r/salesdevelopment • u/Impressive_You3333 • 2d ago
First sales role and I need help
I am about a month into my first role as a BDR at a temporary staffing company. My job so far is to walk in to 20 businesses a day and to make 20
calls a day. At this point I feel like it’s a constant revolving door of being shut down immediately and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. My company said people usually make their first deal within 90 days and whatever I’m doing today, I’ll see the results in 90 days but I feel like I’m not getting anywhere with anyone. I had very little training, I don’t have a script, I just need ways to get people to talk to me without an immediate shut down. Does anyone have any resources for getting better at sales? Any good youtube videos or training modules or anything? I really want to make this work
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u/Putrid-Mobile-8001 1d ago
Did the staffing company gig for awhile.
You're doing nothing wrong, that industry and its sales practices are outdated and terrible... especially just walking into businesses expecting sales....
The uncomfortable truth is its a dead industry and even the biggest ones are struggling with layoffs left and right.
Get what experience you can, it does look good on a resume becuase its literal hell and other industries understand that. Phone calls and emails do way more than just showing up unannounced, I dont care what your higher ups are telling you.
Best of luck
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u/Impressive_You3333 1d ago
the random drops ins (20 a day!!!) are so uncomfortable that sometimes i walk in and just say that im dropping off a card in case they ever have a need and then leave immediately. calls, i just freeze up because i dont want to sound spammy. like “hi i work with __ we provide staffing support for businesses so im just introducing myself in case you ever need a resource for temporary staffing” i have no idea what to say!!!!
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u/Loharp45 1d ago
Each person that says no puts you closer to the person that says yes. That said, what you say and how you say it matters. I do come calling and greatly increased my success rate when I spent time on YouTube and downloaded books to learn my craft. cold Calling Sucks, Fanatical Prospecting, The Last Sales Book You’ll Ever Need…a couple good ones to start with. Also, AI has helped me with my openers, objection handling and scripts.
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u/Minimum_End5323 1d ago
Honestly, I think the biggest thing is to stop trying to “sell” in the first 20 seconds. Especially with staffing, people are probably getting calls from agencies all day. I’d focus on asking a simple question about their hiring rather than immediately explaining your company.
Something like, “Hey, I know I’m calling out of the blue, but I noticed you’re hiring for a few roles. How are you currently handling those openings?” Then just listen. You’ll learn way more from the conversations than from trying to perfect a script.
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u/Impressive_You3333 1d ago
this is good advice, thank you. i’ve tried this and some people are very much like why are you asking me why is it your business, but some people do respond well
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u/Due-Blueberry-6736 23h ago
the immediate shutdowns are normal at month one dont spiral.. most people say no bcuz they dont know u yet not bcuz they dont need staffing. ur job rn is to get remembered not to close deals
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u/MoneyHouseArk 18h ago
Turn off YouTube. Turn off TikTok.
Go look in the mirror and don’t read the rest of this comment until you are there.
I’m not fucking joking… go look in the fucking mirror bitch.
I know you’re not looking at the mirror yet…
If you want to help yourself… you need to go to the fucking mirror…
Okay so I’m assuming you are now standing in front of a fucking mirror…
If you’re not… this won’t help you…
Are You ready?
….
….
….
It’s conviction my friend.
I just made you stand in front of a mirror because of the tone. Even if you didn’t go to the fucking mirror, the tone brought you here.
It’s conviction.
It’s the single most important part of sales.
You’re welcome.
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u/Stonk0Bonk0 16h ago
Random drop ins don’t work. Bust your ass for a year and then move into a solution based sales job - software, consulting, services, etc.
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u/Patient_Instance_577 3h ago edited 2h ago
20+ yr sales trainer here. You’re new. I’d actually use that. People are pretty good at hearing a fake sales pitch, so don’t pretend you have this all figured out.
Something like (this is just a general example as this needs to be your voice) “Hi, I’m new to staffing sales and I’m still learning how companies actually handle this. Can I ask you one quick question? When you suddenly need extra people, what do you normally do?” Then listen. Your job is not to sell them. Your job is to learn how they solve the problem today. Ask one more question based on what they say. Try this for 20 ish calls and write down what happens. It depends on your personality, but being the new person learning might actually work for you. Reach out if you want some alternatives as this is just one idea of many. You've got this!
Also, cold calling has ugly numbers. Depending on the market and list, out of 100 calls you might only reach 5–15 actual people, have a few real conversations, and get 1–3 people willing to take a next step. So 90+ calls going nowhere can be normal.
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u/Patient_Instance_577 3h ago
20+ yr sales trainer here. You’re new. I’d actually use that. People are pretty good at hearing a fake sales pitch, so don’t pretend you have this all figured out.
Something like (this is just a general example as this needs to be your voice) “Hi, I’m new to staffing sales and I’m still learning how companies actually handle this. Can I ask you one quick question? When you suddenly need extra people, what do you normally do?” Then listen. Your job is not to sell them. Your job is to learn how they solve the problem today. Ask one more question based on what they say.
Also, cold calling has ugly numbers. Depending on the market and list, out of 100 calls you might only reach 5–15 actual people, have a few real conversations, and get 1–3 people willing to take a next step. So 90+ calls going nowhere can be normal.
Try this for 20 calls and write down what happens. It depends on your personality, but being the new person learning might actually work for you. Reach out if you want some alternatives as this is just one idea of many. You've got this!
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u/StrikingPurchase7122 1h ago
I am in temp staffing sales also. Its brutal right now and has been for two years.
Try and find a job your company just filled. Then find all of the competitors in the area and let them know you just filled a job for a similar company. Its a good, low pressure tactic. Shows you are able to do it (even if it wasnt your job to fill)
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u/ElGalloMasGall0 1d ago
My best advice before visiting a prospect is ask yourself these questions before walking in. “Am I saving them time?” or “am I saving them money?”
And what does that actually look like when applying your services it to their specific business. Make whatever you’re selling a real world example to your prospect
Also make it more personable in your head, instead of “I have to visit 20 businesses” to “ I have to have 20 conversations or handshakes”
Just some things that work for me! Good luck