Every day, people with zero sales experience land SDR roles at top SaaS companies. Teachers, bartenders, military veterans, retail workers—the path is open to anyone willing to learn the playbook.
Why Tech Sales Is Accessible
Unlike investment banking or consulting, there's no target school list. Companies care about three things:
1. **Coachability** - Can you take feedback and improve?
2. **Grit** - Will you push through rejection?
3. **Hustle** - Do you have the energy for high-volume work?
Your background matters less than demonstrating these traits.
The Preparation Checklist
Before you apply:
Your unfair advantage:
Whatever you did before taught you something relevant. Teaching? You can explain complex concepts simply. Hospitality? You handle difficult people with grace. Retail? You've already sold face-to-face.
The Application Strategy
1. **Optimize LinkedIn** - Headline: "Aspiring SDR | [Current Role] → Tech Sales"
2. **Target the right companies** - High-growth startups with SDR training programs
3. **Apply directly AND network** - LinkedIn messages to SDR managers
4. **Show, don't tell** - Send a prospecting email to the hiring manager as your application
The Interview Process
Expect 3-5 rounds:
The mock cold call is where most candidates fail. Practice until it's natural.
Your First 90 Days
The hard work doesn't stop at the offer. Your first quarter determines your trajectory. Arrive early, stay late, ask questions, and hit your ramp targets.
The best SDRs treat their first role like grad school—except you're getting paid to learn.