Business Development Associate, Early Career

Leadout Capital; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Salesforce in Chicago is seeking a Business Development Associate for a 3-5 month program designed to launch a Sales Development Representative career. You will learn inbound/outbound prospecting, navigate complex conversations, and gain hands-on experience with Salesforce's AI tools while mentored by SMB sales leaders.

This fast-paced, client-facing program emphasizes pipeline growth, data accuracy, and continuous coaching to help you advance into a technically skilled SDR role.

Qualifications

• Candidates should be excited about a client-facing sales career and ambitious targets.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage new contacts.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to feedback.

Responsibilities

• Strategically manage a high volume of inbound and outbound leads to build a strong pipeline.
• Maintain Salesforce data integrity and optimize lead flows for peak efficiency.
• Gain hands-on experience with Salesforce's AI tools and help shape team workflows.

Skills

Inbound/Outbound prospecting

Sales operations

CRM tools

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Start Dates: December 7 / January 4

Relocation is not provided for this opportunity.

The Experience

As a Business Development Associate at Salesforce, you aren't just starting a career in sales. 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

• You're hungry to grow your career and enjoy working toward ambitious targets in a fast-paced, performance-focused role.
• You're a courageous communicator, comfortable engaging with new people and eager to get on the phone.
• You get it done. You're curious, resourceful, and take ownership of your work even when the path forward isn't always clear.
• You make informed decisions. You're naturally curious, aren't 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

This position is ineligible for visa sponsorship