Sales Development Representative - US Apprenticeship

Kick-Start Your Career in Tech Sales

Sales Development Representatives are essential to growing a company’s revenue. They generate new opportunities, build pipelines, qualify prospects, and support Account Executives in closing strategic deals.

 

In this apprenticeship program, you’ll learn how to:

• Research and target high-value prospects using Ideal Customer Profiles (ICP) and digital tools.

• Deliver persuasive product demos adapted to customer needs.

• Run multi-touch outreach campaigns using email, phone, and LinkedIn.

• Handle objections with confidence using professional sales frameworks.

• Maintain clean Customer Relationship Management (CRM) data and generate actionable Key Performance Indicators (KPI) dashboards.

• Support Account Executives (AEs) in preparing proposals, pricing, and Return on Investment (ROI) analysis.

What Skills Will You Learn?

This program develops the full skills expected from Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) in the U.S. job market, including those outlined by the Department of Labor:

 

Core SDR Skills

• Build persuasive product demos and presentations.

• Write effective cold emails, call scripts & LinkedIn messages.

• Research and qualify leads using ICP targeting & frameworks (BANT, CHAMP…).

• Handle objections using reframing, micro-agreements & professional tone.

• Recommend product solutions aligned to customer needs and pain points.

CRM, Reporting & Sales Operations

• Maintain accurate customer and campaign records in CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot…).

• Create error logs, update lead lists, tag records & track sales sequences.

• Build KPI dashboards (SQLs, reply rates, conversions...).

• Generate weekly performance reports for your sales team.

• Help your company land deals by assisting your AE.

• Build pricing, ROI, and value-based proposal decks.

• Prepare opportunity summaries and meeting handoff notes.

• Support negotiation scenarios and follow up to increase show-up rates.

AI-Enhanced Productivity

• Use AI to write scripts, polish emails, generate presentations & prepare sales conversations.

• Use AI-integrated CRM tools to improve accuracy and efficiency.

How Do OpenClassrooms Apprenticeships Work? 

Apprenticeship programs combine paid on-the-job learning with online project-based instruction that equips employees for high-demand careers in data, technology, and business development.

 

Here’s how it works:

1. Onboarding (2-3 weeks prior to start of apprenticeship): Familiarizes both the apprentice and the employer with the training components and requirements. 
2. Pre-apprenticeship (3 months of training): Provides the apprentice with scenario-based project learning coupled with weekly mentorship and skills-building courses in preparation for the formal apprenticeship program.
3. Apprenticeship (12 months on-the-job, with one day per week of instruction): Continues to build apprentice’s skills via on-the-job training, corresponding online instruction, and weekly one-to-one mentoring sessions. 
4. Get certified! Following completion of the apprenticeship program, apprentices earn an industry-recognized and nationally portable credential from the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Projects

At OpenClassrooms, learning is project-driven because that’s the fastest way to become proficient. Projects offer hands-on experience so you can hit the ground running when you start your new job.  

 

This path has seven projects that you’ll need to complete, one at a time. You’ll receive a detailed brief with the context, customer requirements, and additional details. Then it’s up to you to go and make it real! To do this, you’ll have to be creative, coming up with innovative solutions to the questions at hand.

 

Want to see an example of a project? Read our blog post here.

Online But Never Alone! 

Throughout your training, you'll be guided by a mentor, a seasoned industry professional. You'll be able to schedule one-to-one sessions with your mentor, who’ll provide you with support and guidance to complete your projects.

 

 

As a mentor, my role is to support students and share my professional experience in the field of cybersecurity. What's exciting is to guide and accompany enthusiastic and motivated students, as this allows us to develop our pedagogical skills and transmit our passion for this constantly evolving field. Thomas

Are You Eligible for This Apprenticeship?

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, you must demonstrate proof of the following prerequisites:

• Have a high school/secondary school degree, vocational certificate, or equivalent.
• Be over 18 years of age and have the right to work in the U.S.

Technical prerequisites:

To get the most out of this program, you should already have basic experience in sales or business communication, including:

• Understanding customer needs and market segmentation
• Familiarity with digital tools for communication (email, LinkedIn, CRM, or spreadsheets)
• Knowledge of prospecting and outreach principles (ICP, personalization, follow-up)
• Basic ability to conduct online research on companies and markets
• Comfortable using AI-assisted writing tools to draft emails, scripts, or presentations

Relevant experience can be shown by having successfully completed the following OpenClassrooms courses or an equivalent preparatory training.

• Create an Effective Email Campaign
• Manage Your Customer Relationships With CRM

Language: a good level of English (for non-native speakers, a CEFR level of B2, an IELTS band score of 6.5, or a TOEFL score of 80 is recommended).

 

Equipment: access to a computer (PC or Mac), headphones, a webcam, and a stable internet connection.

Important Information About Starting Your Apprenticeship

To begin your journey as a Sales Development Representative apprentice, you'll need to be employed by a company that supports your apprenticeship. If you haven't yet secured an employer, don't worry—OpenClassrooms is here to help. Our team can provide guidance and resources to connect you with potential employers who align with your career aspirations.

 

Start your apprenticeship with confidence, knowing that we're committed to supporting you every step of the way.

Information About Degrees

OpenClassrooms is a higher education institution, accredited by the WASC Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC).

 

Upon completion of this program, eligible students will be awarded an Associate’s level degree in the Business and Commerce area of study. OpenClassrooms is eligible to issue degrees in the following states.