Entry-level positions for aspiring Sales Development Representatives
Sebastian suggests that undergraduates and graduate students looking to enter the field should aim for an "SDR/BDR position," which is considered the entry-level sales position, as it allows for a "springboard" into various roles within the sales organization, such as Account Executive or Customer Success. Moreover, Sebastian notes that the skills acquired as an SDR are valuable and respected, even for those who choose to pursue a completely different career path.
Entry-Level Sales, Sales Development Representative (SDR), Business Development Representative (BDR), Career Springboard, Sales Organization
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sebastian Perez
Sales Development Representative
Everlaw
University of San Diego
Finance
Law, Technology
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions like Sales Development Representative (SDR) or Business Development Representative (BDR) are good starting points in sales.
2. An SDR role can lead to various opportunities within the sales organization, such as Account Executive (AE) or Customer Success.
3. The skills gained as an SDR are valuable and transferable, making you a respected candidate even if you decide to pursue a different career path.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might undergraduates and graduate students consider?
You could aim for an SDR or BDR position, which stands for Sales Development Representative or Business Development Representative. Sometimes these roles have different names, like "associates," but they are generally considered entry-level sales positions.
The nice thing about these roles is that you can use them to springboard yourself into a number of different positions within the sales organization. For example, at my company, an SDR can move into an Account Executive role or into Customer Success to handle client management.
You have a lot of options within sales from an SDR role. You can even transition to something entirely different. I think working as an SDR teaches so many valuable skills that people will respect your experience, even if you decide to pursue a different career path.