Start in Tech Sales Right Out of College with Vendition’s Apprenticeship

For decades, acquiring a college degree was regarded as a surefire way to career success. But truth be told, this path to higher education is not for everyone. Within four years, your plans, goals, and interests may change. You may even want to break into an unrelated industry, like the tech sector.

If you’re looking to recalibrate your career trajectory in a customer-facing tech role in a sprint, Vendition could help you do that!

Vendition is a paid 12-week Sales Apprenticeship Program that trains Apprentices to become in-demand Sales Development Representatives (SDRs). Upon admission, your journey begins on the job as you work with one of Vendition’s trusted hiring partners.

Vendition also attracts aspiring SDRs due to their earn-as-you-learn model, where Sales Apprentices earn $9,000 over the 12-week training program. According to Vendition, nine out of 10 alumni are offered full-time employment after training and report earning an average salary of $78,570 OTE annually.

Read on as we delve into what makes Vendition’s Sales Apprenticeship program the right fit for college grads exploring their potential in tech sales. Plus, learn how two college graduates launched their tech careers after completing Vendition’s Sales Apprenticeship!

3 Ways Vendition Helps College Grads Pivot Into Tech Sales

To help Apprentices transition to a tech sales career, Vendition’s Sales Apprenticeship program rests on three pillars: quality training, comprehensive career preparation and development, and extensive support from industry experts.

Let’s break that down.

1. Vendition Instills a Strong Foundation in Tech Sales

After spending years to earn a college degree, entering an unfamiliar path and starting from scratch can be nerve-racking.

Vendition shares that many fresh college grad applicants often doubt their abilities due to their limited technical sales knowledge and skills. Add to the fact that they also do not know what to expect in the industry. Vendition explains, “Many aspiring tech sales professionals heard scary stories about the industry being cutthroat with a high failure rate.”

Backed by data gained from Apprentices and hiring managers, Vendition offers a paid Sales Apprenticeship that instills the right core skillset, mindset, and attitude to thrive in the competitive world of tech sales.

Through experiential learning, Apprentices solidify their knowledge of the sales cycle. In detail, they learn to:

• Prospect and qualify sales leads;
• Identify opportunities;
• Increase the sales conversion rate or the number of sales-qualified leads converted into new customers; and
• Integrate sales tools to aid project management, customer communication, and lead generation.

The training program lasts 12 weeks—giving Apprentices time to build their confidence and competencies to become high-performing tech sales talents.

It is worth noting that Vendition continuously develops its program with industry-related trends and demands in mind. As a result, Vendition says it produces tech salespeople ready hit the ground running even before graduation.

2. Vendition Prepares You for the Job Market

Upon admission to the program, a Vendition Career Advisor helps you determine your skills, aptitude, and interest in sales. They also show you ways to perfect your resume and cover letter and impress prospective employers through Vendition’s interview bootcamp.

From there, a Relationship Manager matches your skillset and interests to a list of companies you can apply to, then supports you each step through the interview process.

As a college grad, you’ll likely have little to no related work experience. To help you stand out, Vendition will help you explore transferable skills that you can bring into your new role. Simultaneously, you will complete an introductory training to tech sales, arming you with sufficient knowledge to answer interview questions effectively.

Once you get a job offer, a Vendition Sales Coach works alongside you to help you strategize and win deals like an expert. Think of your coach as your professional compass, providing advice and insider techniques to reach your career milestones.

3. Vendition Brings You a Supportive Community of SDR Professionals and Mentors

Vendition’s core team includes Career Advisors who work tirelessly to provide you with the best learning experience as you prepare to launch into your SDR role. Consider them your allies in navigating roadblocks that may prevent you from landing a tech sales job. With their help, you can approach interviews with confidence!

Once hired, a Sales Development Coach works with you to assess and motivate your progress on the job. Eddie Cortez, a Senior Sales Development Coach at Vendition,  shares that a crucial part of his job is helping Apprentices develop a growth mindset that can weather the high-pressure nature of tech sales. In effect, they can focus on their goals and achieve positive results.

Eddie takes immense pride in the mentorship aspect of his sales coaching role, noting, “We want to see our Apprentices succeed as people and as sales professionals.”

Finally, Vendition’s Apprenticeship Program attracts people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, allowing college grads who share a genuine interest in tech sales to become members of a vibrant alumni community after completing the program. Vendition Alumni benefit from peer networking, ongoing mentorship opportunities, and resources to help them succeed on their career path.

Can Vendition Get You Hired in Tech Sales?

The short answer: Yes.

But don’t take our word for it. Instead, learn how Peter Samaras and Kim Nguyen transitioned into tech sales right out of college.

Business Grad Turned Tech Sales Pro

Peter Samaras had just graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration when the COVID-19 pandemic put the job market at a standstill, forcing him to reassess his career direction.

“I explored different things that leaned toward the marketing and advertising realm. I also worked odd jobs to make ends meet while applying for better job opportunities,” shares Peter.

Knowing that his father found success in sales, Peter decided to apply his skills in the same field. He took his first step by applying to Venditon, which he praised for its high accessibility.

After passing the application process, Peter met with Gabriella Cuevas, a Senior Relationship Manager, who prepared him for job interviews and found Apprenticeship opportunities that fit him.

“Gabriella made sure we had a seamless process, from the interview prep phase to getting job opportunities. She gave me a lot of learning resources during the Vendition training and my interviews, too,” says Peter.

He received an offer to apprentice as an SDR at Zenefits, a Software as a Service (SaaS) company catering to businesses that need a cloud-based HR management platform. “I did two to three job interviews. But when I met with Zenefits’ team, we clicked right away. I knew I wanted to work with them. I felt that it was a good environment to be a part of.”

Adjusting to your first professional role right out of college is never easy. But with the company’s guidance and the Vendition mentorship, Peter quickly grasped what his role entails.

Aside from the technical skills he gained, Peter credits Vendition for strengthening his mindset, which is instrumental in surviving a high-pressure job.

He says: “Sales is full of ups and downs, and Vendition helped me cope with that. They taught me that being consistent, trusting the process, and focusing on the little things would pay off. It was a huge tenet that kept everything in perspective that I always go back to whenever I face difficulties in my career.”

Since graduating from Vendition, Peter has climbed the career ladder in less than two years, moving from an SDR to an SMB Account Executive at Zenefits.

Diving Deeper into Tech Sales with a Tight-Knit Community

Influenced by her previous sales internships in college, Kim Nguyen knew she wanted to pursue a career in the field. But, to do so, she needed further training to prepare her for the job market.

So, Kim applied to join Vendition and landed an apprenticeship at Postclick. “My Relationship Manager helped me prepare for the interviews by reviewing questions that a company may ask,” says Kim. “She also tried hard to match me with a job that I wanted and not place me just anywhere for the sake of having a job.”

Kim says about her apprenticeship: “I was under-prepared for my previous interviews before joining Vendition because I had no idea what real-world sales was like. Even if you do research, experiencing it firsthand is different. I learned a lot of new things from the program, and it certainly prepared me for the work I do now.”

Vendition built her confidence to tackle the challenges head-on. She also found support through fellow Apprentices who started at the same time at Postclick.

“It’s nice having someone who can relate to you,“ says Kim. “When we were all new to the job, we would make an hour call with Vendition every day just to hop on and work together. I never experienced that kind of support before.”

After completing her Apprenticeship, Kim was offered a full-time position at Postclick. A few months later, she was promoted to senior SDR, where she brought in over $1 million worth of revenue.

Kim explains, “The company created a new role that would fit my long-term career goals and promoted me as their first senior SDR. I feel loved and valued, which makes going to work all the more enjoyable.”

Get On-the-Job Tech Sales Training with Vendition

Like Kim and Peter, starting a new career in tech sales is possible. All you have to do is take a leap of faith, commit, and let Vendition open doors to fulfilling career opportunities. And with its paid Apprenticeship model, you have nothing to lose. Apply to Vendition today and jumpstart your career in tech sales!