Business Development Associate, Early Career

salesforce.com, inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 63,200 - 69,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) plan

Employee stock purchase program

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Salesforce.com, inc. is hiring a Business Development Associate in Chicago. In this role, you will manage inbound and outbound leads while learning about sales operations and leveraging AI tools. The program offers a unique chance to advance to a Sales Development Representative position upon completion.

This position supports career growth in a performance-focused environment, requiring strong communication skills and a willingness to embrace coaching. Benefits include comprehensive health plans and competitive compensation, reflecting your skills and experience.

Qualifications

• Hungry to grow your career and work toward ambitious targets.
• Comfortable engaging with new people and making phone calls.
• Curious, resourceful, and take ownership of your work.

Responsibilities

• Manage a high volume of inbound and outbound leads.
• Drive operational excellence by maintaining Salesforce data integrity.
• Gain hands-on experience with Salesforce’s cutting-edge AI tools.

Skills

Customer-facing experience

Familiarity with CRM tools

Strong communication skills

Data-driven decision making

Tools

Salesforce

AI tools

Job description

About Futureforce University Recruiting

Our Futureforce University Recruiting program is dedicated to attracting, retaining and cultivating talent. Interns and new graduates work on real projects that affect how our business runs, giving them the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future of our company. With offices all over the world, our recruits have the chance to collaborate and connect with fellow employees on a global scale. We offer job shadowing, mentorship programs, talent development courses, and much more.

Job Category

Sales

Job Details

Title: Business Development Associate at Salesforce

Start Date: August 3, 2026

Relocation is not provided for this opportunity.

The Experience

As a Business Development Associate at Salesforce, you are joining the world's #1 AI CRM and the platform powering the Agentic Enterprise with Agentforce to redefine how business is done. This role is a unique hybrid of inbound/outbound prospecting and sales operations, designed to give you a competitive advantage from day one. You will work alongside experienced sales leaders in our SMB business, learning to drive pipeline growth, leverage cutting-edge AI tools, and optimize the workflows that power a high-performing sales team. Successful completion of this 3 to 5 month program positions you to advance directly into the Sales Development Representative role with a technical and operational edge that sets you apart. We hire driven individuals who are energized by the pace and impact of a client‑facing sales career and are ready to grow in a fast‑paced environment. You will be supported by a team built on trust and innovation, with continuous mentorship and collaborative problem‑solving to help you bring your full self to work and make a tangible impact.

What You’ll Actually Be Doing

• Strategically managing and prioritizing a high volume of inbound and outbound leads, learning to navigate complex conversations, handle objections, and push through rejection on the path to building a strong pipeline.
• Driving operational excellence by maintaining Salesforce data integrity, optimizing lead flows, and improving pipeline hygiene to keep the sales team running at peak efficiency.
• Getting hands‑on experience with Salesforce’s most cutting‑edge AI tools, helping shape how our team works smarter and faster.

You’re Our Person If

• Hungry to grow your career and enjoy working toward ambitious targets in a fast‑paced, performance‑focused role.
• Comfortable engaging with new people and eager to get on the phone.
• Curious, resourceful, and take ownership of your work even when the path forward isn’t always clear.
• Make informed decisions, naturally curious, not afraid to experiment with new approaches, use data to prioritize, and embrace coaching and feedback as fuel for your growth.

Even Better If

• Previous experience in a customer‑facing role
• Familiarity with CRM tools or data management

Accolations

This position is ineligible for visa sponsorship.

Accommodations

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please submit a request via the Accommodations Request Form.

Posting Statement

Salesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non‑discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications—without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit.

Benefits

In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. More details about company benefits can be found at https://www.salesforcebenefits.com. The typical base salary range for this position is $63,200 annually. In California, New York and select metropolitan cities, the base pay range is $69,500 per year. The range represents base salary only, and does not include company bonus, incentive for sales roles, equity or other benefits, as applicable.