Sales Development Representative
full-time•San Francisco
About this role
About Handshake
Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale.
Why join Handshake now:
Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions
Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others
Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue
About the Role
Handshake is hiring a Sales Development Representative to join our Employer SDR team. This role is best suited for someone who works with focus, consistency, and accountability. You’ll be the first point of contact for prospective employer partners; responsible for building qualified pipeline and maintaining a high standard in every interaction.
This is a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment where results matter. The people who succeed here balance volume with quality, learn quickly from feedback, and hold themselves to a high bar. When challenges come up, they pause, reassess, and find a better way forward. Success in this role requires steadiness under pressure, clear communication, and a genuine commitment to continuous improvement.
You will have an opportunity to learn and grow in this role. We support our SDRs and seek to promote them internally based on their demonstrated success in the role, alignment with our values, and a passion for helping students.
Consistently hit or exceed monthly targets; starting at Month 2, new hires are expected to exceed their ramping quota
Generate and qualify a high volume of outbound opportunities through thoughtful, personalized outreach
Manage and convert inbound leads quickly and efficiently, maintaining a high level of context and professionalism
Partner closely with Account Executives on territory plans, messaging, and deal strategy
Track activity and insights accurately in Salesforce, Gong, and Outreach
Reflect on performance weekly; what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve
Desired Capabilities
Have 6–12 months of SDR experience or have worked in a consulting, closing, or operations role with clear quota ownership
Can demonstrate proven attainment in any quota-driven role
Have advanced written communication skills and can convey context clearly and succinctly
Don’t get derailed by a bad month; you analyze it, adjust, and come back stronger
Take complete ownership of results and can point to concrete examples of how you improved a process or outcome
Are coachable, consistent, and can manage a high volume of activity without losing quality
Bring curiosity and composure to conversations with senior leaders
Are motivated by measurable impact, not hypothetical success
Extra Credit
Experience in consulting or operations
Internship experience in a performance-based or client-facing environment
Hired for a job or internship from Handshake
Familiarity with Salesforce, Outreach, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, ZoomInfo, or Gong
Perks
Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.
The below benefits are for full-time US employees.
🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
📚 Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
💻 Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days, winter #ShakeBreak where our whole office closes for a week!
🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses
Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
What you'll do
- The Sales Development Representative will be the first point of contact for prospective employer partners, responsible for building a qualified pipeline. This role requires generating and qualifying a high volume of outbound opportunities and managing inbound leads efficiently.
About Handshake
Handshake is the career network for the AI economy.
20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond.
Ready to join Handshake?
Take the next step in your career journey
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Sales Development Representative do at Handshake?
As a Sales Development Representative at Handshake, you will: the Sales Development Representative will be the first point of contact for prospective employer partners, responsible for building a qualified pipeline. This role requires generating and qualifying a high volume of outbound opportunities and managing inbound leads efficiently..
Is the Sales Development Representative position at Handshake remote?
The Sales Development Representative position at Handshake is based in San Francisco, United States. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.
How do I apply for the Sales Development Representative position at Handshake?
You can apply for the Sales Development Representative position at Handshakedirectly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process.