Vendition has caught the attention of many aspiring tech sales professionals with its one-of-a-kind paid Sales Apprenticeship program. Not only can you access an effective Sales Development Representative (SDR) training program for free, Apprentices are paid $9,000 total over the course of the 12-week training program, making it easier for you to focus on your training and less on your expenses.
For years, Vendition has successfully bridged the gap between its Apprentices and exciting tech sales opportunities. The secret? Vendition is run like a well-oiled machine by a dedicated team of experts who puts the needs of their Vendition Apprentices at its core.
Vendition’s team of experienced career advisors and sales development coaches is devoted to setting individuals up for long-term success in the tech sales industry. Read on to discover how they help Vendition Apprentices prepare for career success. From resume tips and mock interview training to tactical on-the-job coaching, they’re here to support.
Vendition strives to bring together brilliant minds to provide all-around support and mentorship to its SDR apprentices as they make the leap into tech sales.
Launch a career in tech sales with Vendition.Meet Vendition’s Team of Passionate Career Supporters
We sat down with two integral members of Vendition’s A-team to learn more program info; with that, meet:
- Penelope Yamauchi, Director of Candidate Experience
- Eddie Cortez, Senior Sales Development Coach
Penelope and Eddie both feel strongly about guiding and connecting people with the right career opportunities. Let’s learn more about how each of them play a part in helping you land your dream tech sales role.
Eddie says, “We want to see our Apprentices succeed as people and as sales professionals. Vendition has a unique approach to coaching, a great curriculum, and a team of amazing coaches and advisors to realize that goal. That’s what makes us unique and a great choice for those who want to pivot to tech sales.”
Penelope Helps Sales Apprentices Conquer 3 Top Challenges
Guided by her passion for connecting people with the right career opportunities, Penelope landed a role that aligns with her values. As Vendition’s Director of Candidate Experience, Penelope focuses on spearheading initiatives that help Vendition candidates become job-ready.
Penelope says, “I’ve got a soft spot for underdogs, having been one myself as a competitive athlete with no job experience coming out of college. Through the work I do at Vendition, I’m grateful to help bridge the gap between diverse talent and SDR opportunities.”
This includes preparing candidates for one-on-one and group interviews via its interview bootcamp, refining their resume and cover letter, and giving them career tips that increase their chances of getting noticed and hired. Penelope is highly motivated to make a positive impact.
Penelope’s team also puts a lot of effort into addressing three top challenges that Vendition Apprentices usually face:
- Lack of confidence;
- Fear of rejection; and
- Leveraging transferable skills
1. Lack of confidence
Given that most candidates in the program are new to tech sales, many are unfamiliar with the interview process. Penelope and her team address this by assigning exercises that boost their confidence.
She says, “We help them reflect on their challenges, strengths, and weaknesses and ask them to provide specific examples of each. This allows them to get a structured overview of their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. Through practice and exercises, they get a better idea of what they can do.”
In addition to boosting skills with actionable worksheets, there’s an interactive element. “We use interview recordings so candidates can review the feedback given to them,” says Penelope.
Over time, Vendition candidates become more competent and build confidence in themselves.
2. Fear of rejection
Don’t let fear of rejection keep you from committing to your goals. Rejection is a normal part of the job-hunting process yet a hard pill to swallow. The more prepared you are to handle potential rejections, the more gracefully you will move through them, should they occur.
Penelope and her team reduce the likelihood of candidates getting rejected by working closely with them and their partner employers. As preparation is key to success, she also stresses the importance of conducting deep research when applying for different roles.
“You should know everything from why you want to work for this company, to who their leaders and competitors are, to what their core values are.”
Serving as career matchmakers, Vendition’s career advisors ensure that the opportunities they present to candidates fit their work personality, expectations, and qualifications. As a result, Vendition candidates have a higher chance of getting hired once they apply for a job.
3. Leveraging transferable skills
Penelope adds that candidates tend to undersell themselves during interviews because they do not yet know how to leverage the transferable skills they bring from working in prior industries such as hospitality, education, customer service, healthcare, and retail. These people have skills that are desirable in tech sales roles, such as strong communication and problem-solving.
She explains, “We train them on how to connect their non-sales skills and experiences to being an SDR.” If they manage to do this correctly, it effectively diminishes their limitations and highlights their versatility. Applying what you’ve learned in past roles is all about making the connection. After all, if you can upsell a margarita or teach a classroom, you can sell software.
This is only the beginning of your journey. To help you thrive in your Apprenticeship, Vendition mentors hone your skills and knowledge as you assimilate into your SDR role. One of the seasoned mentors you’ll meet is Eddie Cortez, Vendition’s Senior Sales Development Coach.
Eddie’s Sales Coaching Supports Career Development for All
As someone who started in the tech sales industry with no significant professional background, Eddie is familiar with the struggles that many career shifters and beginners face.
Eddie shares, “I had a tough time breaking into tech, but through perseverance, I got an opportunity to be an SDR in several companies. My last job before joining Vendition was at a Y Combinator company where I helped build their SDR team.”
Among the SDRs he had the opportunity to hire were Vendition graduates, whom he found impressive, to say the least. After leaving his job, he decided to leverage his love for coaching in a role producing promising tech sales professionals. So, he became an SDR coach at Vendition.
Daily Sales Coaching Calls
Eddie describes his day-to-day life as busy, managing 30 to 40 SDRs across multiple companies. He explains, “My day consists of working one-on-one and in group settings, where we have our coaching calls with the Apprentices.” Aside from providing tactical sales consultation, Eddie explains these coaching calls are also instrumental in alleviating any emotional and mental stress that candidates encounter at work.
Bridging the Gap for Career Switchers
Since Vendition attracts diverse applicants, including total beginners and career-switchers, Eddie constantly calibrates his mentorship approach to match each apprentice. As a result, their personalized training strategically targets their needs and weaknesses.
“The way I bridge the gap is essentially understanding each individual by building their trust in me. That’s where I discover their concerns. After that, I tailor a plan that addresses their needs and helps them achieve their goals.”
Mentorship to Inspire Tech Sales Professionals
Vendition Apprentices get to apply innovative solutions that they come up with to actual problems. With a supportive and knowledgeable team of mentors, Apprentices can seek help and motivation that fuels them in their journey.
“Many Apprentices struggle the most with the prospecting phase, particularly making cold calls,” says Eddie, “Receiving rejections from potential clients daily takes a while to get used to, but it’s part of the job. As coaches, that’s where we come in. We ingrain in them a strong mindset where they are not afraid of failure. We also supply them with tactics that help them overcome the challenges they may face.”
In addition to being a mentor, Eddie strives to serve as an inspiration to aspiring tech sales professionals and help them discover their full potential in the industry.
Get Paid to Learn Tech Sales with Vendition’s Apprenticeship
Pursuing career development through free formal training is not an opportunity afforded to many, but Vendition is passionate about tuition-free learning. Vendition remains steadfast in providing high-caliber SDR training accessible to all, including underserved and underrepresented communities, led by expert professionals like Eddie and Penelope.
Vendition has an impressive track record of contributing to the long-term success of its Apprentices. After completing the 12-week Sales Apprenticeship, 9 out of 10 Vendition Apprentices are offered full-time employment at reputable companies.
After completing their Apprenticeship, Vendition’s Alumni Community is teaming with hundreds of SDRs from across the US who have also embarked on the tech sales journey and are connecting for further career development and networking opportunities. Like them, this career path is accessible to you.
Start strong and get on the path to job readiness by applying to Vendition now!
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
