Braun Board

Sales Development Representative

Cognism · London, UK

Base
Not disclosed
OTE
Not disclosed
Quota attainment
Not disclosed
Posted
4mo ago

Why it matters: OTE tells you what you could earn. Attainment tells you how realistic it is.

Ask: “What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?”

Still open · checked 3h agoon Cognism's careers page

What Cognism sells

Finds the right business buyers to call

Salespeople often waste time guessing who to call at a company. This company gives sales teams contact details for the people who make buying decisions at European businesses. Sellers can reach the right people faster and close more deals.

In plain English, from their own job posts. Something wrong? Tell us

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The Braun Read

Proceed with caution

A few things here deserve a hard look before you spend time on it.

Pay
No pay listed at all.
Transparency
Says nothing about quota, attainment, deal size, territory or sales cycle.
Pipeline
Mostly self-sourced. Great if you like outbound, rough if you don't.
Time on market
Open 143 days. Ask why it's been hard to fill.
Company hiring
This is their only open sales role.

Red flags

None spotted.

Worth asking about

  • Open 90+ days. This role has been posted for three months or more. Ask why it's been hard to fill, and whether anyone left it.

Green flags

None spotted.

Based only on what the posting says. Flags are a starting point for your first call, not a final judgment.

Questions to ask on the first call

Built from what this posting leaves out. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.

  1. 1.

    This role has been open a while. What's made it hard to fill?

    The answer tells you what candidates saw that made them walk.

  2. 2.

    What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?

    OTE is what you could earn. This is how likely you are to earn it.

  3. 3.

    What percentage of reps on the team have been here more than 18 months?

    Tenure shows whether people stay long enough to get paid.

  4. 4.

    Has the comp plan changed in the last 12 to 18 months? What changed?

    A plan that changes every year means the goalposts keep moving.

  5. 5.

    Who sits with reps and reviews calls each week?

    Coaching is often what's behind a good or bad attainment number.

  6. 6.

    Why is this role open? Did someone leave, or is it new?

    New headcount is growth. A replacement means someone left. Ask why.

When the offer comes

Save these for later. They land better once they've said yes to you.

  1. 1.

    Can I see the full comp plan in writing, including clawbacks and accelerators?

    What's in writing is what gets paid. Read it before you sign.

  2. 2.

    Can I see the actual comp distribution for the team last year, not just the OTE?

    The spread shows what most reps really take home. OTE is just the target.

  3. 3.

    I'd be walking away from earned commission to join. Is there room for a sign-on bonus to help cover that?

    Leaving money behind is a fair reason to ask. The worst answer is no.

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The role

You'll book outbound meetings with C-suite and Director-level prospects via cold calls, email, social outreach, and research, then hand qualified leads to BDMs. The product is Cognism's European B2B data platform.

New Logo · Outbound

Selling motion

New Logo

Who you're selling to

Buyer:
Not stated in the posting.Ask: “Who's the economic buyer, and who else is in the deal?”

Pipeline expectations

Mostly self-sourced. Expect a lot of outbound.

Compensation

The posting doesn't list pay.

What is not disclosed

This posting doesn't tell you:

  • Base salary
  • OTE
  • Quota size
  • Quota attainment
  • Average deal size
  • Territory
  • Sales cycle length

The questions above cover the big ones.

Full posting
WHO ARE WE Cognism is the leading provider of European B2B data and sales intelligence. Ambitious businesses of every size use our platform to discover, connect, and engage with qualified decision-makers faster and close more deals. Headquartered in London with global offices, Cognism’s contact data and contextual signals are trusted by thousands of revenue teams to eliminate the guesswork from prospecting. OUR WORK MODEL Office-Based: This is an office-based role. During your initial training period, you will be required to work in the office five days a week. Once you have successfully ramped up, you will have the option to work in the office four days per week. YOUR ROLE As a Sales Development Representative (SDR) at Cognism, you will play a crucial role in driving our growth by identifying and generating new business opportunities. Your responsibilities will include proactively booking meetings, engaging with key decision-makers, and managing a pipeline to contribute directly to the sales team's success. This role is ideal for someone ambitious, driven, and eager to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment. YOUR CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES Generate Business Opportunities – Book outbound meetings through a combination of cold calls, emails, social outreach, networking, and independent research.Engage Key Stakeholders – Engage with C-suite and Director-level prospects to effectively communicate the value of our product.Conduct Discovery & Qualify Leads – Evaluate prospect pain points through discovery conversations and qualify leads for sales conversion.Deliver Relevant Content – Share impactful marketing content tailored to the needs of prospects to drive engagement.Build Relationships – Establish trust with key stakeholders and maintain a proactive approach to relationship-building.Manage Sales Pipeline – Generate, manage, and update the sales pipeline in Salesforce, ensuring a seamless transition to the sales team.Collaborate with BDMs – Work alongside Business Development Managers (BDMs) to convert opportunities into qualified sales leads.Maintain Positive Mindset – Stay resilient and positive in challenging situations, always keeping a focus on results.Continuous Learning & Improvement – Be proactive in learning new tools, technologies, and strategies to enhance your performance. OUR EXPECTATIONS Bachelor’s Degree or Relevant Experience – A degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field is required.Evidence of Overachievement – A track record of exceeding targets and performance expectations in previous roles.Sales Experience (Preferred) – Sales experience is preferred but not essential.Strong Communication Skills – You can effectively articulate value to prospects, both verbally and in writing.Self-Motivation & Initiative – Proactive and self-driven, with the ability to thrive independently and in a team.Analytical & Problem-Solving – Strong ability to analyze prospects’ needs and identify suitable solutions.Emotional Intelligence – A high level of emotional intelligence and the ability to handle challenging situations with composure.Agility in a Scale-Up Environment – A can-do, adaptable attitude necessary to succeed in a fast-growing company.Time Management – Excellent time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage your workload effectively.Passion for Sales – A genuine passion for sales, eager to continuously develop and improve in the role. WHY COGNISM At Cognism, we’re not just building a company - we’re building an inclusive community of brilliant, diverse people who support, challenge, and inspire each other every day. If you’re looking for a place where your work truly makes an impact, you’re in the right spot! Our values aren’t just words on a page—they guide how we work, how we treat each other, and how we grow together. They shape our culture, drive our success, and ensure that everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to do their best work. Here’s what we stand for: 🤝 We Own the Outcome Together. 🤓 We Deeply Understand our Customers. 🏆 We Celebrate Impact Wherever It Comes From. At Cognism, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and supportive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals typically underrepresented in tech, so if this role excites you but you’re unsure if you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply!
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