corporate.baddie

not just a pretty face

Where do I go from here?

I'm an enterprise BDR and eventually at some point want to move to an AE role. my problem is my company is enterprise only so there is a huge jump from BDR to AE. I've seen people in my company being promoted from BDR to AM, CS or management but not to AE

They also want their AEs to have 7 yrs closing experience too

I am thinking ahead - I need to get more experience as a BDR before I think about moving to any different role. but Will I have to move if I ever want to have an AE role?

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17 comments

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Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Have you spoken to someone there who has the power to promote you? Do they know that is what you would like to work toward?
If they are pretty strict in the their requirements, you may need to look elsewhere when you feel its time to move up.

RealPatrickBateman

Politicker

🔪Amateur Butcher🔪

Hard to change the promotion structure of a large/established company. What you need is a mentor/rabbi in the company to fuel your upward trajectory, someone to go to bat for you in the meeting that you aren't part of. You also need to be a savage BDR to bolster your pitch for a promo to AE.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Probably

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I will definitely move in a year or 2 if I want to work as an AE and if current company won’t give that opp

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Based on what you've said, yes, you'll need to move in order to become an Enterprise AE. It just doesn't sound like they'll be able to provide the closing experience from them that they require for one of the reps.

You may find something better out there as well - so my advice would be to look externally when you're ready to move to AE.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Does your manager know of your promotion goals?

Jewcan_Sam81

Politicker

Account Executive

7 years of closing experience? For a standard AE? Not even a senior or enterprise level?

corporate.baddie

Opinionated

not just a pretty face

We have only enterprise AEs

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Arsonist

Account Executive

I am in the same exact situation, my company is asking for 8 years. Spoke with the director of sales and he told me to apply for any open AE role in the company bc even if you don't get it, it will put you on their radar for that role in the future. Might be worth the shot to just apply

dood

Sales Manager

Start looking for AE positions at smaller companies. One will give you an opportunity if you show you want it enough. I know this because 5+ BDRs did this at my old company

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

“So many voices ringing in my ears.” But in the real you should make it known to leadership you want to be an AE there and need to know what they need to see from you to make it happen, or leave

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Talk to management/leadership.

If there's no path, jump ship.

payton_pritchard

Executive

RSM

Ask directly what the requirements are to be promoted and what they would need to see from you -- start to build your case by doing things like taking discovery calls with unqualified or low value prospects if possible -- based on your post though it sounds like you may need to move to another company to make the jump

corporate.baddie

Opinionated

not just a pretty face

Why would taking unqualified or low value discovery calls help?

payton_pritchard

Executive

RSM

was something I did for live reps when I first was going for a promotion -- imo it is a good way to show your initiative/desire for promotion and set yourself apart from others -- it's unlikely that management or the AE team will let you take quality disco calls so this is a low risk way to show that you can do it

corporate.baddie

Opinionated

not just a pretty face

In my company BDRs take all discovery calls unless it’s with a CXO

payton_pritchard

Executive

RSM

Got it, different for everyone. Maybe in that case it's running lower value deals all the way through the cycle if possible.

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