BlackVNeck

Mid Market Account Executive

Should I take the promotion?

I work for a rapidly growing SaaS company (Series C). I have been here for 2.5 years, which makes me one of the more veteran employees in the sales organization. I was hired as an AE and then promoted to my current position as a mid-level sales manager 1.5 years ago. When I was promoted to management, I was to have six salespeople under me, and report to a Regional Sales Manager. My RSM would have another team of six salespeople + another mid-level manager.

I've now been offered another promotion to Regional Sales Manager. However, the structure is changing. Instead of 1 RSM, 2 junior managers, and 12 AE's, now my team is going to be me as the RSM, zero junior managers, and 10 AEs.

The salary is bumped + $11.5K, from $71.5K to $83K.

The way I see it, they want me to do my boss' job AND my current job, for an extra $134 a week after taxes. This does not seem like a worthy tradeoff given the amount of extra work that would head my way if I accept. What do you think? What should I do?

💰 Compensation

💯 Promotions

21

26 comments

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hh456

Celebrated Contributor

13

sales

ask for a higher base

bamageorge

Celebrated Contributor

1

International Sales Director

You read my mind.

BlackVNeck

Good Citizen

0

Mid Market Account Executive

Thank you. I think that's what I will do!

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

5

War Room Enthusiast

Get a better base and follow your gut on this one!

MCP

Valued Contributor

3

Sales Director

10 AEs is a big number. Diminishing returns over 7 direct reports. It will be a lot of work, long hours & stressful.

BlackVNeck

Good Citizen

0

Mid Market Account Executive

Yes I agree. With 10 AEs I'm not confident I'll be able to spend enough time with each one to ensure they all get to goal which is why the base is most important to me if I'm going to be stretched so thin.

MCP

Valued Contributor

0

Sales Director

Good news is you can’t and won’t have to get them all to goal, maybe 1/2 of them. A manager’s # is usually 75% of the team’s aggregate. Chances are you’ll have 1-2 outstanding, likely over goal, 5-6 average (1-2 might make goal, the others 70-80%) and the rest subpar. Focus your time on those that make you money. Document the others to filter them out.

InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

2

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

Bump that base number up.

Gottapumpthosenumbers

Opinionated

1

Biz Dev

Does the promotion come with a higher OTE from higher commissions/bonus potential?

BlackVNeck

Good Citizen

0

Mid Market Account Executive

Yes and no. YES, because before I earned 1% commission on my 6 AEs. Now it will be 1.5% on 10 AEs. NO, because now my commission is conditional on a certain threshold of post-sale fallout. So, more potential to not qualify for the commission.

Gottapumpthosenumbers

Opinionated

0

Biz Dev

Interesting. Thanks for the context! Sounds like they are asking for a lot more accountability and responsibility out of you, but not offering as much up-side potential. I would try to negotiate a bit more in compensation if I were you.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

1

VP of Sales

Lol, difficult to say without knowing how much you’re making now, it’s possible you were really well comped, but you should be asking for 30-40 more, especially without the buffer managers. 10 or 12, either number of AEs is a bitch to manage if they’re producing opps. Arguably even harder if they’re not. I presume you’d be making more in overrides from the team, but even then that’s a lot more work for not a lot more money. . Keep it professional, but make your counter argument and politely reject. Say you’d be willing to reconsider if the bump was higher, but not otherwise.

BlackVNeck

Good Citizen

0

Mid Market Account Executive

As a midlevel manager my base is $71.5K. The RSM offer is a base of $83K. From what I've read on Glassdoor etc. it doesn't sound like that would make me really well comped. I haven't worked in a sales role at any other company so more than happy to hear what others with more perspective think.

TheNegotiator

Arsonist

2

VP of Sales

How long have you been in your role? The benefit to being in sales is you’re not limited to climbing the ladder man.. . You don’t have to go manager 1, manager 2, manager 3, director 1, etc. . I just went from being a basic sales director to a VP. My CEO believes in me. I KNOW I can deliver. My pay jump was enormous. Close to 1.75X. . I’m already planning my next jump (internally) and I think I can easily sell my CEO on putting me on 3X what I used to be making, in less than a year. As long as I crush my targets, which I will do. . Edit: My point is- ask and thou shalt receive. Don’t ask and you’ll always have to take what you’re given, and I ain’t with that.

ZeroGrit

Valued Contributor

1

VP of Hoping My Emails Find You Well

Sounds like you’re in a position to negotiate a lot, not just compensation. They are restructuring and you’re a senior member who owns the sales process. You want the RSM title and the pay bump. You also know what you can and can’t handle. So I think you should draft a counteroffer with the types of duties and responsibilities you want to have. Position yourself as a partner in the restructuring by advocating for how the role should look like. They want to keep you, otherwise they wouldn’t be asking you to step into a position like this. Leverage your knowledge and don’t be afraid to swing your dick around a bit.

BlackVNeck

Good Citizen

0

Mid Market Account Executive

That sounds like a good idea. Hopefully they'll be more willing to go for it if I make my pitch not only about my comp, but also about making the re-organization as effective as possible.

SlinginSoftware

Politicker

1

Account Executive

A few companies ago, I took the wrong promotion so I could be promoted. It was miserable and I ended up leaving about 4 months later. Scrutinize every aspect of the new role and don’t take it just because it seems like it’s the right thing to do…

BlackVNeck

Good Citizen

0

Mid Market Account Executive

This possibility is definitely is a concern of mine since I'm relatively content in my current role. Thanks for sharing!

CaneWolf

Politicker

1

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

I'd be asking for a 20-30% raise and more equity.

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

1

Account Executive

You are not getting paid anything close to what an RSM should be getting paid. However, if you take this promotion, guaranteed other companies will snatch you up and pay 50 percent to 100 percent more. It is just a matter of time.

Take the promotion. Establish even more tenure and greatness at a company and use it to your advantage for the future.

Play the long game. It looks like you will be winning.

FYI, if you are expected to prospect, close, hunt for business and manage a team.... IDK. I guess do it until you get a better job. Promotions should not mean you still do what you do in a lower role.

cw95

Politicker

0

Sales Development Lead

If do it and see how it goes? If you don’t like it move on! Will give you a chance to apply for higher roles at different companies?

SADNES5

Politicker

0

down voters are marketing spies

I would take it. They are cutting out middle mgrs. Looks better on your resume too

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Take it as a step to your next move

goose

Politicker

0

Sales Executive

pass

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

0

Rolling 20's all day

Negotiate back and explain your reasoning. Math doesn't lie

CuriousFox

WR Officer

0

🦊

Ask for more money. More responsibilities? Sure no prob. PAY ME.

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