How to get an SDR job in the UK with no sales experience
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An SDR (sales development representative) books meetings for account executives. You can get the role with no sales experience. This is the plan.
What the job is day to day
You research accounts, call, email and message prospects, and hand booked meetings to a closer. Most of the day is outreach. See a sample day in the SDR daily schedule.
What UK ads ask for
Two ads seen on 18 October 2026 aim at entry level:
- Sphere Digital Recruitment (London, hybrid) wants graduates or up to 1 year of experience. It asks for a 2:1 or higher.
- Hays (London) wants a recent graduate. It says no prior experience is required.
A third ad shows the other end. Brickwise, with a London office, asks for 1+ years of outbound SDR or BDR experience. Read the requirements before you apply.
Entry pay
Coursera's UK page gives an average SDR salary of £39,687. It cites Glassdoor, accessed 11 September 2024, and Glassdoor data is self-reported. The figure is two years old.
Live ads, seen 18 October 2026:
| Employer | Pay as advertised | Experience asked |
|---|---|---|
| Sphere Digital Recruitment | £35,000 plus £10,000 OTE. Headline: £40,000 a.p. | Graduate, up to 1 year |
| Hays | £30,000 per annum. Ad says realistic year-one OTE is £45,000 to £50,000 | None |
| Brickwise | £40,000 to £50,000 base. OTE £70,000 | 1+ years |
An ad on TargetJobs offered a £27,000 to £32,000 basic salary plus £15,000 OTE commission. It closed on 29 July 2026. Past ads show the range, not what is open now. For more pay data see SDR salary in the UK.
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A four-week plan
- Week 1: write one CV. Put results first, such as numbers hit, targets met or people signed up. Add a short line on why sales.
- Week 2: write five practice cold emails. Each one is under 80 words and has one ask.
- Week 3: practise cold calls out loud with a friend. Record yourself. Use the mock cold call interview page.
- Week 4: send 15 applications. Log each one in the free job tracker.
Keep going after week four. Send five new applications a week and chase each one after five working days.
Where to find roles
- TargetJobs lists graduate sales roles.
- Reed, Totaljobs and CV-Library list SDR roles by city.
- Recruiters post SDR roles for software firms. Ask them these questions.
The interview
A process can include a recruiter call, a manager call and a role play. The role play may be a cold call or a discovery call. Practise with the sales role play interview page.
At offer stage, check base, OTE and ramp terms. See how to negotiate OTE.
Sources
- Coursera, sales development representative (UK)
- Sphere Digital Recruitment SDR ad, seen 18 October 2026
- Hays graduate sales ad on Reed, seen 18 October 2026
- Brickwise SDR ad on Y Combinator, seen 18 October 2026
- TargetJobs graduate SDR ad, closed 29 July 2026
Questions
Can I become an SDR with no sales experience?
Yes. The Hays ad above asks for a recent graduate and says no prior experience is required. Others ask for up to a year.
Do I need a degree?
Some ads ask for a 2:1, as the Sphere ad does. Others do not say. Check each ad.
What does an SDR earn at the start?
The ads above show £30,000 to £50,000 base. OTE runs from £45,000 to £70,000. Commission depends on hitting target.
Also: SDR mock cold call interview, SDR CV example, free SDR training, SDR vs BDR.
Related guides
SDR CV example for the UK
Two full examples and a bullet bank.
SDR mock cold call interview
For SDR and BDR screens: four stages, a script and a 48 hour plan.
SDR daily schedule template
An example day in call, email and admin blocks.
Run your search like a pipeline
A Notion kit for sellers changing roles. It has a target list and a pipeline board with follow-ups due. It also has recruiter scripts, negotiation scripts and an offer calculator for year-one pay. £14, one payment, plus VAT for UK and EU buyers.
Principled Pitch is independent. Pay, quotas and hiring processes vary by company and country. Check the details of any role with the recruiter.