The Job that 50% of My Friends Do That No One Talks About

There’s a job out there where:

• You don’t need to code.

• You don’t need a perfect GPA.

• You can make $150K within two years.

• If you are really good, you can clear $1-2M a year.

It’s called tech sales. And if you haven’t heard about it yet, that’s not your fault. Colleges pretty much ignore this path. But funny enough, over 50% of my friends do tech sales. In fact, at most tech companies, the best salespeople are the highest paid in the entire company – even sometimes earning more than the CEO or executive team. It’s because salespeople are valuable – they are the ones who actually drive real growth.

The official titles are usually "Sales Development Representative (SDR)" or "Account Executive (AE)." The entry-level version is SDR, and it’s the stepping stone to AE (where the big commissions live).

What does that actually mean?

• You work at a tech company, usually SaaS (software as a service - which means they sell their software to other companies, usually in a recurring annual contract).

• This could be a company as big as Oracle, that hires hundreds of salespeople a year.

• Or as small as a tiny startup with a few people, who may only have 2 or 3 salespeople.

Your job is to help sell their software product to other companies. 

• You learn their product inside and out.

• You help identify potential customers, reach out to them, and set up meetings or help close deals to sell their software to other companies.

• You use tools like Salesforce, ZoomInfo, Outreach, and LinkedIn to build pipelines (prospective clients) and move deals forward.

• At the entry level, you will spend a lot of time reaching out cold to people at other businesses, in the hopes of setting up a meeting so you can pitch your company’s product.

It’s sales, yes. But it’s consultative, not pushy. You’re helping businesses solve real problems with tech tools. You’re asking smart questions, building trust, and proving ROI.

Why this role is a cheat code:

• Training: Most companies train you from zero. You’ll get scripts, shadow calls, and coaching.

• Pay: Base salary + commission = real upside fast. Many reps hit $100K+ in year 2.

• Growth: You can move to closing roles, management, or into customer success, product, or marketing afterwards. Or stay in sales if you love it and are good at it and you will be a top paid person at your company. No matter what, people want people who can succeed in sales.

• Soft Skills: You learn how to pitch, write great emails, speak clearly, handle rejection, and manage your own pipeline. These are life skills, not just job skills.

Who crushes in tech sales?

• Athletes: You understand competition, goal-setting, and routine.

• Fraternity guys: You’re comfortable talking to people and leading social environments.

• Anyone with grit: If you’ve waited tables, worked in retail, cold-called—you're already 3 steps ahead.

How to break in if you’re interested:

• Step 1: Go to LinkedIn. Search "Sales Development Representative" and filter for your college alumni.

• Step 2: Pick 5 companies. DM someone in that role. Ask how they got there and what their day-to-day looks like.

• Step 3: If you’re a senior looking for a full time role, apply—even if you feel underqualified. You’re being evaluated more on coachability than credentials. And especially in sales, your resume doesn’t really matter. It’s all about you as a person. If you’re a freshman – junior, see if there’s any sales internships and apply to those.

• Step 4: Practice mock calls. Record yourself pitching a product. Show you can communicate. These interviews are all about showing you can hustle and sell.

This path isn’t for everyone. It’s competitive, rejection-heavy, and fast-paced. But if you want to grow fast, earn real money, and build confidence in your ability to connect with people, tech sales is one of the best-kept secrets out there. You can make $250K-$300K 4-6 years out of college.

You don’t need to go to a top school or have top grades, but you will earn an income like you did. It’s a path that somehow no one ever talks about it, even though it’s one of the most popular jobs for students right out of college.