SaaSimp

Sales Representative

How to land an Entry-Level SDR role?

I am a recent college graduate with a degree in marketing. I have 6 years of sales experience working for a (somewhat large) small business in-ground pool installer. I managed inbound calls, web inquiries, walk-in clients, current projects, ordered supplies, scheduled appointments, created and managed an online shop, etc etc. I wore many hats there but did not have a set quota or any record of the accounts that I managed. I am looking for a role as an SDR with a startup or even an established company in the tech industry. I am on week 3 of phone interviews and a few zoom meetings that went into the late stages of the interview process, but ultimately did not land the job. This forum has been great in offering tips on how to land a job, but with my experience and a college degree is an SDR role a little out of my league? Should I start with customer success for 6 months or so and then try to move up? One of my biggest roadblocks is that I don't have cold calling experience but have many years of dealing with customers on the phone, I am confident that cold calling will not be difficult for me. I'm just looking for a little guidance as I am trying to break into a completely new industry with only experience from a small business.

🤓 Sales Tech

👨‍🌾 SDR

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11

22 comments

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UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

12

SaaS Eater

You're overthinking this. Starting in customer success is a waste of your time if you want to be in sales.

Many companies will hire anyone that can walk and chew gum as an SDR.

You're background is great, just apply to roles you are interested in.

CoorsKing

WR Officer

9

Retired King of the Coors Knights

1) pick companies that you are interested in
2) outbound to those companies and get yourself a referral (see @SADNESSLieutenant ’s posts)
3) use the search bar here for interview and mock call practice
4) ?
5) profit

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

3

Officer of ♥️

Proper preparation prevents poor performance^^^

CuriousFox

WR Officer

6

🦊

Find the roles you want and apply. Simple.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

6

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

If you're making it to zoom calls and missing out on landing a role, work on your confidence level in the zoom calls. SDR roles are not out of your reach; they are entry level, and so you should sound as though this is going to be a job you can do, because you can.

SaaSimp

Contributor

1

Sales Representative

Great advice, in the zoom calls that I have had I think my nerves got the best of me and I could've been a little more confident.

braintank

Politicker

5

Enterprise Account Executive

A few important things:

1) How are you selling yourself / telling your story during these interviews? You need to build a narrative based on your experience that aligns with what they're looking for.

2) What questions are you asking during the interviews? If it's between 2 equal candidates, the one who asked more intelligent questions will win.

3) How are you "closing" the interview? Are you asking for feedback and next steps?

bandabanda

Tycoon

2

Senior AE Mid Market

All great points. I didn't know what closing the interviewer was when I first got into sales. At the end of the conversation, ask:

"Based on everything we've talked about, do you have any concerns about me being the best fit for you all?"

If they say no, say "Great. What next steps would you like to take in the process and do you need anything else from me?"

SaaSimp

Contributor

0

Sales Representative

Great advice thank you!

funcoupons

WR Officer

2

👑

Customer success exp will not help you get an SDR role. SDR is the entry level point for sales.

You're either not interviewing well, or are interviewing well but getting passed over in favour of experienced SDR candidates.

SaaSimp

Contributor

1

Sales Representative

I met with one company and interviewed very well with them and feel like I got passed over due to more experienced SDR candidates, so I think you made a great point! Are there any key ways to stand out from other candidates that have more experience?

funcoupons

WR Officer

1

👑

Not really. If a company has two candidates and they like them both, they have to narrow them down somehow. Relevant work experience is the first thing they'll look at. It is what it is.

Have realistic expectations regarding the companies you apply to. Applying to in demand giants like SalesForce or roles offering at the top end of comp for an SDR are going to have the most competitive applicant pool.

FormerStartupJobHopper

Tycoon

2

AE

No. As coups said customer service is a step down from SDR and not related. I'll add that if you truly meant customer success (different than customer service) that is a step UP from SDR.

You should be able to land an entry level SDR gig with what you've outlined very quickly right now. Do you feel you are bombing the interviews?

SaaSimp

Contributor

0

Sales Representative

I meant customer success, but I didn't know that that is a step up from SDR. I mainly was looking to see if SDR is the right place to start as entry-level, so you clarified that. Thanks for the input!

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

It’s okay if you don’t have an experience but I feel it’s important to understand the job roles you are applying for and talk their language. I would recommend you to go through the resources bravado has (great articles), also there are many SDR job groups in LinkedIn that are flooded with SDR openings.

bandabanda

Tycoon

0

Senior AE Mid Market

@SaaSimp this one's open to remote, good company to get your feet wet:

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2943716665/?refId=7VSSLFifjKbnl6XAoeZ0BQ%3D%3D&trackingId=OebYrFxYLfnNyZvIuBdNig%3D%3D

Tag me once you've applied/if you apply.

SaaSimp

Contributor

0

Sales Representative

this link isn’t working

SaaSimp

Contributor

1

Sales Representative

never mind, i got it thank you!

SADNESSLieutenant

Politicker

0

Officer of ♥️

Also important note - translate how your past expriences developed you into the perfect person in the role - ie, you spoke to alot of customers - you learned to listen, which is key to selling, you learned xyz, which translate to your success in abc*key competencies.

Google what makes a great SDR and backwards rationalize how your experience matches that

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

0

Rolling 20's all day

Hot new article just dropped: https://bravado.co/academy/breaking-into-tech-sales

I would recommend strong networking and sell yourself to the hiring manager (reach out directly).

fuzzy

Notable Contributor

0

CMO (Chief Meme Officer)

Just go work for an outsourcing firm like InsideOut Solutions or Validity then parlay that into a FT SDR role.

PIPr

Fire Starter

0

Account Executive

Find companies you like1. DM current employees asking for referralsif that fails2. Send in a general App + Outbound hiring managers and recruiters for an interview
Repeat until you have so much self-doubt you feel like quitting, repeat again, land job. Profit

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