How to Get a Sales Job in Berlin With No Experience (2026 Guide)

Almost nobody hiring for entry-level sales roles in Berlin asks for previous sales experience. They look for potential: you communicate clearly, learn fast and handle rejection without giving up. Bring those and you can get hired.

Why Berlin Startups Hire People With No Sales Experience

Berlin startups, especially at Seed and Series A, often prefer candidates without experience for SDR/BDR roles:

1. No bad habits to unlearn: experienced salespeople sometimes bring approaches that don't fit the product or culture
2. Coachability over credentials: a curious, resilient person with zero experience outperforms an unmotivated "experienced" salesperson
3. Cost efficiency: entry-level candidates accept market-rate compensation without inflated expectations
4. Culture fit: Berlin founders value energy, directness and real interest over polished CVs

The 3 Things That Replace Experience

Without sales experience, you need to show three things instead:

1. Communication skills (written)

Write a cold email as part of your application. Choose the company's product, pick a realistic prospect, and write the email you'd send. This is more persuasive than any CV.

2. Research and initiative

Before any interview, know:

• The company's product and how it works
• Their target customer (ICP)
• One recent company news item or product update
• One competitor and how the company differentiates

Do this research and you'll stand out in Berlin interviews.

3. Resilience and self-awareness

Expect some version of this question in any sales interview: "Sales involves a lot of rejection. How do you handle that?"

Don't say "I'm resilient." Give a specific example: a time you failed, what you felt, what you did next and what you learned. A real example beats a generic answer.

Which Entry-Level Sales Roles to Target in Berlin

SDR (Sales Development Representative): The best entry point. You focus on outbound prospecting and booking meetings, with no closing. Most companies hire SDRs without prior sales experience.

BDR (Business Development Representative): Similar to SDR, sometimes a bit more senior, and still open to you without experience.

Inside Sales Representative: Some companies hire directly into a closing role at smaller deal sizes (€1k–€10k ACV). It takes more confidence, but you can get there without a sales background.

Sales Intern / Working Student (Werkstudent): If you're a student in Berlin, Werkstudent sales roles at startups are a great foot in the door, and many convert to full-time.

Where to Find Entry-Level Sales Jobs in Berlin

• berlinstartupjobs.com: filter for entry-level or junior sales
• LinkedIn: search "SDR Berlin," "BDR Berlin," "Junior Sales Berlin"
• Wellfound.com: filter by seed/Series A stage for the most entry-level openings
• Campusjäger / Workwise: German platforms with many Werkstudent and junior roles
• GENZ4GTM: we only place early-career GTM talent

Your 30-Day Action Plan to Get Hired

Week 1: Build your target list of 20 Berlin startups. Research each one. Write 3 sample cold emails.

Week 2: Apply to all 20, through job boards and directly to the hiring manager on LinkedIn.

Week 3: Follow up on all applications. Practise your interview answers. Do 2 mock interviews.

Week 4: Negotiate your offers, accept one and start your new career.

Most people who follow this plan receive at least 2–3 interview invitations within 3–4 weeks.

No experience, but ready to break into Berlin's startup sales scene? We built GENZ4GTM for you. Apply now.