As the CEO of London's leading SaaS sales recruitment agency, I've tracked so many candidates in their journey from SDR to AE, and beyond. Hiring the right AEs can catapult your business to stratospheric success & in the age of “the journey to profitability” making sure you are getting everything single buck out of the bang of a headcount number in your team is critical. So what exactly is it that makes these sales superstars tick when they're on the hunt for their next big opportunity? Let's dive into the expectations of top AEs joining SaaS companies in London and what they're really evaluating when eyeing potential employers.
The Holy Grail: Product-Market Fit
First and foremost, savvy AEs are looking for companies with a solid product-market fit. They want to sell solutions that solve real problems, not just fancy features. After all, closing deals is much easier when you're offering something the market actually craves!
Show Me the Money (and the Path to Get It)
Let's face it, top AEs want to make great money. They're looking for competitive base salaries and, more importantly, uncapped commission structures that reward their hustle. But it's not just about the immediate paycheck. These ambitious folks want a clear path to progression, whether that's moving up to Enterprise sales or stepping into leadership roles.
Tech Stack That Doesn't Suck
Nothing frustrates a high-performing AE more than clunky tools that slow them down. They're evaluating whether your CRM is from this decade and if your sales enablement tech will help them crush their quota or crush their spirit.
A Kick-A** SDR team
The best AEs will take pipeline generation seriously of course, but the best thing for your revenue is that they are on demos, not booking them. The best AEs will reference your SDR team, they will want to meet them and they will want to know what success they are delivering for the business.
Culture: More Than Just Ping Pong Tables
While we all love a good game of office ping pong, top AEs are looking for a culture that truly supports their success. They want to know if there's a collaborative environment, how the company handles failure, and whether there's a focus on continuous learning and development.
The Leadership Litmus Test
AEs are keen to suss out the leadership team. They're looking for visionaries who can articulate a compelling future for the company and the industry. More importantly, they want sales leaders who've been in the trenches and can provide real mentorship.
In the end, attracting top AE talent to your SaaS company in London is about creating an environment where sales rockstars can thrive. It's about offering a compelling product, lucrative compensation, cutting-edge tools, a supportive culture, and inspirational leadership. Get these right, and you'll have the cream of the AE crop knocking at your door faster than you can say "closed-won."
Want more detailed industry insights? Interested in fleshing out your AE Employee Value Proposition or talking about AE hiring processes? Drop me a message anytime for a no-pressure chat.
- CEO & Founder of Venatrix | Elaine Tyler
