Sales Development Representatives

Read the National Association of Sales Professionals’ blog (https://www.nasp.com/blog) to learn more about the field. Books and magazines also provide useful information. One useful book is Sales 101: From Finding Leads and Closing Techniques to Retaining Customers and Growing Your Business, an Essential Primer on How to Sell, by Wendy Connick. Some high schools have sales or marketing clubs you can join, and you should take as many classes in these fields as possible.

Develop a real or imaginary product or service, and create a pitch that explains what it is, what it does, and how it could help a customer save time or money. Present this pitch to your marketing teacher, your parents, or friends who are interested in marketing and sales. Ask them to grade your presentation and to tell you what made them want to or not want to purchase your product or service.

Participate in internships, volunteerships, and part-time positions in sales and marketing to build your skills, learn about careers in the field, and build your network.

Join student business organizations—such as Junior Achievement (https://jausa.ja.org), DECA (https://www.deca.org), Future Business Leaders of America (https://www.fbla.org), and Business Professionals of America (http://bpa.org) to learn more about the business world and participate in activities that develop your leadership, managerial, and financial management skills. Some organizations—such as DECA and Future Business Leaders of America—offer sales competitions.