HoddyBomb profile picture
HoddyBomb profile picture

HoddyBomb

Account Executive

Opinionated
Fire Starter
Contributor
+1

Will a Customer Success Role kill my Sales Career

Currently an AE selling medical devices. Looking to transition into another industry and have been seeing a few enterprise CS roles. Hypothetically would that kill my sales career if I wanted to transition back to AE life? I have 2 years of exp hitting quota for context. 

- TY 
🧠 Advice
17

15 comments

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Avon
Politicker
5
Senior Account Executive
It would likely require a step back in market segment when you want to transition but I dont think it would kill your sales career. Overall 2 years of sales experience isn't a ton though.
Justatitle
Big Shot
2
Account Executive
Kill? No. Make it harder to get back into sales? Yes
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
2
Director, Revenue Enablement
Definitely a set back. How much so would depend on the scope of the role. If you still maintain a sizable quota for additional revenue then is is a small step back. If you are focused on customer issues and renewals, you will be climbing a mountain to get back to new logo sales.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
I concur.
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
So it really shouldn't and probably won't. BUT some people may look at it negatively.

That it's an ENT CSM role helps, but it might be harder to get back into an AE position. It could also give you some useful perspective and skills, depending on the type of sales as well. CS work is often more analytical.
I agree with @Avon though, you might step back and 2 years really isn't much experience.
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
It wouldn’t kill it but it would set you back, and not just by the time spent in the CS role. It would basically knock you back down to the bottom of the totem pole.
SalesBeast
Politicker
1
Sales Director
Not kill it but will look bad if try transfer back into new business again. Do what is best for you.
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
Like everybody said - if you good at sales and prove it, you can still land a job but the number of opportunities knocking your door might reduce.
deathbysales
Politicker
1
Vice President, Sales
As a hiring manager I would go with someone who has been in a sales role 100% of their career before someone who took a hiatus to do customer success.
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
Opens up a nasty interview question- “why did you leave sales and why do you want to come back?” What’s behind it? The dude might have sucked.
Filth
Politicker
0
Live Filthy or Die Clean
Nothing kills a sales career diverse experiences bring more to the table - you can probably even use that resume to push for a more AM specific role with more growing than hunting.
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
A slight step back career wise but if you can't get the industry switch without it, makes sense.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
No but can be a hurdle if you try to leave for an external AE role in a competitive market
sketchysales
Politicker
0
Sales Manager
The bigger issue you may have is your lack of time in experience in sales if you move away from it, depending on where you go of course.
Goomba
Opinionated
0
Director
I went from sales to OPs to customer success and I’d say it’s a good blend of both.

If you want to move past sales into something that is less outbound activity oriented then you’re making a good move.

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