Sales Jobs: How to Start or Grow an International Sales Career

Sales jobs offer career opportunities across prospecting, business development, account management and customer growth, with roles ranging from entry-level Sales Development Representative (SDR) positions to senior sales leadership. Strong communication, commercial awareness, resilience and relationship-building are key skills, while language proficiency can open opportunities across international markets. Explore current sales and international vacancies with Workster to find roles that match your experience, languages and career goals.

Good at starting conversations?

Even better at turning them into opportunities?

Sales could take your career further than you think — including across borders.

Modern sales teams operate across countries, languages and digital channels. You could be prospecting in Germany, presenting to a client in France and collaborating with colleagues somewhere else entirely.

But “sales” isn’t one job.

There are different roles, different career stages and very different ways to build a successful sales career.

Let’s find where you fit.

 

What Is a Sales Job?

A sales job involves helping a business generate revenue by identifying, developing and maintaining customer relationships.

Depending on your position, that could mean:

• identifying potential customers;
• contacting prospects;
• qualifying leads;
• understanding customer needs;
• presenting products or services;
• conducting demonstrations;
• preparing proposals;
• negotiating;
• closing deals;
• managing accounts;
• renewing contracts;
• identifying opportunities for growth.

Some roles focus on finding new customers.

Others focus on closing business.

Others build relationships with existing customers.

And some involve all three.

 

What Types of Sales Jobs Are Available?

Understanding common sales roles can help you target positions that match your experience.

Sales Development Representative (SDR)

SDRs typically work at the beginning of the sales process.

Responsibilities can include:

• researching prospects;
• outbound prospecting;
• responding to inbound leads;
• qualifying potential customers;
• booking meetings;
• maintaining CRM records.

SDR positions can be a strong entry point for candidates starting a B2B sales career.

You’re learning how to identify an opportunity before learning how to close one.

Business Development Representative (BDR)

BDR and SDR responsibilities often overlap.

In many organisations, BDRs focus particularly on generating new business through outbound activity.

That can include:

• identifying target companies;
• finding decision-makers;
• cold calling;
• cold email;
• networking;
• social selling;
• qualifying opportunities.

If you’re comfortable starting conversations with people you’ve never met, this could be your territory.

Sales Representative

Sales Representative is a broad title.

Depending on the company, the role can involve:

• prospecting;
• product presentations;
• customer communication;
• negotiation;
• closing;
• account management.

Always read the responsibilities carefully.

The title alone doesn’t tell you where the position sits in the sales process.

Account Executive

Account Executives typically focus on converting qualified opportunities into customers.

The role can involve:

• discovery calls;
• presentations;
• product demonstrations;
• proposals;
• negotiation;
• closing.

This requires more than being persuasive.

Strong Account Executives understand what the customer is trying to achieve and whether their solution is actually relevant.

Account Manager

Account Managers usually focus on existing customers.

Responsibilities can include:

• relationship management;
• renewals;
• account growth;
• upselling;
• cross-selling;
• resolving commercial issues.

The goal isn’t simply to sell once.

It’s to develop a valuable long-term relationship.

Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead people and performance.

They may be responsible for:

• coaching;
• targets;
• forecasting;
• pipeline management;
• recruitment;
• performance management;
• sales strategy.

Being the best salesperson doesn’t automatically make someone the best manager.

Leadership requires a different set of skills.

 

Sales Roles Compared

Where could your career start — or go next?

Sales role	Main objective	Typical career level	Important strengths
SDR	Generate qualified opportunities	Entry–Mid	Prospecting, communication, resilience
BDR	Develop new business	Entry–Mid	Research, outreach, persuasion
Sales Representative	Generate and close sales	Entry–Mid	Communication, commercial ability
Account Executive	Convert opportunities	Mid	Discovery, negotiation, closing
Account Manager	Grow existing accounts	Mid–Senior	Relationships, commercial awareness
Sales Manager	Lead sales performance	Senior	Leadership, coaching, forecasting

Career paths aren’t identical across companies.

A smaller business might give one person responsibilities that a larger organisation divides across three teams.

 

What Skills Do You Need for Sales Jobs?

The stereotype says great salespeople can talk to anyone.

Useful?

Sure.

Enough?

Not even close.

Communication

You need to communicate clearly across:

• calls;
• meetings;
• presentations;
• emails;
• proposals;
• follow-ups.

But communication isn’t only about talking.

Which brings us to the next skill.

Active listening

Great sales conversations start with understanding.

Ask:

• What problem does the customer have?
• Why does it matter?
• What have they already tried?
• Who is involved in the decision?
• What does success look like?

If you don’t understand the problem, you’re just presenting features and hoping something sticks.

Commercial awareness

You need to understand how your product creates value.

That means thinking about:

• revenue;
• costs;
• efficiency;
• risk;
• customer objectives;
• market conditions.

Especially in B2B sales, the customer isn’t buying a feature.

They’re buying an outcome.

Prospecting

Many sales professionals need to generate opportunities themselves.

Prospecting can include:

• research;
• cold calls;
• email;
• LinkedIn;
• referrals;
• events;
• networking.

The objective isn’t to contact everyone.

It’s to identify the right people and start relevant conversations.

Negotiation

Negotiation isn’t just:

“Can I give you 10% off?”

It involves understanding priorities and finding commercially viable common ground.

You might negotiate:

• price;
• contract length;
• scope;
• implementation;
• payment terms;
• service levels.

Good negotiation protects value.

Resilience

Sales comes with rejection.

Sometimes lots of it.

A prospect can ignore your emails.

A customer can choose a competitor.

A deal you’ve worked on for months can disappear.

You need to learn from the result without allowing one lost opportunity to define the next one.

Organisation

Sales pipelines have moving parts.

You need to manage:

• prospects;
• calls;
• meetings;
• follow-ups;
• proposals;
• deadlines;
• CRM records.

Forget one follow-up and you might lose an opportunity.

Organisation directly affects performance.

 

Can You Get a Sales Job With No Experience?

Yes, some sales positions are designed for entry-level candidates.

SDR, BDR and junior Sales Representative positions can be accessible to candidates who demonstrate strong potential even without extensive direct sales experience.

Transferable experience can come from:

• customer service;
• retail;
• hospitality;
• recruitment;
• fundraising;
• events;
• account support.

For example, retail can teach you to:

• understand customer needs;
• recommend products;
• handle objections;
• communicate value;
• close purchases.

That’s sales experience — even if your job title didn’t say “Sales”.

 

Do You Need a Degree for Sales Jobs?

Not for every position.

Many employers focus strongly on:

• communication;
• commercial potential;
• results;
• relevant experience;
• industry knowledge;
• language skills.

Requirements depend on the employer and sector.

Some specialist sales positions can require technical or academic expertise.

Selling complex scientific equipment, for example, is different from selling consumer services.

Read the requirements for the specific vacancy.

 

Are Sales Jobs in Demand?

Sales remains an important business function because companies need professionals who can connect products and services with customers.

Recent Eurostat occupational vacancy data also highlights demand in commercial professions. In 2024, sales, marketing and development managers recorded an 8.4% job vacancy rate in the EU, the highest among the occupations included in that Eurostat analysis.

Source:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20251210-3

That doesn’t mean every sales role or every country has the same level of demand.

Vacancies differ substantially by:

• occupation;
• industry;
• experience;
• country;
• language;
• economic conditions.

Use current vacancies to understand where employers are actually recruiting.

 

Can Languages Help You Get an International Sales Job?

Absolutely.

This is where sales becomes particularly interesting for international candidates.

A company doesn’t need to have its headquarters in Germany to sell to German customers.

It may therefore recruit someone who combines:

German + English + sales skills.

The same principle can apply to:

• Dutch;
• French;
• Italian;
• Spanish;
• Portuguese;
• Nordic languages;
• other markets.

Speaking the customer’s language can help with:

• communication;
• relationship-building;
• understanding market context;
• conducting demonstrations;
• negotiation.

But language ability isn’t a replacement for sales ability.

The strongest profile is:

language + commercial skill.

For a broader look at careers built around language ability, read our guide to multilingual jobs.

 

What Are International Sales Jobs?

International sales jobs involve selling products or services across national markets.

You might:

• work abroad;
• sell internationally from your home country;
• work remotely;
• manage several countries;
• focus on one foreign-language market.

For example, you could live in Portugal while selling to businesses in Germany.

Or move to Spain and work within an international sales hub.

Or join a distributed team and cover several European markets remotely.

International sales isn’t one working model.

It’s sales with a cross-border dimension.

 

Which International Sales Markets Could You Work In?

Your options depend on:

• current vacancies;
• language skills;
• industry;
• experience;
• right to work;
• willingness to relocate.

Workster recruits across European and international locations that can include:

• Portugal;
• Spain;
• Greece;
• Bulgaria;
• Cyprus;
• Romania;
• Poland;
• Ireland;
• Latvia;
• other markets.

Instead of asking:

“Which country is best for sales?”

ask:

“Where is there demand for my specific combination of sales experience and languages?”

That’s a much more useful career question.

 

Can You Work in Sales Abroad?

Yes.

Sales skills can be highly transferable between markets, especially when combined with relevant language proficiency.

A job abroad could allow you to:

• gain international experience;
• develop market knowledge;
• work with multinational teams;
• build an international network;
• use another language professionally.

Some employers may also provide relocation support.

But always check:

• right-to-work requirements;
• salary;
• commission;
• benefits;
• relocation package;
• local cost of living;
• working model.

For more information, read our complete guide to working abroad and finding overseas jobs.

 

Can Sales Jobs Be Remote?

Yes.

Many parts of the modern sales process can happen digitally:

Prospecting → Email

Discovery → Video call

Demo → Screen sharing

Proposal → Digital document

Negotiation → Video / phone

CRM → Cloud platform

This creates opportunities for sales professionals to work remotely.

But not every sales position is fully remote.

Some involve:

• client visits;
• conferences;
• events;
• office meetings;
• business travel.

Remote roles can also restrict where you’re allowed to live and work.

For a complete guide, read Remote Sales Jobs: How to Build an International Sales Career from Home.

 

Remote vs On-Site vs International Sales Jobs

Different working models can suit different professionals.

Working model	Main advantage	Important consideration
On-site sales	Direct team interaction	Geographically tied to workplace
Hybrid sales	Mix of flexibility and office contact	Regular office attendance
Remote sales	Greater day-to-day location flexibility	Requires autonomy and digital communication
Sales job abroad	International experience and immersion	Requires relocation
International remote sales	Work across markets without necessarily relocating	Location restrictions can still apply

Don’t choose based only on where you work.

Consider the:

role + market + product + compensation + career opportunity.

 

How Do Sales Targets Work?

Sales is a measurable profession.

Employers can track metrics such as:

• revenue;
• qualified pipeline;
• opportunities generated;
• meetings booked;
• conversion rate;
• new customers;
• renewals;
• account growth.

Different roles should have different objectives.

For example:

An SDR might primarily be measured on qualified opportunities.

An Account Executive might primarily be measured on revenue.

An Account Manager could be measured on renewals and growth.

Before accepting a job, ask:

What is my target?

How is it calculated?

How is performance measured?

How many people currently achieve target?

A target is much easier to evaluate when you understand the context behind it.

 

How Do Sales Salaries, Commission and OTE Work?

Many sales jobs combine fixed and variable compensation.

Base salary

Your guaranteed fixed compensation, subject to your employment terms.

Commission

Variable compensation linked to sales performance.

Bonus

Additional compensation based on specific targets or conditions.

OTE — On-Target Earnings

The expected total compensation when defined performance targets are achieved.

For example:

If a role advertises:

€50,000 OTE

that doesn’t necessarily mean the base salary is €50,000.

Part could depend on commission.

Before accepting an offer, ask:

• What is the base salary?
• What is the variable compensation?
• How is commission calculated?
• Is commission capped?
• When is it paid?
• What happens during onboarding?
• How achievable is quota?

Never evaluate a sales offer from the OTE number alone.

 

How to Find Sales Jobs

Start by making your search specific.

1. Search by sales role

Instead of simply searching jobs, try:

• sales jobs;
• SDR jobs;
• BDR jobs;
• Account Executive jobs;
• Account Manager jobs;
• business development jobs.

2. Add your location

For example:

• sales jobs Portugal;
• sales jobs Lisbon;
• sales jobs Spain;
• international sales jobs Europe.

This helps align opportunities with where you want to work.

3. Add your language

If you’re multilingual:

• German sales jobs;
• Dutch sales jobs;
• French sales jobs;
• Italian sales jobs;
• German-speaking sales jobs abroad.

Language can be one of your strongest differentiators.

4. Add your preferred working model

Looking for flexibility?

Try:

• remote sales jobs;
• sales work from home;
• hybrid sales jobs.

Then verify the actual working conditions.

5. Compare the compensation model

Two vacancies with the same job title can have very different:

• base salaries;
• targets;
• commission;
• territories;
• benefits.

Look beyond the title.

6. Explore current vacancies

The most relevant market is the one hiring today.

Explore current sales and international vacancies with Workster.

 

How to Write a CV for a Sales Job

Sales is about results.

Your CV should reflect that.

Quantify your achievements

Compare:

“Responsible for sales in the German market.”

with:

“Achieved 115% of annual sales target across the German market.”

The second tells a recruiter much more.

Where available, use genuine metrics such as:

• quota attainment;
• revenue generated;
• pipeline generated;
• conversion rate;
• meetings booked;
• customer retention;
• account growth;
• number of accounts managed.

Never invent numbers.

If you don’t have exact figures, describe the scope and impact of your work accurately.

Show the markets you’ve covered

International employer?

Make international experience obvious.

For example:

Managed B2B accounts across France and Belgium.

or:

Generated outbound opportunities across the DACH market.

Market experience can be highly relevant.

Highlight your languages

Use a clear section:

German — Native
English — C1
Spanish — B1

The Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) provides the A1–C2 scale commonly used to describe proficiency.

Official information:

https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages

Include relevant sales tools

If appropriate, mention experience with:

• CRM systems;
• prospecting platforms;
• sales-engagement tools;
• video-conferencing software;
• other relevant technology.

Tools don’t make you a salesperson.

But they show that you understand a modern sales environment.

 

How to Prepare for a Sales Interview

A sales interview is a chance to demonstrate the skills you’re claiming to have.

Prepare to discuss:

• targets;
• results;
• prospecting;
• pipeline;
• wins;
• losses;
• objections;
• customers;
• sales process.

Know your numbers

If you have previous sales experience, expect questions such as:

“What was your target?”

“What percentage of quota did you achieve?”

“What was your average deal size?”

“How much pipeline did you manage?”

Know your genuine numbers.

Prepare examples

Use specific situations.

Explain:

Situation → Action → Result

For example, describe:

• a difficult prospect you converted;
• a deal you lost and what you learned;
• a target you exceeded;
• an objection you handled;
• a new market you developed.

Be ready for role-play

You might be asked to:

• make a mock cold call;
• sell a product;
• handle an objection;
• conduct a discovery call;
• present a solution.

Don’t focus on delivering the perfect sales script.

Show that you can:

listen → understand → adapt → communicate value.

Research the company

You’re applying for sales.

Research isn’t optional.

Know:

• what the company sells;
• who its customers are;
• which markets it serves;
• what problem the product solves;
• who its competitors are.

If you can’t explain what the company does, convincing them to let you sell it will be difficult.

 

What Is the Career Path in Sales?

Sales can offer several routes for progression.

One possible path is:

SDR → Senior SDR → Account Executive → Senior Account Executive → Sales Manager → Sales Director

Another might be:

Sales Representative → Account Manager → Key Account Manager → Commercial Manager

Or you could move towards:

• Customer Success;
• Partnerships;
• Business Development;
• Revenue Operations;
• Sales Operations;
• Sales Enablement.

Career progression isn’t automatic.

Build:

• measurable results;
• market knowledge;
• commercial expertise;
• leadership skills;
• professional relationships.

Your performance creates options.

 

Is Sales a Good Career for International Candidates?

Sales can be particularly well suited to international careers because businesses need people who understand and communicate with different markets.

The combination of:

sales + languages + international experience

can make your profile relevant across multiple employers and countries.

You could:

• move abroad;
• work for a multinational company;
• sell into your native market from another country;
• join a multilingual team;
• work remotely across international markets.

International recruitment platforms can help connect those skills with employers looking for them.

EURES also provides official information for people interested in employment and mobility across Europe:

https://eures.europa.eu/

 

Find Sales Jobs with Workster

Sales can start with one conversation.

A career can go much further.

Whether you’re:

• looking for your first SDR role;
• ready to become an Account Executive;
• experienced in account management;
• searching for remote sales;
• interested in moving abroad;
• hoping to use another language professionally;

look for the opportunity where your skills create the most value.

Workster connects candidates with employers recruiting across sales and other international career areas.

Explore current sales and international vacancies with Workster.

Check each vacancy for its:

role + market + location + language + working model + compensation.

Then start the conversation.

You already know how important the first one can be.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sales Jobs

What is a sales job?

A sales job involves identifying, developing or managing customer opportunities to generate revenue for a business. Responsibilities can include prospecting, qualification, presentations, negotiation, closing and account management.

What are the main types of sales jobs?

Common roles include Sales Development Representative, Business Development Representative, Sales Representative, Account Executive, Account Manager and Sales Manager.

Can I get a sales job with no experience?

Yes, some entry-level SDR, BDR and junior sales positions accept candidates without extensive direct sales experience. Customer service, retail, hospitality and other customer-facing experience can provide transferable skills.

Do you need a degree for sales jobs?

Not for every role. Requirements vary by employer and industry, with many companies also prioritising communication, commercial ability, experience, results and language skills.

Are languages useful for sales jobs?

Yes. Language skills can be particularly valuable for companies selling internationally. Combining commercial ability with German, Dutch, French, Italian or another relevant language can open opportunities serving those markets.

Can sales jobs be remote?

Yes. Prospecting, meetings, demonstrations, negotiation and account management can often be performed digitally. However, some positions require office attendance, client visits or travel.

Can I find sales jobs abroad?

Yes. International employers recruit sales professionals across different markets, and some positions may include relocation support. Always check right-to-work and relocation requirements.

What does OTE mean in a sales job?

OTE means On-Target Earnings. It usually represents the expected total compensation if specified performance targets are achieved and can combine base salary with variable compensation.

Where can I find international sales jobs?

You can explore current Workster vacancies and compare sales opportunities by market, language, location and working model.