From my knowledge it goes
SDR/BDR- 1/2 yrs
SMB/ Mid AE 3-5
Enterprise AE 6+
VP of Sales
Director
CSO
If I'm right how long does it take to get to each one of these?
What’s after enterprise AE
19
Some people do not leave the IC track.
Director is before VP
CSO or CRO is the same as VP at some places, and those that layer it above VP are mature orgs with a well-built machine.
To @sketchysalespoint, there are no definite timelines. Some folks go from SDR to MM and after 2 years end up in Ent. Others go from MM to Director of Sales. Others still get out of the sales wheel and do other things.
Director is before VP
CSO or CRO is the same as VP at some places, and those that layer it above VP are mature orgs with a well-built machine.
To @sketchysalespoint, there are no definite timelines. Some folks go from SDR to MM and after 2 years end up in Ent. Others go from MM to Director of Sales. Others still get out of the sales wheel and do other things.
It isn't a set progression. Sorry to inform you of that. I have seen several companies, especially in the SaaS space, which will throw something like this out there in a SKO event to motivate people, but this isn't reality.
Reality is you could be at the SDR level for much longer, or not at all. Plenty of companies don't divide things up based on SMB/Mid/Enterprise levels.
You may not be VP of Sales/CSO material - ever. Or you might get fast tracked to leadership. I worked at a company where I started the same day as another rep. After Y1 he was promoted to AVP. Yet he sold 1/10 of quota and I exceeded quota. Why? He was a better "yes man" and administrator and I was better at selling.
So to answer your question - you're wrong. It isn't a steady progression.
Reality is you could be at the SDR level for much longer, or not at all. Plenty of companies don't divide things up based on SMB/Mid/Enterprise levels.
You may not be VP of Sales/CSO material - ever. Or you might get fast tracked to leadership. I worked at a company where I started the same day as another rep. After Y1 he was promoted to AVP. Yet he sold 1/10 of quota and I exceeded quota. Why? He was a better "yes man" and administrator and I was better at selling.
So to answer your question - you're wrong. It isn't a steady progression.
Yeahhh I am NOT the “yes man”. I love mentoring, teaching, and encouraging but it has taken me 7 years and 4 companies to realize I truly don’t have an interest in management.
A cushy training/ onboarding role might be the only thing that gets me off the hamster wheel
A cushy training/ onboarding role might be the only thing that gets me off the hamster wheel
no set time frame. Depends if its your trajectory and depends how quickly you can get yourself there should you want to go there. Another thing that makes a big difference is who you know, that can significantly alter the time frames.
Some stay in Enterprise for their whole career, never want to get into leadership, not a bad gig, make 300k+ and not have to manage people.
That & the freedom. Enterprise sales reps might at most work 20-30 hours a week and clear half a mill. Why trade that for more work and less money?
I wish. You can make good coin but not one rep I know in Australia works less then 45 - 50 hour week as a baseline
No set time frame at all my man.
Every org is different. Big, small, wide, thin. You could be a VP of a start-up within 1-2 years if you're hired on as one of the first 5-10 employees.
At the end of the day...a title is a title.
Every org is different. Big, small, wide, thin. You could be a VP of a start-up within 1-2 years if you're hired on as one of the first 5-10 employees.
At the end of the day...a title is a title.
After Enterprise AE, you move straight into a VP position where there are also 7 other VP's that do exactly what you do..... nothing. Game over, buy the yacht, summer in St. Barts, and start your own "boutique family office Hedge Fund"
4 real people in VP positions don’t do shit. I mean count me in 😂 guess I need to start sucking up to people
Don't forget Strategic Accounts. Kinda a grey area around Enterprise AE.
What’s the rush? Each path is different for everyone. Worry about performing. Be patient and those opportunities will come. Obviously it is harder and harder the higher you climb the ladder and each move will typically take longer than the last. Just do you.
To the previously stated.. yep, depends on you, your ability, the company size and structure, and let's not forget management bias. Somebody might just not like you. Or they may love you. One thing is guaranteed, you gotta produce and you gotta shine in at least one other noticeable way if you want to climb.
Company dependent.
Some companies have AE's at one year.
My head:
SDR
Senior SDR
AE (IF Applicable)
and so on
Some companies have AE's at one year.
My head:
SDR
Senior SDR
AE (IF Applicable)
and so on
Hi there stranger danger
You're missing some middle manager roles on your progression list. I can't forsee someone going from EAE to Director/VP without experience managing a team.
some great comments here. as important as it is to have goals, it is equally important to be focused on being your best at the level you are NOW. if I was to tell you that if the stars align, you could be VP of Sales in 4 years. you might be excited about the opportunity. but if in 5 years, you were still not the VP of Sales, you might be very disappointed and even resentful.
I have been given promises before that did not materialize and I was disappointed. it changed my focus on the job leaving me with less confidence int he company and less desire to be successful. my negativity towards not getting a promotion became the genesis of my leaving the company.
I learned that if i keep working hard, stepping up to go above and beyond, mentoring others, and taking calculated chances, my times would come. and they have.
I have been given promises before that did not materialize and I was disappointed. it changed my focus on the job leaving me with less confidence int he company and less desire to be successful. my negativity towards not getting a promotion became the genesis of my leaving the company.
I learned that if i keep working hard, stepping up to go above and beyond, mentoring others, and taking calculated chances, my times would come. and they have.
Or you fork off into marketing 😂😂😂😂😂🥺😂😂😂
SMB/ Mid AE 3-5 experience
Everyone's path is different, as many of these comments say. What I will say is that my path to where I am now was wild, different industries, different positions, etc. If you have solid skills, have a good character, are good team player, are given the right opportunities, and have the right network, you can get to where you want to go. It's not just one of those things, but all of those things. If you are lucky or fortunate enough to have that, then you should expect a good career outcome.
I believe 3/5/7Y each from VP till CSO in general!
It may still vary from a company to the other though.
Wondering where you at right now:)
It may still vary from a company to the other though.
Wondering where you at right now:)
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