Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Sales Development Representatives
Anthony from TriNet highlights the Sales Development Representative (SDR) role as a key entry point, explaining that it focuses on the initial stages of the sales pipeline, such as "reaching out and setting up meetings" by identifying potential clients based on an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and specific "sales triggers." Anthony emphasizes the value of starting at a large public company like TriNet to learn best practices and gain experience, setting a strong foundation for career growth within the organization.
Entry-Level Positions, Sales Development, Lead Generation, Customer Acquisition, Business Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anthony M. Gonzales
HR - Start-ups
TriNet Inc.
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey, MBA - Supply Chain
Entrepreneurship
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Insurance
Sales and Client Management
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions like Sales Development Representative (SDR) focus on the initial stages of the sales pipeline, such as outreach and meeting setup, offering a focused introduction to sales.
2. SDR roles involve using data sources and online tools like LinkedIn to identify potential clients based on specific criteria (Ideal Customer Profile), developing research and qualification skills.
3. Starting a career at a large, publicly traded company like TriNet provides valuable exposure to best practices and helps individuals learn what they value in a work environment.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that undergraduates and graduate students might consider?
We have many entry-level positions, and most full-time roles are hired through these. For us, this is a Sales Development Representative (SDR) role. You're typically involved in just one part of the sales pipeline, usually reaching out and setting up meetings.
You'll do some additional qualifying and vetting. You'll scour LinkedIn and look for sales triggers. You'll have something called an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). You'll be given this ICP and have to use different data sources, websites, and information outlets to cross-reference and identify when certain triggers are met.
For example, I look for multi-state employment, having at least 10 employees, and no one with "HR" in their title. This means someone has to handle HR tasks. I look for these little indications; that's what an SDR's job is.
Then, they set up calls for people like me and my organization. We can then take over the relationship and business and move forward from there. This is why it's a great introduction.
In a 10-step sales process, SDRs handle steps zero, one, and two. I handle steps three through 10. This is where SDRs grow and advance, making it a great place to start.
We are a friendly organization, and it's very helpful to begin your career at a large, publicly traded company. You can learn from their best practices and also learn what you don't want to do.