Coming from the manufacturing industry and looking to switch into saas. I have 4 years of sales experience in a full cycle closing roll. Will I still have to start as an SDR?
I think your best chance to start in an AE role in SaaS given your background would be if you could find an adjacent industry, probably in a vertical software company that sells into manufacturers, or in a broader SaaS platform play that has a team that's focused on manufacturing. With that product focus IMO you'd quality to move into an AE role. I think that it's also possible you could slide into an AE role in a non-adjacent market, but maybe a bit more unlikely. If you can land a good SDR role with a top tech brand though, it's certainly worth considering, as you'd then have a very solid foundation to quickly move up the ranks (prior closing in your other industry, good big-tech SDR experience, etc). Good luck!
Not necessarily however ensure you clearly speak to about your prior closing experience. What was your ADS? What was your annual target? Your Target attainment? Stakeholders you engaged with and how you multi threaded them. Average deal cycle length. Key achievements and external training i.e. Have you invested in any training resources outside of 9-5? It may be worth going into a company such a HubSpot as you will have enough experience to go in as an AE and then after 1/1/5 years you can pivot that into a smaller company as an AE and pay will increase dramatically. Question is tho have you done outbound prospecting before? As you will need to and a vital skill to know. If not SDR is probs the route.