What the work looks like, week to week
- Research target companies and the right person to contact.
- Write personal emails and LinkedIn messages.
- Call, handle objections and qualify.
- Log every touch and next step in the CRM.
- Book meetings and hand over cleanly.
Try it: A day in inside sales
A short exercise built from the work above. Nothing leaves your browser.
A day in inside sales
Who this suits
Telecallers and sales staff who like targets, research and persistence.
Probably not for you if rejection drains you for days.
Free tools to start with (checked 26 Oct 2026)
- HubSpot free CRM. Practise logging (www.hubspot.com).
- HubSpot Academy. Free sales courses (academy.hubspot.com).
Your first proof
Pick 10 real companies in one industry. Research each, write a personal 4-line email, and log it all in a free CRM (don't send unless you mean it). Share the sheet as your sample.
Pay, honestly
We haven't verified pay data for this route. Ask about fixed and variable parts before you accept any offer.
Your realistic 90 days
You will research, contact and qualify potential customers and book meetings, logged in a CRM.
Assumes 2–3 hours a day alongside job applications, a laptop and a phone, and free plans only. Every step has a smaller version and a way to pause. Use them. It runs in three blocks of 30 days, each ending with a signal that you're on track. A signal is not a promise of a job or income.
Worries people bring to this route
- Only telecalling experience. That's the core skill.
- Gap. A research sheet answers it.
- No degree. Many hire on results.
- English. India-facing roles use Hindi too.
- Family. SaaS sales is a career path.
- Need money. SDR roles hire often.
What AI changed in your old tasks
| You used to… | Now you… |
|---|---|
| Dialled from a list | Research then contact |
| Read a script | Personalise each message |
| Paper notes | CRM records |
Your first 7 days
| Day | Task | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pick an industry | Chosen |
| 2 | List 10 companies | 10 rows |
| 3 | Find the right role at each | 10 titles |
| 4 | Write 10 personal emails | 10 drafts |
| 5 | Log them in HubSpot free CRM | Logged |
| 6 | Write your 20 best objection answers | 20 lines |
| 7 | Save 10 postings | 10 links |
Days 1–30: A research sheet
| Step | Time | Done when | Smaller version | If you need to pause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build a 10-company research and outreach sheet | about 8 hours over 3 weeks | sheet | 5 companies. | Stop at the end of the step you're on and write two lines about where you stopped. Pick it up from those notes later. |
| Show it to 5 people who hire for this | about 1 hour | 5 messages | Show it to 2 people who hire for this. | Optional. If reaching out feels like too much this week, skip it and put the time into your proof. |
Signal by day 30: A sales manager comments.
Days 31–60: Interviews for inside sales sdr roles
| Step | Time | Done when | Smaller version | If you need to pause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record a 3-minute mock discovery call | about 8 hours | recording | Script only. | Put it on hold until your current interviews are done, then come back to it. |
| Apply to 10 inside sales sdr roles | about 5 hours | 10 logged | Apply to 5 roles. | Stop sending for now. Keep a list of who you've contacted so you can follow up later without doubling up. |
Signal by day 60: A role-play round.
Days 61–90: Interviews for inside sales sdr roles
| Step | Time | Done when | Smaller version | If you need to pause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practise a cold call role-play | about 2 hours | 2 practice runs | 1 run. | Optional. Skip it if the week is full; nothing later depends on it. |
| Ask 3 people for referrals into inside sales sdr teams | about 2 hours | 3 asks | Just one instead of 3. | Stop sending for now. Keep a list of who you've contacted so you can follow up later without doubling up. |
Signal by day 90: A second round or a paid trial.
Where the openings are, and what to type
Also worth a weekly look: Instahyre, Cutshort, Wellfound, and iimjobs or hirist for senior roles. Upwork and Contra if you want freelance work.
SaaS, IT services, fintech, edtech. Naukri and LinkedIn.
- LinkedIn search string:
(SDR OR BDR OR "inside sales" OR "business development representative") - Naukri / foundit keywords: inside sales, SDR, BDR, business development executive
Job-hunt moves that matter for this route
- Search 'SDR', 'BDR', 'inside sales', 'business development executive' on Naukri and LinkedIn.
- Show your call numbers and a research sheet.
- SaaS and services firms hire SDRs often (observation).
Your 30/60/90 quests
XP: learning 20 · proof 60 · outreach 40. Ranks: Wayfinder → Builder → Pathmaker. Progress stays in your browser only.
Fake-job traps
Watch for 'marketing internships' that charge a registration or certificate fee, 'work from home' review or like-and-earn tasks, and anyone asking for an OTP, UPI PIN or a deposit before you start. Real employers never charge you to hire you. Use official domains only. Report in India at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930; in the US, ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Common questions
Is it just cold calling? Calls are one part; research and email matter as much.
International roles? Many Indian firms sell abroad; clear English helps.
Targets? Yes. Ask how they're set.
Marketing hub
Quick quiz: does this path fit?
Answer each, then press Check. Every answer explains itself.
Make your Path Card
A shareable reminder of where you're heading. The day count starts the first time you open this page; quest XP comes from your log above.
Scam check before you apply anywhere
- Real job and gig platforms are free to join. Never pay a "joining" or "training" fee.
- Never share an OTP or UPI PIN — no genuine employer needs them.
- Use official domains only; type the address yourself.
- India: report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
- US: report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Small steps, every day.
Each quest has a smaller version for hard weeks, and a pause button. Nothing is lost.
Keep exploring
Sources
Checked 26 Oct 2026. We opened every link below ourselves. Search volumes on this site come from OpenSEO keyword research (Oct 2026).
| What we checked | Where |
|---|---|
| HubSpot Academy | academy.hubspot.com |
| WEF Future of Jobs 2025: slower growth a top driver for Business Development Professionals and Sales Representatives | weforum.org |
| HubSpot free CRM | hubspot.com |