Would you ...

Question

Would you choose BDR or AE?

Current Employee · Accepted Answer

Depends what route you want to go in your career.

As a BDR, you're going to be aligned to a hunter (BD) and setting meetings for them. It's a great place to learn the hunter. I loved the chase of BD, the pursuit of the prospect - nothing like that in the AE role at Gartner, as the AE role is an account management role. Only downside is you don't get to see the fruits of the partnership, as you pass the relationship off and never hear from them again.

As an AE, you're going to be managing an existing book of business and be inheriting relationships. It's a great place to learn how to leverage relationships in selling business and the really cool thing is you get to see all the great things Gartner does for the client, as you're on the front lines.

Current Employee · Answer

AE 1000%.  Stay far way from BD, especially in the US end user large enterprise group.  Absolutely unrealistic expectations with extremely high turnover. If people were hitting #'s and making money they would not leave even for other internal roles.  It is senior leadership as the issue in the BD role.

Former Employee · Answer

AE.  You can make more money in this role.

Current Employee · Answer

I’ve done bd my whole life and loved it at other orgs.

At gartner You can get lucky and crush it but you can also shit the bed.

I am now an AE and prefer it
Much easier 
BD has more upside but also more downside

Current Employee · Answer

Just depends what you want. They’re very different and are different levels of work.

BDR is prospecting for net new business. Entry level work.

AE is account management. Usually have to have 1-2 years sales experience

Current Employee · Answer

AE as it’s a more senior role. If it’s vs BDM, you have a higher target and but do not renew clients. It depends on the territory but as Gartner clients are usually on multi year contracts, I believe AE is easier to hit quota / overachieve.

Current Employee · Answer

That’s a hard question. I would first focus on the practice that you want, then think about BD or AE. The reality is you’re going to hunt in both, just a whole lot more hunting in BD.

Current Employee · Answer

It really depends on you. If you like the "grind", BD 1000%. The BD org is growing fast & all the top archievers last year was from BD(EMEA, to be specific). And so far for this year, it's even more clear & with even greater support from Senior Management.

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Anonymous Q&A

Would you choose BDR or AE?