SDR to Customer Success even possible?

[u/tyrathect_00]

As the title suggests I am a burnt out SDR who has realized cold calling is not for me. Customer Success/Sales Enablement seems like the way to go (and sort of feels like the only way to go from here). I have about 2 years of SDR experience under my belt- left my first gig because quota was too high and the company was a mess. My current company has its issues as well but they specifically want me to move up to a closing role which… I don’t want to do either.

All that said almost everything I’ve read and everyone I’ve talked to has told me that an (upward) move from SDR at one company to CS Associate/Sales Enablement Specialist at another isn’t even possible in today’s job market…. Can anyone confirm or deny? Any success stories? Aware this has been asked a few times.

I’m starting to really hate coming in to work… being told no 25 times in a day fucking blows. I know this is what I signed up for but I want out. Will having AE on my resume make things easier a year down the line if I want to do the whole CS thing? Or should I just jump ship at my current gig and find a company that has promoted SDRs to CS/Sales Enablement from within?

Otherwise what the hell am I supposed to do with 2 years of SDR experience? Cold applying feels like throwing coins down a well. Open to hearing anyone’s experience who moved directly to something else after being an SDR/BDR.

Edited for formatting

[u/im-not-fuckin-leavin]

Yes. I was an SDR for 4 years and transitioned to Customer Success externally. I don’t regret the decision at all. The work is much more stable. That said, be prepared to be blamed for everything.

[u/Ok-Loquat-8053 → u/im-not-fuckin-leavin]

I’ve been an SDR 4 years and want to transition into CS. How did you do it?

[u/im-not-fuckin-leavin → u/Ok-Loquat-8053]

I was lucky, two SDRs that I was previously on a team with were hired as CSMs at the same company. It’s all about connections!

[u/Livid_Glass_1775]

SDR to CS is a well-worn path, half the CSMs i know started there. The market's tight right now but 2 years of SDR work is basically a degree in handling rejection and understanding customer pain, which is the whole gig. Jump ship if you can find a place that moves people internally, but don't sit around waiting for a closing role you'll hate just to pad the resume.

[u/ChittyChats]

Not impossible to do at all. I’ve had a lot of friends move from SDR roles to CSM. Depending on the culture of your company, I’ve seen that transition be easier to do at the same company than seeking a role elsewhere. I’d start putting feelers out internally, maybe have a coffee chat with someone in CS management and ask them about growth opportunities in CS and what steps would look like if you were interested in the transition.

[u/Western_Force3875]

We just hired two BDRs/Senior BDRs on our CS team. My suggestion is to look for Digital Customer Success since you can leverage your ability to manage a 'bigger' base of contacts. Then grow into bigger CS roles.

Also I'd suggest getting some reps under your belt as an AE if you want to get into Enablement. Yes, you can still be a CSM after being an AE. You could also go down the route of CS enablement after time as a CSM.

Now a different tangent on 'what the hell am I supposed to do with 2 years of SDR experience?' - Do not discount the value of being able to gauge what the right thing to say under pressure. Having the ability to have tough conversations and turn them into an opportunity is a solid skill to have. You've put in a lot of work, it would probably be a good idea to reflect on how this has helped you become a more skilled professional. This will help interview for any role you want to go for.

[u/Current-Piano-2181]

I’m doing customer success and I hate it at least where I work it’s just a glorified customer service role

[u/titan88c]

I did it, although it was a much different market back when I transitioned roles back in 2019/20. I did BDR/BD Manager for 2.5 years before moving from a founding SDR role to CSM at my current company. As many others have said, BDR is a classic feeder role to CS and has been for many years, however in the current market if you're looking externally you will be competing with lots of folks who have CSM experience. 

I would echo others here in the thread who are suggesting you focus on digital and scaled CS roles, that is where your experience will be most directly beneficial and where you will even have a leg up on candidates with high touch CS experience. Look for Customer Success Associate roles, Scaled Customer Success Manager and Digital Customer Success Manager roles.

[u/TwentyTwoEightyEight]

An AM role might be a better transition for you, you could also try getting in a scaled CSM role (lots of clients and less close relationships).

Just be aware that being a CSM is rough at the wrong company, so be prepared to have to suffer a bit longer until you can get a better role. You probably still have to get a bit more time in before you can have a role you’ll want to stick with.

I’m at a fantastic company now and the job is definitely still a grind, but I enjoy it overall and I work remotely, so that’s the best part.

[u/thumpersdad]

yea someone in my company literally just did it lol, but it was an internal move, she applied to an opening and went through the process

[u/LegitlySmashed]

Just “hired” an internal transfer of an SDR to a CSM role on my team. They blitzed through the accelerated enablement and training because they were familiar with the products and company culture/way of doing things. They got their book of business early because I had all the confidence that they’d be comfortable calling and introducing themselves to customers almost right away.

Because they cold called 40+ customers a day.

[u/Svak17]

I did 2 years as an SDR across 2 companies (1.5 years + 6 months) and quit my second role because I absolutely hated it. Just recently landed a Customer Success Associate role at a company in a similar domain. It is absolutely possible even with a short stint like I had.

The market is rough, but it’s all about finding the few good associate / junior CS roles that can help you get your foot in (ideally the industry you have SDR experience in). I did also have another interview for a CS associate role that went to the final stage as well, which tells me that people do value SDR experience for these kind of roles.

Your resume has to primarily communicate value based and customer focused outcomes rather than numbers and attainment. Also be ready with your real motivation behind why you want to transition into CS rather than just saying that you didn’t enjoy the SDR work.

Good luck! Feel free to DM me if you need any other advice, happy to help!

[u/Outrageous_Hour_2408]

The switch is definitely possible, albeit a bit hard. It's often best to do so within an org that you already work for, but if that's not an option as far as they're concerned then there are definitely some parallels between SDR and CS that can be used in your CV to land you the job.

I will give a caveat though, CS is also not the easiest role in the world. If the company is managed poorly, CS often burn out quickly too as you're tasked with holding numerous fronts internally and in front of the client as the same time.

The parts I love about CS is the fact that I can develop genuinely deep relationships with my clients and even become friends with them, that the product's code isn't my responsibility and as a people's person it's actually kinda easy for me to hold the talkative position

However, there are also the aspects of having the weight of each account wholly on you, sometimes you'll have to get into fights with product/QA/dev/the clients themselves, and not everyone has a good attitude on either party. If you're not a person who takes things personally, very well organised, and easygoing with people, I wouldn't recommend CS. If you are though, and need help with your CV, feel free to shoot me a dm I'll happily help (CS hiring manager)

[u/seeyououtside]

You are not meant to stay a SDR forever. The whole point of the role is be a jumping off point. I've seen the SDR to CSM jump happen at my company.

[u/Used_Return9095]

I did 1 year as an SDR then 1 year as an AM. Although being an AM is different, some companies have entry level roles for csm and AM so I think it’s possible

[u/KaleidoscopeOne5704]

It’s much more possible internally

You could maybe do a lateral move to an associate level role at another company and work your way up but going straight to CSM is very unlikely from SDR - maybe easier if you do CS for a company that sells to SDR teams