Sales is the lifeblood of every business. Learn how to break into this high-earning career path.
Sales (SDR/BDR)
Business Development
Freshworks, Zoho, Chargebee, Razorpay, Salesforce
Most startups need sales—search for "SDR" or "BDR" roles
FMCG (HUL, P&G), Insurance, Banking
| Level | Fixed | Variable (OTE) |
|---|---|---|
| Intern | ₹10K-20K/month | Sometimes incentives |
| SDR (0-2 yrs) | ₹4-8 LPA | ₹2-4 LPA |
| AE (2-5 yrs) | ₹10-20 LPA | ₹10-20 LPA |
| Sales Manager | ₹20-40 LPA | ₹20-40 LPA |
Is sales a good career for introverts?
Yes! Many top salespeople are introverts. Good listening and preparation can outperform extroversion.
Do I need an MBA for sales?
No. Sales is results-driven. Your performance matters more than your degree.
Entry-level role focused on generating qualified leads through cold outreach. The starting point for most sales careers.
Similar to SDR but may focus on enterprise or strategic accounts. Sometimes includes partnership development.
Closes deals. After 1-2 years as SDR, you move to AE where you own the full sales cycle and quota.
"Hi [Name], this is [Your name] from [Company]. Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"I'm reaching out because we help companies like yours [solve specific problem]. Can I take 30 seconds to explain why I'm calling?"
"We work with [similar companies] who were struggling with [pain point]. After using our solution, they achieved [specific result]. I'm wondering if you're facing similar challenges?"
"Are you currently doing anything to address [pain point]?"
"Would it make sense to schedule a 15-minute call to explore if we could help? How does [specific day/time] look?"
"I'm not interested"
"I understand. May I ask what you're currently using to solve [problem]? Many of our customers felt the same way initially, but found our approach different because..."
"We don't have budget"
"I appreciate that. Budget is always a consideration. If I could show you how our clients typically save/earn more than they spend, would that be worth a quick conversation?"
"Send me an email"
"I'd be happy to. What specifically would you like me to include so you can evaluate if this is worth exploring?" (Get qualifying info first)
"We're already using a competitor"
"Great, that shows you understand the importance of solving this. Many of our customers switched from [competitor] because of [key differentiator]. Would you be open to learning what made them switch?"
Team Standup
Share yesterday's numbers, discuss pipeline, align on daily targets.
Cold Calling Block
2-3 hour focused calling session. This is where the magic happens. Aim for 50-100 dials.
Email Follow-ups
Follow up on yesterday's conversations, send personalized sequences to new leads.
CRM & Admin
Update Salesforce/HubSpot, log activities, research prospects for tomorrow.
Second Calling Block
Afternoon calls—sometimes better connection rates. Focus on callbacks and warm leads.
Learning & Prep
Review recordings, practice scripts, prepare for tomorrow. Best time to improve skills.
Most SDRs aim for 50-100 dials per day, resulting in 5-15 conversations and 1-3 meetings booked. Quality matters, but volume is essential early on.
Yes! While harder than before, cold calling remains one of the highest-converting channels when done right. The key is research, personalization, and value-first messaging.
12-24 months for top performers. Some companies have faster tracks (6-12 months) for high achievers. Consistently hitting quota accelerates promotion.
Yes, it's the most used CRM. Get Trailhead (free) certified. Also learn HubSpot—many startups use it. CRM proficiency is expected.
SaaS and enterprise software pay highest (₹30-60 LPA OTE for senior AEs). Fintech, cybersecurity, and cloud sales also pay well. FMCG and traditional industries pay less but offer stability.
Reframe it: you're not being rejected personally—the timing or fit isn't right. Track your conversion rates so you know that 100 "no"s lead to 10 "yes"es. It's just math.
"From 0 to ₹50L+ in 3 years..."
"Started as an SDR intern at a SaaS startup. Made 100 calls/day, got promoted to AE in 14 months. Closed my first ₹1 Cr deal at 24. Now earning ₹50L+ with variable comp." — Akash, Bengaluru
"Arts background, now in tech sales..."
"I was an English literature graduate with no 'technical' skills. But I could communicate well. Got an SDR internship at Freshworks. My ability to explain complex products simply became my superpower." — Meera, Chennai
"Rejected 10 times, then hired..."
"I was rejected by 10 companies for sales roles. Finally got an internship at a small startup. 2 years later, I'm a top performer at Razorpay. The rejections taught me resilience—the core sales skill." — Rahul, Mumbai
| Metric | What It Measures | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Dials/Day | Activity volume | 50-100 |
| Connect Rate | % of dials answered | 10-20% |
| Conversations/Day | Actual talks | 5-15 |
| Meetings Booked | Qualified demos | 1-3/day |
| Show Rate | % of meetings attended | 70-80% |
| SQL Rate | % that become qualified | 30-50% |
Template 1: Pain Point Focus
Subject: [Company] + [Pain Point]?
Hi [Name],
I noticed [specific observation about their company]. Many [role] I talk to struggle with [pain point].
We help companies like [similar customer] achieve [specific result].
Worth a 15-min call this week to see if we can help?
Template 2: Social Proof
Subject: How [Similar Company] did [X]
Hi [Name],
Just helped [Similar Company] achieve [specific result in timeframe].
Given [Company's] focus on [relevant priority], thought this might be relevant.
Can I share how they did it?
Template 3: Breakup Email
Subject: Should I close your file?
Hi [Name],
I've reached out a few times but haven't heard back. Usually that means one of three things:
1. Wrong timing
2. Not the right person
3. Not relevant at all
If #3, no worries—just let me know and I'll close your file.
Talking too much, listening too little
The best salespeople listen 70% of the time. Ask questions, understand needs, then present solutions.
Not following up enough
80% of sales require 5+ follow-ups. Most give up after 2. Persistence pays off—be helpful, not annoying.
Taking rejection personally
It's not about you—it's about fit and timing. Learn from each "no" and move on quickly.
Not tracking metrics
What gets measured gets improved. Track everything so you know where to focus improvement efforts.
Sales is one of the fastest paths to high income. Learn to handle rejection, track your numbers, and always be closing.
The best part? Sales skills transfer to everything—entrepreneurship, leadership, even life. The ability to persuade and negotiate is invaluable.
The best salespeople are problem-solvers in disguise. Be one. 💰
Written by Sproutern Career Team
Based on insights from sales professionals at SaaS companies.
Regularly updated
