M
M

MiceTrap

Sales Development Representative

Opinionated
Good Citizen
Fire Starter
+1

Success rate from cold applying in current market

I have sent hundreds of Cold applications because I haven't had any luck from referrals (InMail messaging & connecting on LinkedIn). So far only 1 Solid interview & 2 interviews with companies I don't want (yes I mass spam applied).


Is it normal for this current market ? Or for my lack of B2B experience & no degree. I just started applying this Monday so maybe I'm to impatient lol.


I have 7+ years of B2C experience from retail & hospitality industry. Note in the hospitality industry it was with high level clientele which in return led to high gross revenue.

👥 Hiring
🤝 Networking
17

21 comment

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BowtieGuy
5
Strategic Account Executive
Lack of a degree is definitely going to hurt you. Which kills me because, I slept through college and my bachelors degree has given me no value towards my sales career.

Hang in there dude!
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
True words. Even today, a degree is definitely needed to get those doors opened, which can then lead you somewhere.

PS: Welcome to The War Room @BowtieGuy
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
+1 for the honesty.
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
This is super true. A lot of orgs require it even though there is not a ton of value in having it. That being said, if you are able to share how your B2C experience will lead to B2B success, that is the main way that you will convert once you do get interviews
ZeroGrit
Valued Contributor
4
VP of Hoping My Emails Find You Well
Hey lack of degree and lack of B2B shouldn’t be the issue. The climate on the other hand might be.

I would recommend you get one of your friends in sales to look at your resume. Are you using the language that is being used in the job descriptions? If no, then your resume will never get past the ATS (applicant tracking system) and no person will even have a chance to look at your resume.

Make sure your LinkedIn is updated and optimal - your profile is your first resume. Use the sales language as much as possible. If you can, get people to write you recs and/or “vouch” for listed skills.

Download free versions of leadIQ, or other freemium prospecting tools and start prospecting for jobs. Get the SDR/bdr manager emails and send them your resume with an email directly. Show them you can do the job you know?

I would also HIGHLY recommend looking into programs like Vendition, SV Academy, AlwaysHired, Springboard, etc… yes you have to pay them and some (not all) are a bit predatory but they get you in front of their partner companies and if you are good, you’ll have a job within a month.

Best of luck savage. This is a grind but being an SDR is even more of a grind - mentality is everything.
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
4
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
When you don't have experience in certain field, the hit and trial method might not work best. So maybe you can try personalise reachouts to the interviewers / companies and do something over and above their expectations. That way at least you'd get a spot for an interview. Post that, nail it.
LocoSales
Politicker
3
Jr. Sales Manager
The switch from B2C to B2B is often a bit tricky. Coupled with the current economic situation and the layoffs, it is likely that people who are more „qualified“ than you are filling in spots that open up. I wish you the best, my friend try to stay strong and sharpen your sales skills in the meantime - sooner or later smth will materialise. 👌🚀
Rallier
Politicker
3
SDR Manager and Consultant
It's probably a combination of things. Switching from B2C to B2B can be a challenge, especially in the current market conditions. Ultimatley it's a numbers game so I'd keep at it. If going from a top down approach doesn't work, start DMing people lower in the organization and ask for referrals
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
2
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Man, that sounds intense! Best of luck and start tailoring your resume per application.
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
You’ll see the same rate of success if you send 1000s of cold resumes.

It’s one thing to send a cold resume for a position you are only somewhat interested in but if you REALLY want to the job, you need to make the extra effort custom riding your resume and finding out who the HM is and reaching out to that person.

If you make that extra effort (which is what you’ll have to do in a real sales job) you’ll see a better rate of success.
MiceTrap
Opinionated
2
Sales Development Representative
Time to apply it ! Thank you.
TennisandSales
Politicker
2
Head Of Sales
its most likely you lack of B2B experience, or how you are portraying your lack of experience in B2B.

I would focus on figuring out how to change up how you talk about your experience to make it more relatable for B2B companies.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Yes! What about your current experience translates into how you would bring value to B2B is where you should focus.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Tailor your resume to key words of the role and description.
MiceTrap
Opinionated
2
Sales Development Representative
Thank you all for the well thought advice. Totally switching up my job hunt process thank you !
KB_FarmerType
Opinionated
2
Strategic Sales
and don’t come back to this self-doubt territory again ! You are three steps ahead because came and asked this here!

I love you ! Go get that job !
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
1
Sales Rep
It’s getting harder but still realistic. I would be talking a lot about the revenue brought in with hospitality
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
@MiceTrap: Have you checked Bravado Jobs on the left hand side of your screen?
MiceTrap
Opinionated
1
Sales Development Representative
Will check out, so far only been applying from jobs on LinkedIn & angelist
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
0
Professional Day Ruiner
getting a company to take the risk on someone jumping from b2c to b2b isn't easy. yes they are both sales, but they are very different worlds. Not trying to discourage you. You can absolutely kill it in b2b with only b2c experience. You just have to find the company/manager that is willing to take that risk on you and put in the time/effort to train you.
Arzola
Valued Contributor
0
Business administration
A title will always open doors that you did not know were closed, many times for companies they take that as a person capable of meeting goals, it sounds silly, but not having it obviously hurts you even if having it does not help your job performance

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