ellesells

Account Executive

Should I wait out a promotion, or look for a new job?

Looking for advice--

I work on a team of about 35 outbound BDRs competing for 1 or 2 SMB AE seats a quarter. A lot of us are crushing our numbers-- few have been asked to interview for promotions. After a year and some change in the position, I'm starting to get antsy.

The sales leaders at my company are extremely admirable, some of the best in the biz-- and the mentorship opportunities are incredible. But I'm trying to make some coin. I'm wondering if I should look for better positions at different companies, or learn to be patient and milk the resources to make me a better sales professional.

I know a lot of people who have had success jumping around different companies for promotions, but they also struggle to build lasting relationships with strong mentors.

Advice?

Stay or Go?

Attached poll

Stay Go

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🎈 Mentorship

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16 comments

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salesnerd

WR Officer

7

Head of Growth

As long as you can get a promotion into a closing role, there's no harm in looking... sometimes the best time to look for a new gig is when you don't NEED a new gig.

I don't recommend taking another BDR position with the idea of moving into a closing role "soon", lest you find yourself in the same position all over again.

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

1

Account Executive

Agreed

SalesPharaoh

Big Shot

0

Senior Account Executive

What role would you @salesnerd & @CadenceCombat advise for one to move into if in my case I'm an AM who handles account but also doing BD work?

salesnerd

WR Officer

0

Head of Growth

What are you wanting to do next?

SalesPharaoh

Big Shot

0

Senior Account Executive

well honestly I don't know what the path of a salesperson should be here things are quite vague unless you work somewhere corporate af. Ideally I want to be in management and influence strategy or direction of any organization but that is super longterm. Maybe later on have clout to and say on what products/features we can offer for the market being in that position (maybe i'm saying so because I feel a bit limited in terms of what we have to offer).

salesnerd

WR Officer

1

Head of Growth

My best advice is to keep closing deals, hone your sales skills, then begin coaching/mentoring, move into management, rule the world.

SalesPharaoh

Big Shot

0

Senior Account Executive

how long you think one should stay?

salesnerd

WR Officer

1

Head of Growth

No easy answer there... once you stop learning and stop progressing in your career. For some it might be 6 months, for some it might be 5 years.

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

1

Account Executive

@SalesPharoh Yeah, it's hard to give you specific career advice when I have no familiarity what the job market is like in your region, what your collective experience is, what your ambition and goal is in a sales role, etc. etc.

I'm not suggesting you try to break this down because, frankly, there's too much to go over and its unlikely that whatever advice we give you fully fits your situation.

But this is all part of the journey. You'll figure it out for yourself. Good luck!

SalesPharaoh

Big Shot

0

Senior Account Executive

I understand but I was more looking to see how Americans or American salesmen career path looks like for me to benchmark here. The only thing that is crystal clear is Real Estate sales. Otherwise I see everyone is stuck in a presales role and rarely anyone breaks out.

RandomPaperclip

Valued Contributor

2

Sr. AE

To your last point - I don't know of anyone that would get upset with you / stop being your mentor if you left for a progression on your career. If you have someone close already there that you consider a mentor, they *should be* be happy for you and should stick around to still be mentor.

I have 3 former VP's that I still connect with on a monthly basis. All of which I learned something from and were all happy to see me take progressions in my career.

ellesells

Opinionated

0

Account Executive

This is some good perspective-- needed to hear it! Thank you!

Jnye

1

Enterprise account executive

Look around for a closing role, but don’t accept a lateral move. At the same time go to the sales leaders internally and ask how you can separate yourself because you want to be a closer. Your managers should appreciate the initiative to be coachable.

SDMHGWarrior

Tycoon

1

CEO

STAY...If you are there long enough, the other BDRs will leave. Also - send every job opp your current team members way from other companies.

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

0

Enterprise AE

You will be a better AE with your past experience at your current job than by switching into a new org to try out a closing role for the first time.

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