Entry-level sales jobs: 11 roles explained

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An SDR starts the sales process: you research companies, reach out to the people who might buy, and book meetings for account executives. It is the usual first job in software and business-services sales.

Skills: Cold outreach (email and phone), Active listening, Prospecting research, CRM software

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A BDR finds new business for a company by prospecting outside its existing customers, qualifying leads and setting up sales conversations. The title is used like SDR; some companies use BDR for outbound work and SDR for inbound.

Skills: Prospecting, Outbound sequencing, CRM software, Objection handling

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An inside sales representative sells by phone, email and video instead of traveling to customers. You own a book of leads or small accounts, run the call from first contact to close and keep the customer afterward.

Skills: Phone and video selling, Product knowledge, Negotiation basics, CRM software

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An outside sales representative sells in person in a geographic territory: visiting businesses, running meetings and building long-term accounts. Many start with a base wage plus commission.

Skills: Face-to-face selling, Territory planning, Presenting, Negotiation basics

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An account executive owns the deal from first meeting to signed contract. At the entry level, "associate" or "junior" account executive roles usually sell smaller deals with a shorter sales cycle than senior AEs.

Skills: Discovery questioning, Demoing, Negotiation, Pipeline management

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An account manager looks after existing customers: renewals, upgrades, problems and the relationship. Growth in the account is the goal; new-customer hunting is secondary.

Skills: Relationship building, Renewal and upsell basics, Problem solving, CRM software

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A sales associate or representative sells products or services to other businesses and often does a bit of everything: prospecting, quoting, order follow-up and customer calls. It is a broad entry title; the posting says which parts matter most.

Skills: Communication, Product knowledge, CRM software, Quoting

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Sales support keeps the sales team moving by preparing quotes, entering orders, updating customer records and answering routine questions so sellers can sell.

Skills: Attention to detail, CRM software, Spreadsheet skills, Business writing

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Sales operations analysts run the systems and numbers behind a sales team: the CRM, territory and quota data, reports and forecasts. It suits people who like spreadsheets and process more than phone work.

Skills: Spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets), CRM administration, Data cleanup, Reporting

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A sales engineer is the technical expert on a sales team. Associate roles help run demos, answer technical questions and set up trials, usually after a technical degree or an early technical job.

Skills: Technical communication, Demoing, Product depth, APIs and integrations basics

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A sales management trainee program rotates new hires through selling, operations and team leadership with the aim of a first management role. Common in staffing, rental, logistics and financial services.

Skills: Coachability, Customer communication, Sales basics, Reliability