Was just offered an Account Executive position at my company. Help me decide what to do!

Hey there! So I've been a SDR with my company for 4 months now. I work for a very small org that has a platform for digital marketers that provides them with data they need to make marketing decisions. The platform/software is pretty complicated. I really would like to work for them in a SDR capacity at least thru the end of the year and then go from there. Would it be prudent to ask them for a roadmap to becoming to an AE over the next 6 months so that I can get a little more comfortable with the platform. I'm just afraid that they won't ask me again if I say "not at the moment." I have over the weekend to think about it. What would you do?

👥 Hiring
🧢 Sales Management
🚀 Career Goals
23
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
14
☕️
I'd take the role and set up regular 1:1s with your manager to develop the product and sales skills you'll need to be successful.

They are likely asking you because they see you as someone who can be successful in the role. Ignore that offer now and you're probably right, they'll be shy to offer it to you again.
Incognito
WR Officer
5
Master of Disaster
yet again, listen to the Caffeinated Coors Knight
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
3
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
100% this, agree the important part is setting up the support to help you in your new role. 
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
2
Sales
Agreed, take the offer, set up good 1:1s and then set out a 30/60/90 plan and tackle the role! 
neversettle
Politicker
1
SDR
Thanks for this advise. And you're probably right. I don't want to be passed up for the role next time.
CaneWolf
Politicker
5
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Absolutely take the AE role. End of discussion
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
Yes thank you for the back up here. 👏
SaaSam
Politicker
4
Account Executive
You don't grow inside your comfort zone. Go for it, take the roll, push yourself to rock it.
Diablo
Politicker
3
Sr. AE
Hey first of all congrats! Now it's up to you to decide what you want to do? 

What your AE does in your company? Do they only work on the a/c qualified by SDRs or they do prospecting also. If they do, were I in your shoe I would have taken an AE position and clearly defined my goals to my manager (learning curve, training, making mistakes whatever would be in my list).

They asked you to transition because they saw something in you. And I hope they will revise your comp structure as well 😬.
neversettle
Politicker
0
SDR
Thanks, Diablo! I appreciate it! The AEs in my company do both - but focus more on the SDR leads. And yeah, the only way I'll do it is if they revise my comp plan!
RedLightning
Politicker
2
Mid-Market AE
That likely means you're killing it and they're growing. If I were you I'd take, it but work out a ramp period for both training and pipeline building purposes.

Shadow every step of every deal you open for your AE and learn the ropes. Once you get that first AE role, your career opens up. You can always slide back down to SDR if need be. Congrats
neversettle
Politicker
0
SDR
Thank you for this. I like the idea of a ramp up period. And the SDR roles will always be there!
RedLightning
Politicker
0
Mid-Market AE
yeah, get a month of no quota and a month of a very low quota. On M1 send 1 in x opps generated to the AE and shadow it through to the end.

What you don't want is to be thrown into a spot where you don't have the pipeline built out already. 


TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
Dude, look at your own username. ALWAYS move forward, no matter what. Go out of your way to do things before you’re ready, that’s when you finally realize how ready you are. . If you’re really not ready, figure it out. The alternative is failure, and failure isn’t a real option, so figure it out.
neversettle
Politicker
1
SDR
True that, lol. I'm going to take it and figure it out!
Closeitalready
Valued Contributor
1
Head of Sales
Some great person told me once „you don’t apply for a position you already can but for what makes you learn“ if someone decides you can do the job. Take it, learn and do it. Nobody is awesome at its first days. So I apply for much higher positions I‘m qualified for. Why not .. if they think I can do it .. I will stand my ground and show them I can do it
neversettle
Politicker
0
SDR
Great advice. Thank you!
Cornholio
Opinionated
1
Account Executive
I agree with the sentiment on most of these comments. They wouldn’t be asking you if they didn’t think you could do it or weren’t ready. They probably expect you to have a bit of a learning curve and take some time. But you should jump in with 100% confidence.
LordBusiness
Politicker
1
Chief Revenue Officer
Why do they think you are ready snd you don’t? What do you think the gap is? My gut always says, take the bigger opportunity even if you don’t think your ready, and trust the person above you who thinks you do.
Rallier
Politicker
1
SDR Manager and Consultant
You'd be insane to not take the AE role now. Do it!!
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
Absolutely take the AE role. End of discussion
Wildcard
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
neversettle
Politicker
0
SDR
Imagine responding to someone's sincere post in such a negative light. You are correct, what is wrong with people?????
Woody
Politicker
0
Business Development Executive
Take the job you'll figure it out. 
dcarb
Good Citizen
0
Account Manager
Do it!  Make sure your boss is invested in your success.  He/She typically will be but you never can assume anymore.  I've worked for a few soulless MF's who only cared about dashboards and KPI's.  You don't want to work for that person.  I can't imagine staying in an SDR role when an AE position is offered to you.  If you turn it down you might not be offered it again.  Nothing worth doing is easy!  It might be hard but you can do it!  Trust me!
Fletch
Opinionated
0
Full-Time AE/Side-Hustle Owner
You’ll never feel ready until it’s too late. Take the promotion and if it doesn’t go well, than use that to get a better paying position elsewhere.
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
0
Enterprise AE
You don't need to know the platform, just have to sell it. 
Error32
Politicker
0
ISR
I don't send videos to prospects. Weirds me out a little.
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