Alex

Account Executive

Tenure/Job-hopping Advice?

Hey everyone, curious what the consensus is nowadays about shorter stints on your resume?

I made a career jump as a result of Covid and landed in an SDR role. Stayed there six months when I had a chance to go to a seed startup as an AE. That company has now blown up and is well funded and a recognizable name, but the product is still incredibly shaky and this has been really hard ont he AEs. Given the market is redhot, I am considering a move but my HR wife tells me I'd be a moron to do so since it'd look like I am the problem.

What's the thinking nowadays on this? Stick it out to the 2 year mark? Say fuck it and get the bag?

TLDR:

SDR - 6 months at one startup (series B, well recognized name)

AE - 13 months at another startup (Soon to be Series C)

Would hop to another startup in same space as the startup I'm an AE in at. Dumb move?

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19 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

If you make stay in the AE role or above. Don't go back to SDR/BDR.

Alex

Executive

Account Executive

Oh yeah it'd only be AE to AE move, absolutely would not go back to SDR/BDR. Thx tho for the input.

FattySnacks

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

The average tenure of an Ae is supposedly 11 months. You’ll be fine

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

lol that's crap

FattySnacks

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

Completely agree

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Are you making any money? Don't know what segment you're selling into but jumping around limit income potential becuase you've got to start over every time.

Alex

Executive

Account Executive

Money is ok. I would be ok starting over, I'm still relatively early career so handling smb/commercial deals and generall shorter sales cycles. Goal is obviously enterprise and those long sales cycles but that's awhile off.

Reason for the switch more would be lack of belief in current product, and our product would be considered quite mission critical (like keep the lights on critical), so having doubts about it makes it tough to keep slinging it. First time I've been in a position where I'm doing something I don't really believe in fully.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

get the bag.

Also have a good story for WHY you made the move, incase a prospect asks.

I have done this, gone from one company to its competitor. and if you can explain why you did that, (more than just you made more money) than you can have a really good perspective and help prospects

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

^^this. You probably know this, but always have a good story that isn't complaining about your current situation.

For example, you are "excited about the opportunity to work for xyz company, or in abc industry". Not "I'm concerned about the direction of my current company and we're not making quota".

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

The grass is always greener. If you hop again just make sure you deeply vet the company and leadership.
If you feel that you have nothing left to learn and no room left to grow where you are then yes you might consider leaving.

Alex

Executive

Account Executive

Thx for the input!

Rallier

Politicker

SDR Manager and Consultant

Young people move around a lot. Young people in sales move around even more. I'd say you're fine

Alex

Executive

Account Executive

Thanks for the input!!

GreenSide

Politicker

Sales manager

Don’t think a move right now hurts you a ton, but I think the next one could depending on the length of your next stint. So if you jump, make sure it’s a place you want to be and see it lasting a couple years.

Alex

Executive

Account Executive

I agree with you a lot. I'd have to be entirely super confident that I would be really successful and really happy at the next place to make the risk worthwhile. I'm leaning towards sticking it out to the 2 year mark and then evaluating. Thank you for the input for sure!!

JDialz

Politicker

Chief Operating Officer

If the short-ish stints appear to have been promotions along the way I don't think too much of it when considering candidates. Often times people don't realize there isn't as much upward mobility as they would hope for when taking a new role.

Alex

Executive

Account Executive

Thank you for the advice! I'll think it through and take any possible change slowly.

KendallRoy

Politicker

Have you been promoted at all in the AE role, even if it’s a mini promotion eg Senior AE, Level 2 etc? I recently made the jump after under 2 years but I have a mini promotion to show career progression. Main reason I left is because of lack of ability to move forward successfully from the point I’m at. I received a very big pay bump for a similar role so it’s definitely a candidate’s market.

Alex

Executive

Account Executive

I haven't been promoted in the role yet but I expect it in the next 6 months, which has me leaning strongly towards staying at this point. Thx for the input!

How long did you interview and what % did your base & ote go up when you jumped?

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