How challenging is it to transition from Sales Development Representative to Account Executive at SPS Commerce?

Question

Accepted Answer

Are you asking about the feasibility of getting promoted, or the challenges associated with the job duties? Either way, the answer is similar. If you are able to perform the job duties as an SDR at a high level, you should get promoted no problem within a year or so. The job duties of an Account Executive are similar with the added responsibilities of closing sales and nurturing relationships. They typically set lower level AE goals that are attainable and allow you to ramp up your skills. Hopefully as an SDR, you'll have observed and learned a thing or two from the AE's that you worked with and can lean on them and your manager to help learn and master the new skills needed. Good luck!

Answer

I was an SDR at SPS and became an AE and will say that it can definitely be challenging. They've changed the structure of the SDR team a TON in the past 2-3 years and seems like they're still trying to figure it out. I'd say the average promotion timeline used to be about 8 months and now it's probably more like 1.5 years. They focus a lot on your brand as they are all about culture, so if you crush your numbers and fit the culture well then you can succeed quickly.

They have doubled the SDR team in size and with not that many AE positions opening up, they don't have room to promote as often. There is also no clear outline of what you need to do to get promoted and they often tell SDR's that they'll be promoted "soon" and it ends up being 6+ months before they are promoted.

Overall, not a bad spot to start a sales career and they have solid training. The pay is a bit low and I think there are better spots to start as a BDR - but that's just my take. I'd make sure to ask in the interview process about what timelines look like for promotion and what the clear path to promotion is. Good luck!

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Anonymous Q&A

How challenging is it to transition from Sales Development Representative to Account Executive at SPS Commerce?