Hey everyone!

I’m currently working in B2B SaaS sales and have previously worked at Salesforce and Cisco. Over the past few months, I’ve also spent a lot of time helping people transition from backgrounds like EdTech, B2C sales, freshers break into B2B SaaS sales.

Happy to answer questions about:

• Breaking into tech sales
• SDR/BDR interviews
• Cold calling
• Career growth
• Compensation
• Resume & LinkedIn
• SaaS fundamentals
• Or anything else related to B2B SaaS sales

I’ll answer as honestly as I can based on my experience.

P.S. Full transparency - Reddit is one of the channels through which people discover me, so this AMA also helps me connect with potential clients. I hope that’s okay with the community. My goal is to provide genuine value, regardless of whether we ever work together.

I share these as bonus learning material inside my coaching program, and I thought people in this community who are trying to break into SaaS sales could benefit from them too.

If you’re preparing for SDR/BDR interviews, here’s a free learning path I’d recommend.

Sales Fundamentals (Apollo Academy)

• How to Master Discovery Calls https://www.apollo.io/academy/master-classes/how-to-master-discovery-to-win-more-deals
• How to Write Cold Emails https://www.apollo.io/academy/master-classes/how-to-write-cold-emails-anyone-will-respond-to
• Outbound 101 (How to Do Outbound from Scratch) https://www.apollo.io/academy/master-classes/building-a-world-class-outbound-program

Interview Preparation

• How to Introduce Yourself https://www.linkedin.com/posts/semwalx_one-of-the-easiest-ways-to-introduce-yourself-share-7481910456480071680-8Nh8/
• How to Answer “Why BDR?” https://www.linkedin.com/posts/semwalx_one-of-the-easiest-ways-to-fail-an-sdr-interview-share-7477933479817789441-xGrW/
• How Would You Prospect for This Role? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/semwalx_salesinterviews-interviewprep-share-7476536406778249216-T8RO/

These are all free and should give you a solid foundation before you start interviewing.

I’m also curating a list of the best free cold-calling masterclasses available online. If that’s something you’d find useful, let me know in the comments and I’ll research and share them as well.

Connect with me on LinkedIn @ click here.

I have close to 5 years of workex in B2B SaaS sales, worked with Salesforce, Cisco, etc...

Happy to answer if you're planning to join SaaS sales and have any doubts around the same..

Marketing: Creating a Brand Identity. Content Calendar. Systems to create infotainment content.

Pre Sales: Prospect, Qualify, Book Meeting (Pre Sales)

Would prefer T2 College Students (Internship Budget is limited)

First Month: Commission Only (10-15%)
Second Month: 10k + Commission (Basis First Month Performance)
Third Month: 15k + Commission

DM, if interested

I’ve been speaking to a lot of people in B2C sales (mostly edtech, real estate, and insurance) who are trying to transition into B2B SaaS.

Interestingly, the #1 reason they mention isn’t money. It’s the work-life balance. Most of them talk about 6-day weeks, weekend shifts, 10-12+ hour days, and having to work when customers are free.

It got me wondering: Are there any B2C sales industries that are actually known for having good work-life balance, reasonable hours, and mostly Monday-Friday schedules?

I’m not asking about income or career growth - just trying to understand whether the poor work-life balance is a problem with the B2C industries I’m seeing (edtech, real estate, insurance), or if it’s a common trait across most B2C sales roles.

Would love to hear from people who’ve worked in different B2C industries.

Hit me up with your questions on getting into SaaS Sales, I’ll try my best to answer them.

About me: 5 years in techsales, worked in Salesforce/ Cisco/ and more.

Started as SDR intern >> SDR >> BDR >> Account Manager (US / EMEA)

I recently completed 4 years in tech sales after my MBA (I had no prior work experience).

I started my career as an SDR at Salesforce.

Because of that, a lot of my network today consists of people who also started their careers there. I’ve had the chance to watch many of them grow over the last four years.

Here’s one example.

Career Progression

• SDR – ₹13.5 LPA (70:30 fixed-variable)
• Senior SDR – ₹14.5 LPA (70:30)
• BDR – ₹18.5 LPA (70:30)
• Senior BDR – ₹22.5 LPA (70:30)
• Account Executive (Switch) – ₹38 LPA (50:50 fixed-variable)

This entire journey took roughly four years.

Now here’s where it gets interesting.

Last year, this person achieved 175% of quota.

For people outside SaaS sales, that doesn’t simply mean earning 1.75× your CTC.

Most SaaS companies have accelerator plans.

Once you cross 100% quota, every additional deal pays disproportionately more.

So a seller at 175% quota can sometimes earn close to 2× their On-Target Earnings (OTE) before taxes, depending on the compensation plan.

And that’s before considering:

• SPIFs (think competitions/ side missions)
• President’s Club

Speaking of President’s Club…

Consistently finishing in the top 10% of sellers often earns you an invitation to an all-expenses-paid company trip.

Think:

• Hawaii
• Croatia
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• South East Asia

These aren’t cash rewards.

They’re recognition for top performance.

This particular individual is probably one of the most disciplined sellers I know.

• Never missed a quarter.
• Consistently exceeded targets.
• Won multiple SPIFs.
• Rarely had an “off” quarter.

If this trajectory continues, I wouldn’t be surprised if they cross ₹1 crore annual compensation within the next 5-6 years.

Not bad for someone working in a career that’s neither software engineering, consulting nor finance.

Also worth mentioning:

This is India market compensation.

There are sellers working US markets from India who can earn even more.

Is Tech Sales the Best Career?

No.

Like every profession, it has trade-offs.

You’ll deal with:

• Revenue pressure
• Quarterly targets
• Fear of missing quota
• Difficult customers
• Long sales cycles
• Stress during quarter-end

If you’re selling to international markets, you may also work odd hours.

Over time, sitting all day, night shifts and poor lifestyle habits can take a toll on your physical and mental health.

It’s not an easy career.

But it can be a very rewarding one.

Especially if you enjoy:

• Talking to people
• Understanding technology
• Solving business problems
• Working towards measurable goals

If coding, consulting or finance don’t excite you (or you don't qualify for them), I’d seriously consider SaaS sales.

One final thought.

People often ask me if AI will replace SDRs and Account Executives.

Maybe one day.

But today, the AI bill for many companies would cost more than hiring an SDR in India.

There’s still time.

If you’re trying to break into SaaS sales and don’t know where to start, that’s exactly why we built The SDR Project (DM for more details).

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

I’ve received hundreds of DMs over the last couple of years asking the same question:

“Can I get into SaaS sales without experience?”

The short answer is: Yes, but it would require effort.

In fact, most SDR (Sales Development Representative) roles are designed for people with 0-2 years of experience.

A little about me before I jump into the advice.

I started my SaaS sales journey as an SDR at Salesforce, later worked as a BDR at Cisco, and now run The SDR Project, where I coach people 1:1 to transition into SaaS sales.

Over the last year, we’ve helped people from EdTech, Banking, Insurance, Recruitment, Real Estate, and other industries break into B2B SaaS in companies like Adobe, Databricks, Zoom, MongoDB, Salesforce, Metricstream etc...at an average pay of INR 12.60 LPA

Here’s the exact playbook I’d follow if I had to start from scratch today.

Step 1: Understand what SaaS actually is.

Before applying, understand:

* What SaaS means

* How SaaS companies make money

* Why companies hire SDRs

* What the sales process looks like

If you don’t understand the business, interviews become much harder.

Step 2: Learn the different sales roles.

Understand the difference between:

* SDR

* BDR

* Account Executive (AE)

* Customer Success Manager (CSM)

* Account Manager (AM)

Many candidates apply without even knowing what each role does.

Step 3: Improve your communication.

This matters far more than people think.

You don’t need perfect English.

You need clear English.

Practice introducing yourself.

Practice telling stories.

Practice asking questions.

Sales is communication.

Step 4: Learn cold calling.

This is probably the single most valuable skill for an aspiring SDR.

Watch cold calls.

Record your own.

Practice mock calls.

The more uncomfortable it feels today, the easier interviews become tomorrow.

Step 5: Build a resume with sales numbers.

Don’t write:

Responsible for sales.

Write:

* Made 70 calls/day

* Generated ₹40L pipeline

* Closed ₹15L revenue

* Achieved 120% target

* Managed 300 customer accounts

Sales is measured in numbers.

Your resume should be too.

Step 6: Learn the tools.

You don’t need paid subscriptions.

Most popular SaaS tools have free learning resources.

Spend a few hours understanding:

* Salesforce

* HubSpot

* Apollo

* LinkedIn Sales Navigator

YouTube and official learning academies are more than enough.

Step 7: Apply aggressively.

Don’t apply to 10 companies.

Apply to 100.

Then apply to 100 more.

Volume matters.

Step 8: Don’t stop at applying.

This is where most candidates lose.

Find the hiring manager.

Reach out on LinkedIn.

Send an email.

Record a video introduction.

Show initiative.

You’re applying for a sales job.

Start selling.

Some of the best opportunities I’ve seen happened because candidates cold-called, cold-emailed or directly reached out to decision-makers.

Final thoughts

Breaking into SaaS sales is not as difficult as people make it sound.

It requires preparation.

Consistency.

Execution.

If you’re willing to put in the work, there’s no reason you can’t make the transition.

And if you’re completely lost, don’t know where to begin, or want a structured roadmap with 1:1 guidance, DM me.

Hope this helps, and happy to answer any questions in the comments.