donkeylicker09

Sales Development Rep

Should I take a higher paying SDR role that beats the AE OTE of my current company, or get promoted to AE for the experience

My current company does not pay well at all, and has seen high turnover because our competitors (and everyone else) pays more. I am getting interviews for SDR roles that have higher OTE than our AE's, but I don't know if it smart to "reset the clock" since I am up for promotion soon at my current company.

☁️ Software Tech

🎯 Career Development

📳 SaaS

21 comment

Sort by:

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I would always take an AE role in terms of career progression. Even if I get less $ it's short term but jump will be at a far better level with obviously good $.

All the best !

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

If you can stick it out go for the AE role. As always, do what's best for you and your family.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

sales

If you don't get the promotion, take the money. I don't know how people are saying take less money. I did that ONCE as an investment in my future and it didn't pan out at all. Take the money, you can parlay your experience into any future role you want.

TheOverTaker

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

If you're sure on that AE promotion, I would stay for that. Moving forward you wont have to worry about being an SDR again. Like Diablo said, next jump will be even better

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

How long have you been in an SDR type role?

HoosierDaddy

Valued Contributor

SDR

So that’s what I did. Jumped for an ote and huge base that was double what I was making before. But there were sdrs on my previous team that had been there 2.5 years and no hope of promotion and a bit of a fire sale/culture issues.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be promoted to ae within 6-12 months here and it was absolutely the right move for me. Now I doubt I would have jumped if I saw an actionable plan for being promoted previously.

HoosierDaddy

Valued Contributor

SDR

Also I had only been an sdr for 10 months so I didn’t feel as if I was completely restarting. Plus this company got huge funding without an outbound sales team and I was one of the first hires.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

If the AE role is a sure thing I would take that for the next 18-24 months then move onto something better paying. Moving to another SDR role will just make you start over on the journey to AE. (This assumes you have been an SDR for 12+ months)

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

I'd take more money now. The bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush and those 2 in the bush could spontaneously combust and then you're stuck in the same spot.

LilSaaSX

Executive

Enterprise AE

Nope. Don’t do it. Have you ever heard of the forever SDR? I’ve seen too many SDRs take the bait for a slightly higher pay bump and reset the clock and get stuck in an SDR for another year to 2 thinking they’ll become an AE at that new company. New processes to learn, new managers to impress and so on. Then by the time you’re ready to move to an AE….bam a new sales manager comes in and hires his boys from his last company then you get pissed and jump to another company as an SDR again. Stick with the AE role. Get the title and experience. It’s not always about OTE. If the OTE is attainable you can blow it out of the water and make more. Some companies flaunt high OTEs but no one is hitting goal. Hope that helps

AlexGG

Opinionated

Senior Enterprise AE

Agree with everyone here, get into the closing role, build a few success stories for yourself then take a step into the wild.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

My only hesitation on waiting for the AE role is whether or not it's a sure thing. You might be up for the promotion, but there may not be open head count, for example, and the move up to AE is delayed. Or they have a change in process and the clock resets. Otherwise, I'd personally wait to be an AE.

barney2021

Tycoon

Account Executive

Get that AE promotion. Don’t go for an sdr role again

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Take the AE role and then get the fuck out of there after you get some closing experience.

SmashAndGrab

Fire Starter

Largely agree with others that you should stick in for the AE job if it’s a likely step up (plus management might stop the rot and pay more). But it depends on how long you’ve been an sdr. If you’re 6 months in or less, the move would probably make sense as you’re not really taking too big a step back and if they pay SDRs well, that suggests that they take the role seriously and therefore the people in it = better promo potential

BearSalem

Good Citizen

Account Manager

How long have you been working there/ how long have you been working? If you're still pretty early on in your career having more financial stability is nice but you are pretty limited in job opportunities till you get closing experience.

Mjollnir

Politicker

Account Executive

AE all day every day

IanJ

Executive

Enterprise Business Development

I'd go where management and culture is better.

Where are you more likely to hit quota?
Which company has the bigger upside?

Jorthecloser

Member

Sales development representative

wait for the promotion within your current company for that new career title to use that as leverage in the interview stages. good luck

YoureMuted

Executive

Regional Sales Director

I'd heavily consider taking the better paying SDR role right now and work myself into an AE role at the new company. Before I went there, I'd thoroughly investigate the track from SDR to AE at that company. How many reps promote, average tenure, average attainment of SDR's and AE's at the new company, etc.

SaaSData

Catalyst

-1

VP of SaaS & Unit Economics 🏴‍☠️

ALWAYS GO AE. The SDR role is a dead-end. Get out of it as fast as humanly possible. You don't want to be an SDR for even one day. It's a waste of your time.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.

donkeylicker09

Should I take a higher paying SDR role that beats the AE OTE of my current company, or get promoted to AE for the experience

21 comment

Related posts

In a 100% salary "Sales" role? GET OUT!!!

Enterprise AE role with no ramp pay, normal?

Is it possible for me to get another AE role with only 5 months of AE experience?