This week, we are so excited to spotlight Vendition’s Apprentice of the Week, Ryan Gradney! Ryan started his sales journey eight years ago. After gaining experience in just about every industry imaginable (retail, auto, real estate, timeshares, eCommerce, etc.), he was ready to pivot to tech sales. Being part of an intelligent, forward-thinking team was of utmost importance to Ryan when he started his search. When he came in contact with the Vendition team, he realized Vendition’s network could help him find what he was looking for.
When asked about his Apprenticeship experience, he mentioned the initial learning curve was interesting, “Being at a startup, trying to learn the product, and keeping up with the advances they’ve made in the last three months – it’s very dynamic. I was learning a lot and getting through the startup pain points. It was worth it because now RxVantage has a full-blown product and all their ducks in a row. It’s interesting to see how fast a startup company can move.”
All Apprentices are assigned a Coach through the Apprenticeship and the biggest thing he learned from Eddie, his Coach was around time blocking and scheduling the day effectively. This was especially important working from home and being remote. It gives structure and makes sure the things that need to get done are assigned a time to get done. A well-managed day is important for success as an SDR because there are so many things that demand an SDRs time.
With his Coach, a supportive team, and a great learning environment, Ryan has been able to thrive in his Apprenticeship! “I feel very confident with the role I’m in now. Tasks such as setting demos and making calls have become second nature to me. I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with my SDR role and I’m excited to continue honing my skills and go in everyday ready to grow in my role.”
Here are some tips from Ryan for future SDRs:
On Vendition’s Training: “Going through the training that is offered at Vendition is essential, including the online bootcamp course. Take your training seriously! It’ll give you a high-level overview of the tech space, sales development, and what to expect in the SDR / BDR role.”
On Resilience: “Just keep going. There are points you can feel very discouraged due to the number of no-shows and cancellations. The next day or next week was always better when I kept pushing through.”
Closing thoughts: “The biggest takeaway from Vendition’s Apprenticeship was the opportunity to get my foot in the door at an amazing company. Vendition’s training and coaching team helped me feel confident in my full-time role at RxVantage and provided me with the tools to succeed.”