How To Get Promoted From SDR/BDR To Account Executive
Account executives need to gain visibility in the sales department. To become an account executive, you must be a well-rounded salesperson with a unique skill set or an entire department with a fantastic set of skills.
You must have a greater understanding of your clients' needs, and you must have an intimate knowledge of the products and services the company offers. There are several tricks and tips to help you do this, and this blog shares 5 of them:
Take a Performance Review Seriously
Your manager's review time is also your time to get advice on how you can grow as a salesperson and start moving up the ladder.
For example, maybe you're doing a terrific job at getting people to demo a product but aren't delivering enough of those demos to account executives. Once you understand your weaknesses, use them as learning opportunities and places where you can set goals for improvement.
After your performance review, don't just pat yourself on the back and say, “Great!” let it sit in the past. Instead, take it seriously and use it as an opportunity to prepare for your following review. Ask a question like:
Do I need more experience in the X area?
Understand What Your Manager Wants to See
This is a simple but vital step before kicking off your efforts. Ask yourself, “what does my manager want me to achieve?” You can ask for specifics and make sure you have clarity around it. Is the goal to add new customers, grow existing customers, or generate revenue?
Your manager will be able to help you understand their expectations. That way, you can focus on driving those results.
Cultivate strong relationships with your colleagues
You're going to need the help of your coworkers. As an SDR or BDR, you have probably gotten used to working independently and relying on yourself.
However, when it comes time to move up to an AE role, you'll need to cultivate good relationships with your coworkers. If they're willing to go out of their way on your behalf, they'll give you a great endorsement that may help get your foot in the door for an AE position.
When you're looking for a new position—whether internally or externally—you'll want people who can vouch for you, who can speak for what a great employee you are and how well you perform.
Strong relationships with your colleagues will give them more incentive to do that—but if they don't know much about you other than what they see on your monthly reports, they won't be able to give any real insight into what makes you the best candidate.
Ask for Advice and Additional Responsibility
The best way to show you’re ready for the next step is to ask for it. Here are some ways to do just that:
Provide a good example. Set an example that others want to follow, and your managers will notice. If you can demonstrate your ability as an AE, they may find reasons to promote you.
Ask for advice from more experienced colleagues. Showing initiative and a willingness to learn will make them want to help you succeed. They may even share some of their own sales tips with you!
Ask if there’s anything else you can do or any way you can help out. Your company wants results, and if they see that giving more responsibility would benefit both parties, they’ll be more likely to give it to you!
Seek out additional challenges. Going the extra mile shows initiative and shows commitment on your part. Just be sure not to take on so much at once because it might get overwhelming.
Be Eager to Learn. You want to get promoted, right? Then you're going to have to show your manager that you're hungry for growth—and part of that comes from taking on tasks outside your comfort zone.
Volunteer for projects. Take a look at what's going on at the company and see if there are any initiatives or programs you can contribute to. Even if it doesn't directly relate to your job, it will show your manager that you care about the company's larger goals and know how to adapt and work with other teams. Your willingness to support others will also help them be more willing to support you, which is helpful when it comes time for recommendations later down the line.
Sign up for new training programs offered by your employer or organization. These are usually free and allow you to learn new skills. You can also reach out directly to team members who have skills that might be useful to know to offer assistance in exchange for a bit of schooling—plus, this creates more opportunities for cross-team collaboration, which is always beneficial.
Work on communication skills like public speaking or email writing (or both!).
This is an excellent way for entry-level salespeople who are expected not only as individuals but also within their teams, so learning these skills early on will set them apart from other candidates when those promotions come around!
Conclusion
If you are an ambitious SDR/BDR looking for a promotion to AE, there are some specific behaviors and activities you can take to optimize your chances. This list does not guarantee that you will be promoted to AE; however, it does give you the basic framework for making sure you are doing the right things.
When you get the opportunity to apply for an AE role, you'll know exactly what they're looking for and show them that they should promote you. You may not end up in an AE role tomorrow or next week, but the more you understand what it takes, the better your chances of getting promoted if the position opens up.
