Sales Development Representative (SDR) positions offer some of the most diverse options for career progression in sales. You become intimately acquainted with the sales process by passing prospects through qualifications to decide whether they’re viable leads, allowing you to expand your talent as your career progresses.

However, finding a quality job in sales development that uses your prospecting talent can be tricky. You want the right salary for your work, not to mention appropriate benefits and other perks. In this job economy, seeking the best sales development representative jobs that pay well and offer stability and longevity is vital.

If you’re ready to find an SDR job that meets your needs, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn how to land the best sales development representative jobs for college students today.

What Does a Sales Development Representative Do

Sales Development Representatives are sometimes called Business Development Representatives (BDRs). Though employed interchangeably, they are different jobs.

Sales Development Representatives may have different everyday tasks depending on where they work. Moreover, each company may have different CRM tools at the SDR’s disposal. So, the day-to-day of an SDR varies depending on the company.

But generally, the sales development process is standardized across the sales industry. SDRs use the process of prospecting to qualify or disqualify leads. Qualified leads go to the sales team, while unqualified leads go back into the funnel or get removed as a prospect altogether.

SDRs act as lead filters, only allowing prospects will likely make a purchase to become a lead. Other responsibilities of SDRs include:

• Prospect research
• Creating a prospecting calendar/plan
• Cold calling prospects
• Conducting email campaigns to connect with prospects
• Making sales appointments for qualified leads
• Updating information in CRM software

Some essential skills SDRs cultivate include negotiation, resilience, critical thinking, and communication skills.

How to Become a Sales Development Representative

Almost half of all college students enter sales after graduation, regardless of their major. While it’s possible to get a degree in sales if you want, other degrees can just as valuable.

With a more well-rounded education, you’ll find more opportunities in sales and beyond. We recommend pursuing whatever degree suits your interests and future goals. Instead of earning your degree in sales, look to broader degrees like:

• Communications
• Marketing
• Business
• Finance
• Liberal Arts (e.g.Political Science, History, Philosophy, etc.)
• Psychology
• Economics

Typically, a Sales Development Representative is an entry-level role. However, gaining experience to expand communication skills and critical thinking will shorten ramp up time and quicken advancement. Whether you’re in college for a degree or going into sales straight out of high school, you can earn this experience through jobs or internships.

Gaining these skills could include working in hospitality or retail job. Each will help to build salesmanship from the ground up. Yet, having a role on a sales development team will be the most beneficial for sales success. 

During college, the prospect of a full-time job seems impossible, which is why so many students opt for internships. Taking an internship in sales development will grow your skill sets and increase your post-degree job options. Your internship options range from in-person to online and micro-internships to part-time internships. Remote micro-internships are rising in popularity to compete with traditional part-time internships.

However, they lack valuable hands-on coaching that only part-time internships can provide. While part-time internships require a higher time commitment, they tend to foster better salespeople who become better SDRs.

After earning sales experience in college, the next step is finding and applying for open SDR positions. 

How to Find Sales Development Representative Jobs

You should employ multiple methods to help find the best sales development representative job. The more approaches you take to getting hired, the more chance you have of success. Here are 4 methods you can use to help find the best SDR position.

Get Sales Experience in College

Experience is the number one way to get a leg in for SDR openings at your company and others. The earlier you start working in sales, the better. In addition to the valuable experience, you’ll also have opportunities to expand your professional network.

Finding an entry-level job in sales in college is simple. Look toward the hospitality or retail industry. You can also garner experience with a part-time sales internship.

Use Your Connections

One of the best parts about getting experience before finding an SDR job is the networking process. Don’t forget to foster relationships with your peers and mentors during school and at your internship. Then, remember to contact them when you put out your job feelers.

If you built enough quality relationships in the field, chances are someone in your network can help you find an SDR job at a company that suits your interests. They may even vouch for you during the hiring process, giving you a competitive edge against other candidates.

Expand Your Search

What changes are you willing to make to become an SDR? If moving, remote SDR work, and alternative schedules are an option, you can expand your job search. Becoming a more flexible candidate opens you up to more diverse job opportunities.

Use Every Resource

Online job boards are a popular job research source for many candidates. But only a handful of employers use them. Some employers prefer traditional methods of finding new candidates like:

• Newspaper classifieds
• Referral hires
• Job fairs
• Hiring events

While online job boards are convenient, the sheer number of applicants on these sites makes you less visible to potential employers. In addition to those websites, pay attention to the local paper and look for job fairs and local hiring events.

Job in Sales for College Students

Sales development representative jobs are harder to come by than other jobs in sales. But that shouldn’t discourage you from finding a quality SDR job. Plus, starting sales development is easier than ever at The Selling Factory.

We hire college students for part-time internships to earn SDR experience. At our company, you get paid to learn the ropes on an actual sales team, giving you a competitive edge after graduation.

We’re accepting applications for spring and summer internships right now. Visit our website to apply for your internship today.