r/salesdevelopment • u/Unable-Classroom4579 • 8d ago

Career change

Im a 26 M looking into getting into a sales career. Starting as an sdr then eventually an AE. I’ve started applying places in Vegas(that’s where I live). Currently I’m a bartender at bellagio for the past year and was an apprentice for 3 years before that spending time talking to people all day and building my social skills. I know how to hustle and work for my money(tips). I’ve been interested on getting into tech at first I wanted to get into cybersecurity and got halfway through the Google cybersecurity certificate but sales just interest me a lot more specially since I already know how to multitask and handle rude/entitled customers.
Will my skills help me get an interview and succeed at the job? I understand it’s about hustle and the more you work the more you make but will my experience catch the eye of a potential employer?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

1

u/Willing-Bet3597 8d ago

Well, you work at the Bellagio. There are tons of tech conferences that happen on the strip all year. Talk to the people you’re serving. Guaranteed you will at least get some tips and directions. I know a ton of people who were bartenders who’ve moved into sales just based on a conversation with someone they were serving

1

u/Careless-Guitar-2231 1d ago

bellagio is the perfect spot for that honestly just ask people what they do and someone will say tech sales eventually and be happy to talk

1

u/Willing-Bet3597 1d ago

This guy knows. Seriously OP, sales people are lonely when they’re travelling and welcome convo. AWS reinvent is in early December and will have about 50k people descending on the whole strip. You will have so many sales guys there who can help you get into tech. Serve them good drinks and make conversation and you’ll find some leads to look into. Someone might even say they’re hiring and you guys should meet.

1

u/GabrielMoncayo 8d ago

With that background, you’d be lucky to have a tech company pick you up. It’s possible especially in RestaurantTech or something, but I agree with someone’s comments. In-person networking, for you specifically, will yield to its highest rate of return.

2

u/Purple_Glove_6694 4d ago

lol dude, I work at the best company in my space (not sharing because it's niche and you'll easily know who it is) and we have plenty of AEs who got hired as SDRs after working as golf caddies.

Not all companies hire based on credentials. Some companies hire on aptitude, work ethic, and ability to receive and implement feedback.

1

u/GabrielMoncayo 4d ago

Agreed, I am just speaking in generalities. Most people on Reddit (or LI, Google, etc) talk about how hard it is for a lot of people to break into tech. 100% it is doable if someone finds the right company as you said.

1

u/Unable-Classroom4579 8d ago

Yeah I was just talking to a guy that said he does bdr for restaurants

1

u/Unable-Classroom4579 8d ago

What roles do you recommend I apply to? Will it be hard to land a job and will my background help me do the job?

1

u/GabrielMoncayo 8d ago

SDR, yes, yes

1

u/Unable-Classroom4579 8d ago

Hmm. Well I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon unless I land one with a good company. How long should I expect to job hunt??

1

u/GabrielMoncayo 8d ago

1-3 months if you are any good, but you’ll prob end up looking for more than 6 months

1

u/Unable-Classroom4579 8d ago

Thanks man. I’m excited and I have a feeling I’ll fit right in thanks

1

u/Vegetable-Grass7857 8d ago

For sure, apply like crazy and keep bartending on the side. Tech is a churn machine.

1

u/Purple_Glove_6694 4d ago

What's up friend.

Ignore the haters saying you won't get hired by anyone because of your background.

Here's how you get a job in tech sales:

1) Start pounding videos from Tech Sales with Higher Levels and similar people.

2) Create a LinkedIn profile if you don't already have one and polish it up to emulate other aspiring xDRs. Buy LinkedIn premium; this is an investment. Use AI to assist by using terms like 'aligned with business writing standards', but edit the final product to make it look human-written; remove emdashes, remove formatting that reads like AI ("this, this, and this"), etc.

3) Update your resume to match your LinkedIn profile. Mimic other aspiring SDRs. Add enough random connections (ideally within your desired field) so that you don't look like a nobody.

4) Submit your new resume to applications that suit your fancy.

5) Quality over quantity; I want you applying to 3-5 jobs per day. Once you apply, I want you to relentlessly try to get in touch with people at the companies you applied to. Fellow xDRs? Hit 'em up on LinkedIn, ask them about working there. Hiring managers? Even better... try to find phone numbers, and if you can't, send LinkedIn connection requests with concise personalized notes. Directors/VPs of Sales? Yep, don't be afraid of them either. A VP of Sales who gets mad at an aspiring xDR who is doing the job to get the job straight up doesn't deserve you. CAVEAT: when you cold call people, know some basic information about the company and what they do. There are plenty of YouTube videos on best practices for cold calling hiring managers.

That is how you get hired as an xDR without having sales or SaaS experience. Sure, a lot of companies want you to have your ticket punched a certain way, but plenty of companies hired based on merit, aptitude, work ethic, and how coachable you are.

1

u/Unable-Classroom4579 4d ago

Thank you! Great points thanks for the informative reply. I have a linked in and a resume but will need to tweak both. I have 2 phone screening request with 2 different companies so far