manager
How do you know the quota is super low? Are other reps surpassing quota?
Jr7
Politicker
0
AM
Leave 
CatMom
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Definitely leave. The AE title would be nice to have but that’s a huge pay diff. I’d prob go the SDR manager route and give that a shot!
FoodForSales
Politicker
0
AE
Sounds like you have a couple great opportunities with strong pros and cons.  The first is great money but i guarantee it will come with high expectations right from the start.  The second is nice because having a big name on your resume is never a bad thing.
The problem is the grass is rarely greener elsewhere.  So you will probably run into some similar personnel issues wherever you land.
SalesaSaaSsin
Fire Starter
0
Sr. BDR
Take your time. Begin with the end in mind. What is the end result for you? Can you see yourself there long term? Can you set up a 1:1 with him and voice your frustration to your VP? Is he receptive to feedback? If not, it may be time to look elsewhere. It's not too early because you've already received offers from other companies. Just don't make it a habit of job hopping. I made that mistake and its been an annoying stain. on my resume. Stick it out for 1 year at least before making another move if you accept an offer.
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Should I stay or should I go?

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Should I stay or go?
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Should I stay or should I go?

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