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Enterprise AE

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Take mgmt promotion or outside EAE offer

I am in a situation where I can either take an internal promotion at my current company (where I have proven myself as top sales rep for 3+ years, I'd be managing an EAE team), or take a great outside offer to join as an Enterprise AE offer at a company in a very similar space.


For more context, my current company was just acquired by a PE firm. Most of the leadership team including the CEO, CFO, and SVP of Sales have been replaced; however, I am a valuable asset for the new leadership team taking over given my track record and company/industry knowledge.


All that being said, sticking around at my current role is essentially starting a new job given the change in management. They have offered me a promotion into leadership but I am unsure whether it's the right place to grow and step into leadership given the unfamiliarity with the new team.


The outside offer is very compelling. Great company, great space, great compensation as an IC. The question becomes - should I take the management offer now to take advantage of the resume building in management, or join the new company and wait to eventually grow into management after (hopefully) another great stint as an IC.


Final context: I am in my early 30's with 8 years of closing experience (10 years in sales total). I have the resume for sales leadership but love being an IC. I also don't want to get stuck in another IC role where I'm waiting for sales leadership opportunities to arise without management experience.


Any help is appreciated (assuming you’re still reading after this novel)

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12 comments

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CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
PE firms buy to break the company down and sell for pieces. Look at what's happening over at Staples if you need an example.  👀
TheOverTaker
Politicker
3
Senior Account Executive
if you want to be in mgmt you gotta take that role. easy as that
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
It looks as though you have two solid offers, which is fantastic.   No wonder you're torn; I would be too.   One way I've found that helps me figure out if I'm making the right decision is to make a decision on one position or the other and then see how I feel about it after a day or so.   Sometimes that works for me.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Very wise 🐇
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Or maybe I'm just wishy-washy!  

Truthfully, I've gotten myself unstuck from a decision several times this way.   It puts me in the position of virtually walking away from the alternate option, and I can then assess how I feel about it.  
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
2
Account Executive
Sounds like you really wanna be in management. Especially with that last sentence in paragraph 5. Why go somewhere else and wait another couple years for the role that it sounds like you want? You can probably become a director in the same time it would take you to get into mgmt elsewhere.
Look at this way, let's say you stick around and don't like it after a year, bam you've got the title. You'll probably find another better higher paying job with the mgmt title.
braintank
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
If you want to be in management, take the internal promotion. Worst case if you don't jive with the PE firm you can bail and take the title and experience with you.

Fwiw PE firms can have a bad reputation, and while some are "chop shops" others are focused on growth. 
GDO
Politicker
1
BDM
Tbh you seem to be leaning towards the nee org. The question seems to be what makes u happy an IC of management role? Where lies your future. 

I personally would ge the management route
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
Usually I would say take the promotion and get that experience, but because of the company's position in being recently acquired everything is changing and it's not the stable place you've known. 
I would really look at what the new parent company has done in the past with their acquisitions and see if you're now on a sinking ship or not. 

In my opinion from what you said, you love being an IC and the external offer is solid. Assuming you've done your homework on them and they are not lying -> I'd say to make the jump.
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
As everyone mentioned, depends upon your personal goals. If you want to get in management, grab this rather than waiting more and having challenges for lateral growth. 
MrAnderson
Executive
0
AE
If you want to be in management....then be in management. Life passes by to those that wait for the perfect moment.
DefaultSalesDude
Executive
0
Director
Agree with many of the others. If you want management track, take the role. Even if the PE busts apart the company, you'll have experience for your next management role. If you like the art of the deal and get more satisfaction (and money) as an IC, go that route. As a top performer, every management role will likely be a drop in pay so understand your motivations and that will lead you to the right role.

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