The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Digital Sales Associate / SDR
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Lead qualification, cold outreach (email/call), CRM basics, understanding product value propositions, handling initial objections.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently hitting or exceeding targets for booked meetings or qualified leads.
- Strong understanding of our target customer and their pain points.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new sales tools quickly.
- 2
Inside Sales Representative (Traditional)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Full sales cycle management, closing smaller deals, building rapport over the phone, basic negotiation, pipeline management.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven track record of hitting revenue targets for a full sales cycle.
- Ability to manage a pipeline of multiple opportunities simultaneously.
- Strong closing skills and comfort with negotiation.
- Eagerness to transition to a more digitally-focused sales approach.
- 3
Marketing Specialist (with sales exposure)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding lead generation, marketing automation, customer journey mapping, basic sales principles, data analysis for campaign performance.
You're ready to move on when
- Deep understanding of the digital customer journey and lead lifecycle.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret marketing data.
- Demonstrated interest in moving into a direct revenue-generating role.
- Some experience interacting with customers or prospects.