As a BDR w...

Question

As a BDR with about 2 years of experience in both mid-market and enterprise, is it unrealistic to be searching for AE roles? I was affected by a mass lay-off at Salesloft and am searching for a new role and feel as if I'm ready to be an AE.

Former Employee · Accepted Answer

Hubspot hires a lot of BDR's in AE roles. Start there

Former Employee · Answer

Not unrealistic. It can happen.  It was easier 5-10 years ago. But you can still find it.

Former Employee · Answer

As someone who's hired countless sales reps - both AEs and BDRs - I can tell you that it's less likely you will get an AE job despite being a BDR for 2 years at SalesLoft.

Here's why:

Sales leaders and hiring managers #1 goal is to reduce risk and avoid "unknowns". While you have been a BDR and you personally feel like you're ready to be an AE, you actually have no experience as an AE. Just because you have tenure as a BDR doesn't give you the skills required for an AE:
- Running effective product demos
- Managing your pipeline
- Converting deals through your pipeline
- Navigating organizational decisions & key stakeholders
- Dealing with procurement and/or legal

Being a great BDR at one place *does not* translate to being a great AE at another.

Being a great BDR at one place *could* translate to being a great AE at that same place.

If you want to be an AE, your best bet is to try to find a "fast track" BDR role, show them that you have the chops, and see how you can progress from BDR (or Senior BDR) to AE at the same company.

Or.... you might get lucky and someone will take you as an AE. But again, that's very rare.

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Anonymous Q&A

As a BDR with about 2 years of experience in both mid-market and enterprise, is it unrealistic to be searching for AE roles? I was affected by a mass lay-off at Salesloft and am searching for a new role and feel as if I'm ready to be an AE.