RoadHog profile picture
RoadHog profile picture

RoadHog

Sales Development Rep

Good Citizen
Contributor
Fire Starter

What Would You Do?

I'm hoping to hear some advice on how to make a challenging career decision...

I currently work in large enterprise software sales and have been doing fairly well. I've been in my position for about a year, and I have been with the company for about 3 years (started as a Buisness Development Specialist out of college and have been premoted up to current role).

I'm happy where I am at and the company is good to me. 

However, I received a job offer from a very early stage start-up that would TRIPLE my salary and OTE.

There is a much higher level or risk with joining the start-up, but if they do well in the first year the sky is the limit for careers growth.

What would you do???

Career Path???

Attached poll
*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.
🧠 Advice
🎯 Career Development
☁️ Software Tech
14

21 comment

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Sunbunny31
Politicker
8
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
At your age? I might make an exception and make the jump. Triple the salary is a lot.

Do you feel like you have a handle on the sales process/strategies sufficient to go to a company that most likely won't be in a position to train you?

Will you be ok without: sales collateral; customer testimonials; live customers actually using the product and proving out the value; name recognition, so you also have to evangelize and educate?

It's going to be a slog, but if you really believe in the solution and can live without a whole lot of support, you might want to give it a chance. Since you have the big name company on your CV already, you are in a good position to return or to go to another big name if this doesn't work out in a year or two. The economic situation should be a consideration - early stage startups are less likely to have significant money coming their way should the economy continue to decline, so I'd weigh that as well.
Mobi85
Politicker
2
Regional Sales Manager
Spot on@Sunbunny31
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
It may be the only time I say "go for it" with a Series A.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
I was going to say take the leap while you're a young chicken.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
7
Sales Rep
If its tripled the base also, I would try it out. If you like you current company a lot, they will 100% understand why you are leaving

Give them plenty of notice and be super helpful training other sales reps taking over your territory and ramp them up on your accounts.

If shit hits the fan, they will hire you back since you did well in the past and won't be hurt when you leave.

Also, get all of the metrics showing you did well also before you leave. Thats always important
SaaSsy
Politicker
4
AE
Love that advice - I’ve known a few that left for a crazy startup ride and ended up returning to the big name for various reasons. Gives you a taste and also has a plan B.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
3
Sales Rep
Boomerangs are a thing for a reason
TennisandSales
Politicker
6
Head Of Sales
Damn. 3x salary? That is hard to turn down. I would care less about the 3x OTE that shit is all made up.

What do you think of leadership and your direct manager??
RoadHog
Good Citizen
0
Sales Development Rep
Leadership is not at the same level of the company I’m currently with, but I will have the opportunity to have a lager voice in strategy decisions with the start-up.
Pachacuti
Politicker
5
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Triple your salary, etc. for maybe 6 months and then you're looking for a new job? Been there. Its a tough decision.

If they are tripling your salary, and everyone else's I would assume), that's a BIG burn rate. There's going to be some serious attrition and churn in <1year, especially if the product doesn't do well.

Also, I'm sure they promised you a boat load of shares &/or options. They are worthless. Don't bank on them.

My advice - stay where you are at. Get some more experience, etc. Another big opportunity will come along soon enough.
Justatitle
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
Beyond the obvious I think that if I didn’t take the opportunity I would always wonder what if.
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
What is your current salary?
KB_FarmerType
Opinionated
2
Strategic Sales
Take the money and start up opportunities (caution: it will be more work and change in perspective) but worth it as you won’t be able to take such decisions at later point in life . You will come out well on the otherside irrespective of how the startup does. What sector are you in? How is the manager ?
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
I would potentially make the jump. Just because you have the experience and the resume if shit hits the fan.
SaaSam
Politicker
3
Account Executive
At triple the salary, for every month you last that's 3 months at your current company. Within 4 months, you'll make what you currently do in an entire year.

Startup sounds like a better time investment. Even if it doesn't work out. You'll likely last more than 4 months. You last a year and you'll be 3 years ahead of yourself financially. The math just makes too much sense not to make the switch.
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
2
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
If you have anywhere less than 10 /15 years of experience, I’d say take the startup offer. High risks, okay. Higher returns, for sure. Take it. Ride the wave till it’s high. Then make a choice eventually (if and when).
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
2
Account Executive
3x salary is worth the risk imo
Rallier
Politicker
1
SDR Manager and Consultant
Hard to turn down if it's 3x...
sketchysales
Politicker
1
Sales Manager
I would give your current company the opportunity to improve your base and if they are willing to do so, even if it isnt triple personally i would err on the side of caution. If you feel you have long term job security, with everything going on right now, i would take that.
RoadHog
Good Citizen
0
Sales Development Rep
Any advice on how to have that conversation with my current company? I don’t think there is any way they will be able to match the salary, but if they could get close I would think about staying.
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
0
Officer of ♥️
Take it as a second job, if it's actually shit quit, if it's good quit your previous job

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