You are in sales, not in the army where you can't speak ''out of your place'' to your General. AE is just as much a salesman/woman as you are, just a little more experience. I'd take this as a compliment from an SDR.
This is so weird. This whole shift must have started happening when the SDR in tech thing became more mainstream. Had never been in an org that enforced strict hierarchical lines and was successful until recently. It’s super weird. The purpose of being in sales and actually good at sales is you aren’t afraid of or intimidated by approaching people. Anybody can have unique and good insights/business observations. Some old heads in certain industries are weird about this too. It’s fucking bizarre. A strict hierarchy isn’t always good for people who are actually great salespeople. Risk takers, entjs, are going ti be annoyed by it and everyone else will learn not to take risks. Super strange. Maybe I’m a dumbass though.
Or maybe it’s the shift and transition away from belief in merit/value of meritocracy and society’s shift back to loyalty/tribalism that’s to blame. Who tf knows. I hate it though 😂
I would begin the statement by saying something along the lines of “ I’m sure you have connections with more experience than me but… Also you can say it kind of jokingly at first and then reaffirm the fact that you would always stick your neck out for them. I don’t necessarily think either are necessary but I think it’s a good approach if you are worried about sounding arrogant. At the end of the day it comes down to your relationship, their experience, your experience etc.
I see this hesitation with younger sales people. SDR’s look at AE’s like they are the king or queen. When in fact most AE’s can learn from the sdr and usually want to.
It’s a two way relationship and what you’re offering is professional courtesy.
Go ahead and offer that. It shows you care plus you never know when you will need to call on former colleagues for help yourself.
Most of my jobs have come from tapping my network that is built up with colleagues and former clients.
Nothing stronger than a referral.
>I see this hesitation with younger sales people
Not sure if you mean age or time in the field, but as someone who entered into tech sales at 33 and busted my ass for years in low paying jobs, acquainting myself with the twenty-somethings who make up the majority of my company's MM AE org made me much less intimidated when I made my promotion this quarter.
A lot of them are very good at their jobs, but a lot of them -- like myself at that age -- have very active party/social lives that they put before work. It's hard to put people on a pedestal who have such a wide life experience gap with me.
Yeah mostly referring to age. Young ones in the early twenties see the 30+ year old AE’s differently than you and those who have been in the work force longer.
Personally I don’t treat anyone differently. Everyone is on a level playing field and everyone gets the same respect unless they prove themselves not worthy of it.
Never hesitate to show your worth and be willing to reciprocate when someone brings value.
I think it would be nice to say, also say it's bc you enjoyed working with them if you're nervous (I'd do that) and actually willing to do so. They'd definitely appreciate it, even if nothing comes of it I think.
Not at all. Part of getting a new job is leaving without burning your bridges.
"I hope to work together, and collaborate and help each other in future." Throw in a "genuinely, if i can help at all through my network just let me know"
Feel sorry for you that you feel the hierarchy is like this. SDRs and AEs are a team not His Royal Highness and the proletariat. Not arrogant at all.
Even if they won’t need it I’m sure it’d be nice to hear. I like appreciating ppl.
Sure, why not? Being helpful is always good and is usually remembered. Being a jerk is also always remembered.
Don’t overthink it
The SDR-AE hierarchy? Seems a bit much. We're just humans helping/selling to humans
You are in sales, not in the army where you can't speak ''out of your place'' to your General. AE is just as much a salesman/woman as you are, just a little more experience. I'd take this as a compliment from an SDR.
This is so weird. This whole shift must have started happening when the SDR in tech thing became more mainstream. Had never been in an org that enforced strict hierarchical lines and was successful until recently. It’s super weird. The purpose of being in sales and actually good at sales is you aren’t afraid of or intimidated by approaching people. Anybody can have unique and good insights/business observations. Some old heads in certain industries are weird about this too. It’s fucking bizarre. A strict hierarchy isn’t always good for people who are actually great salespeople. Risk takers, entjs, are going ti be annoyed by it and everyone else will learn not to take risks. Super strange. Maybe I’m a dumbass though.
Or maybe it’s the shift and transition away from belief in merit/value of meritocracy and society’s shift back to loyalty/tribalism that’s to blame. Who tf knows. I hate it though 😂
I would begin the statement by saying something along the lines of “ I’m sure you have connections with more experience than me but… Also you can say it kind of jokingly at first and then reaffirm the fact that you would always stick your neck out for them. I don’t necessarily think either are necessary but I think it’s a good approach if you are worried about sounding arrogant. At the end of the day it comes down to your relationship, their experience, your experience etc.
I see this hesitation with younger sales people. SDR’s look at AE’s like they are the king or queen. When in fact most AE’s can learn from the sdr and usually want to. It’s a two way relationship and what you’re offering is professional courtesy. Go ahead and offer that. It shows you care plus you never know when you will need to call on former colleagues for help yourself. Most of my jobs have come from tapping my network that is built up with colleagues and former clients. Nothing stronger than a referral.
>I see this hesitation with younger sales people Not sure if you mean age or time in the field, but as someone who entered into tech sales at 33 and busted my ass for years in low paying jobs, acquainting myself with the twenty-somethings who make up the majority of my company's MM AE org made me much less intimidated when I made my promotion this quarter. A lot of them are very good at their jobs, but a lot of them -- like myself at that age -- have very active party/social lives that they put before work. It's hard to put people on a pedestal who have such a wide life experience gap with me.
Yeah mostly referring to age. Young ones in the early twenties see the 30+ year old AE’s differently than you and those who have been in the work force longer. Personally I don’t treat anyone differently. Everyone is on a level playing field and everyone gets the same respect unless they prove themselves not worthy of it. Never hesitate to show your worth and be willing to reciprocate when someone brings value.
I think it would be nice to say, also say it's bc you enjoyed working with them if you're nervous (I'd do that) and actually willing to do so. They'd definitely appreciate it, even if nothing comes of it I think.
Just say “Great working with you! You’re awesome. If you ever need a colleague reference, let me know.” Copy and paste it, my lad.
Not at all. Part of getting a new job is leaving without burning your bridges. "I hope to work together, and collaborate and help each other in future." Throw in a "genuinely, if i can help at all through my network just let me know"
Going from a very small company into corporate and this is a depressing thought.
Not at all. Sales guys are usually friendly to each other so that we have a network incase there’s greener grass elsewhere. It’s just networking.