In short
- You don't need sales experience or a technical degree. You need proof you can research, write and talk to people.
- Build three work samples: a target company list, an outreach sequence and a recorded mock call.
- Apply less, target more: a shortlist of companies and direct messages to hiring managers tend to work better than hundreds of portal applications.
- Expect starting pay of around ₹4.5–8 LPA including variable pay at B2B SaaS companies.
On this page
What hiring managers look for in freshers
- Clear, confident communication in English (a perfect accent isn't needed)
- Curiosity about how businesses work
- Evidence you can handle rejection
- Basic comfort with tools: spreadsheets, a CRM, LinkedIn and AI assistants
- Coachability: you take feedback and improve
Step 1: Learn the basics
Understand how B2B SaaS companies sell: ideal customer profiles, buyer personas, the sales funnel and how qualification works. Our sales glossary covers the terms you'll hear in interviews.
Step 2: Build three work samples
- 1A target list: 20–30 companies that fit a product you like, with one reason each might buy.
- 2An outreach sequence: three short emails and one LinkedIn message for one of those companies.
- 3A recorded mock call: a five-minute discovery call with a friend playing the buyer.
These give an interviewer something concrete to look at, which matters more for freshers than any certificate on its own.
Step 3: Fix your LinkedIn and résumé
- Use a headline like "Aspiring SDR | B2B SaaS" rather than only your degree
- Add your work samples as featured links
- Show any customer-facing experience: internships, college events, part-time jobs
- Keep the résumé to one page, with numbers wherever you can
Step 4: Run your search like an SDR
Make a shortlist of SaaS companies hiring SDRs in your city or remotely. Find the SDR manager or head of sales on LinkedIn. Send a short note that shows you've researched the company, and include one of your work samples. Follow up once or twice, politely.
Step 5: Prepare for the interview
- Expect a role-play cold call: practise opening, asking questions and handling "not interested"
- Know the company's product, customers and competitors
- Have two stories ready: one about handling rejection, one about hitting a goal
- Ask about targets, training and the path to Account Executive
Questions people ask
Can a fresher become an SDR?
Yes. Many companies hire freshers as SDRs and train them. Work samples and clear communication help you stand out.
Which degree is best for an SDR job?
Any degree works. Graduates from arts, commerce, management and science all become SDRs.
How many applications should I send?
Fewer, better-targeted applications usually work better than mass applying. A shortlist of companies plus direct messages to hiring managers is more effective than applying everywhere.
Want structured training for this?
The AI SDR & GTM Certification Program is a 3-month, hour-a-day online program that trains you for SDR jobs at B2B SaaS companies and helps you run your job search.