Sales Development Representative Internships
Sales development representative internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on pipeline-building experience, mentorship from working sales development representatives, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles are concentrated across Education and Technology & Software, with KnowBe4 and Rubrik among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Sales Development Representative Internships
KnowBe4 empowers the modern workforce to make smarter security decisions every day. Trusted by more than 70,000 organizations worldwide, KnowBe4 is the pioneer of digital workforce security, securing both AI agents and humans. The KnowBe4 Platform provides attack simulation and training, collaboration security, and agent security powered by AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Defense Agents) and a proprietary Risk Score. The platform leverages 15-years of behavioral data to combat advanced threats including social engineering, prompt injection, and shadow AI. By securing humans and agents, KnowBe4 leads the industry in workforce trust and defense.
This position is a hybrid role open to candidates in the greater Washington DC area. This position will require the intern to work in our Arlington, VA office 4 days a week (Monday - Thursday).
Dates of Program: August 24, 2026 - November 13, 2026 (12 weeks)
Application Dates: You should apply as soon as possible but understand that because of our large pool of applicants, the selection process can take a few months. We strive to create a diverse group of interns as we feel that it improves the overall internship experience.
Attention: This is a paid internship. Please note that the intern would be responsible for relocation (if needed) and lodging for the duration of the internship.
Internship Program Details: Join the best internship program around! Interns get unique insight into the minds of the CEO and senior executives during Ask Me Anything sessions. Interns will receive company training, onboarding, and professional development workshops to help transition into the workplace. Interns will also engage in team-building activities and awesome socials. For more information on the internship program, visit www.knowbe4.com/careers/internships.
As a Sales Development Representative Intern at KnowBe4, you'll see business through the lens of the provider of the world's largest integrated new-school security awareness training and simulated phishing platform as you grow your knowledge of KnowBe4's products, systems, business operations, and sales strategies. The sales development internship program will give aspiring sales professionals exposure to real strategies and techniques applied in a working sales organization. The individuals selected will be exposed to real sales conversations and get hands-on experience effectively finding, cleaning and prospecting new accounts to become KnowBe4 customers. You will work alongside current SDRs and interface with the Account Executives you will deliver to.
Key Responsibilities:
- Map company structure and verify their information to find workable accounts
- Map and identify appropriate contacts from the workable accounts
- Learn critical elements of prospecting conversations in preparation for qualification calls
- Role-play to learn conversation best practices, mirroring, labeling, and objection-handling techniques
- Conduct calls and emails to drive solid demo bookings
- Schedule and hand-off demo ready lead to quota carrying Sales Representatives
- Learn how to organize, clean, prospect, and maintain our CRM database
- Shadow sales development representatives with prospective customers to grow in your conversation knowledge, understanding and skills
- Listen to demos of sales calls from Account Executives of varying levels of tenure
- Work with cross-functional sales teams to understand the KnowBe4 business model better
Learning Objectives:
- Get a full understanding of the Sales Roadmap to Success
- Get a solid understanding of the Information Technology industry and the importance of security awareness training within a prospect's organization
- Learn all critical elements of a solid sales prospecting process
- Learn and complete a successful sales handoff from prospecting efforts
- Apply negotiating skills effectively
- Translate classroom experience into practical application during the internship
Internship Opportunities/Experiences:
- Attend all scheduled professional development events for the intern program
- On-the-job training to learn the best business practices related to prospecting and sales
- Time with inspiring sales leaders who are committed to providing ongoing training & mentoring
Training:
- Industry, KnowBe4 and Sales process training at the beginning of the internship
- Learn key terms related to KnowBe4 and cybersecurity
- Role-playing to learn conversation best practices, mirroring, labeling and objection-handling techniques
- Learning best practice techniques for calling and emailing prospects
- On-the-job training in key sales development steps and strong administrative disciplines
- Learn time management and balance of workload
Minimum Qualifications:
- Strong Communication and Empathy
- Confident and Positive
- Resilient and Adaptable
- Competitiveness and Tenacity
- Collaborative Team Player
- Good computer skills
Education:
- Must be a Junior or Senior candidate
- Degree in Hospitality, Communications, Customer Service, Marketing or Business Management/Administration
Our Fantastic Benefits
Note: An applicant assessment and background check may be part of your hiring procedure.
Individuals seeking employment at KnowBe4 are considered without prejudice to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please visit www.knowbe4.com/careers/request-accommodation.
No recruitment agencies, please.
KnowBe4 empowers the modern workforce to make smarter security decisions every day. Trusted by more than 70,000 organizations worldwide, KnowBe4 is the pioneer of digital workforce security, securing both AI agents and humans. The KnowBe4 Platform provides attack simulation and training, collaboration security, and agent security powered by AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Defense Agents) and a proprietary Risk Score. The platform leverages 15-years of behavioral data to combat advanced threats including social engineering, prompt injection, and shadow AI. By securing humans and agents, KnowBe4 leads the industry in workforce trust and defense.
This position is a hybrid role open to candidates in the greater Washington DC area. This position will require the intern to work in our Arlington, VA office 4 days a week (Monday - Thursday).
Dates of Program: August 24, 2026 - November 13, 2026 (12 weeks)
Application Dates: You should apply as soon as possible but understand that because of our large pool of applicants, the selection process can take a few months. We strive to create a diverse group of interns as we feel that it improves the overall internship experience.
Attention: This is a paid internship. Please note that the intern would be responsible for relocation (if needed) and lodging for the duration of the internship.
Internship Program Details: Join the best internship program around! Interns get unique insight into the minds of the CEO and senior executives during Ask Me Anything sessions. Interns will receive company training, onboarding, and professional development workshops to help transition into the workplace. Interns will also engage in team-building activities and awesome socials. For more information on the internship program, visit www.knowbe4.com/careers/internships.
As a Sales Development Representative Intern at KnowBe4, you'll see business through the lens of the provider of the world's largest integrated new-school security awareness training and simulated phishing platform as you grow your knowledge of KnowBe4's products, systems, business operations, and sales strategies. The sales development internship program will give aspiring sales professionals exposure to real strategies and techniques applied in a working sales organization. The individuals selected will be exposed to real sales conversations and get hands-on experience effectively finding, cleaning and prospecting new accounts to become KnowBe4 customers. You will work alongside current SDRs and interface with the Account Executives you will deliver to.
Key Responsibilities:
- Map company structure and verify their information to find workable accounts
- Map and identify appropriate contacts from the workable accounts
- Learn critical elements of prospecting conversations in preparation for qualification calls
- Role-play to learn conversation best practices, mirroring, labeling, and objection-handling techniques
- Conduct calls and emails to drive solid demo bookings
- Schedule and hand-off demo ready lead to quota carrying Sales Representatives
- Learn how to organize, clean, prospect, and maintain our CRM database
- Shadow sales development representatives with prospective customers to grow in your conversation knowledge, understanding and skills
- Listen to demos of sales calls from Account Executives of varying levels of tenure
- Work with cross-functional sales teams to understand the KnowBe4 business model better
Learning Objectives:
- Get a full understanding of the Sales Roadmap to Success
- Get a solid understanding of the Information Technology industry and the importance of security awareness training within a prospect's organization
- Learn all critical elements of a solid sales prospecting process
- Learn and complete a successful sales handoff from prospecting efforts
- Apply negotiating skills effectively
- Translate classroom experience into practical application during the internship
Internship Opportunities/Experiences:
- Attend all scheduled professional development events for the intern program
- On-the-job training to learn the best business practices related to prospecting and sales
- Time with inspiring sales leaders who are committed to providing ongoing training & mentoring
Training:
- Industry, KnowBe4 and Sales process training at the beginning of the internship
- Learn key terms related to KnowBe4 and cybersecurity
- Role-playing to learn conversation best practices, mirroring, labeling and objection-handling techniques
- Learning best practice techniques for calling and emailing prospects
- On-the-job training in key sales development steps and strong administrative disciplines
- Learn time management and balance of workload
Minimum Qualifications:
- Strong Communication and Empathy
- Confident and Positive
- Resilient and Adaptable
- Competitiveness and Tenacity
- Collaborative Team Player
- Good computer skills
Education:
- Must be a Junior or Senior candidate
- Degree in Hospitality, Communications, Customer Service, Marketing or Business Management/Administration
Our Fantastic Benefits
Note: An applicant assessment and background check may be part of your hiring procedure.
Individuals seeking employment at KnowBe4 are considered without prejudice to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please visit www.knowbe4.com/careers/request-accommodation.
No recruitment agencies, please.
Sales Development Representative Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Sales Development Representative Internship Search
Apply earlier than your classmates will
Large employers and structured sales development programs recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications by November. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check for openings in September and keep checking through spring to catch both hiring cycles.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for sales development representative interns expect limited work history, so give them something concrete to assess instead. Document a cold-outreach sequence, a competitive analysis, or a mock discovery call with the tools you used. A linked Google Doc, a slide deck, or a recorded pitch is more persuasive than a blank experience section.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured cohort programs tied to your university, and your professors and career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller programs alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never come through university channels.
Practice your sales development representative screen out loud before interviewing
SDR intern screens typically include a mock cold call, a short pitch, or a role-play objection-handling exercise. Practice these out loud with a partner, not just in your head, because interviewers weigh how you communicate and recover in real time. Record yourself to catch filler words and pacing before the actual conversation.
Target structured SDR programs and apply in the first wave
Many larger companies run cohort-based sales development representative programs designed specifically for people new to the field, with formal training built in. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and often give interns more structure and mentorship than informal placements. Identify the ones that fit your goals and submit your application as soon as the cycle opens.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 33% of the sales development representative internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start applying so you're not sorting through roles that don't fit your situation. Filter by location and work type first, then search within results, to keep your list focused on opportunities you can actually take.
Sales Development Representative Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a sales development representative internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A documented cold-outreach sequence, a mock sales deck, or a recorded discovery call gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where SDR recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a sales development representative internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for sales development representative interns is hitting activity and pipeline targets, building relationships with the full-time team, and understanding whether the employer has open headcount when the internship ends. Perform well on real work and clarify return-offer timelines early, but don't count on it.
When should I apply for sales development representative internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers and structured sales programs recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to the actual start date, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role appears keeps you competitive across both hiring patterns.
Are sales development representative internships paid?
Most professional sales development representative internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and some roles also include commission or bonus components tied to activity goals. Listings display pay where the employer discloses it, so you can compare offers as you apply.
What should a sales development representative internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three documented projects, a cold-outreach sequence, a market research report, or a mock sales pitch, naming the tools used and linking to the work where possible. Add relevant coursework in business, marketing, or communications. Keep the resume to one page and put the most role-specific proof at the top.
Are there remote sales development representative internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 67% of the sales development representative internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply early once you decide remote works for your schedule. Use the work-type filter to see only the listings that match what you can commit to.
Can international students get sales development representative internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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