JobsGenerac

Sales Development Representative (Entry Level)

Generac · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to convince someone who wasn't required to listen to you, like a store associate or manager, to change how they were doing something.

influence skills without formal authority, which is the core of this job

Tell me about a time you had to learn a product or subject quickly to speak confidently about it in front of others.

speed of ramp-up and comfort presenting on unfamiliar material

Describe a situation where you had to prioritize between an urgent problem and an important but non-urgent task. How did you decide?

judgment on urgency versus importance, since the role juggles many accounts at once

Tell me about a time a sale or a project didn't go your way. What did you do afterward?

resilience and how the candidate handles rejection, common in retail-facing sales

What have you done in the past, even outside of a sales job, that shows you can build a relationship with someone over repeated visits rather than a one-time interaction?

relationship-building capacity given the long-term, recurring nature of store visits

Technical

How would you explain the difference between a portable generator and a home standby unit to a store associate who has never sold either?

basic product knowledge and ability to translate technical specs into simple, sellable language

What's your approach to keeping records of every store visit and customer interaction up to date, especially when you're on the road most of the week?

discipline with CRM tools like Salesforce and whether reporting will actually get done consistently

Situational

Walk me through how you'd plan a week covering multiple retail stores across your territory. What decides which stores get visited and how often?

whether the candidate can self-manage travel and prioritize without a manager directing daily activity

Say you walk into a store and the Generac display is empty, the planogram isn't followed, and the store manager is busy and short with you. What do you do in that visit?

composure and problem-solving under a real, low-cooperation field scenario

If a store manager pushed back and said Generac products weren't worth the shelf space compared to a competitor, how would you respond in the moment?

ability to sell the brand and handle objections calmly

What does driving 75 percent of the time for work actually look like day to day for you, and how do you stay organized doing it?

realistic expectations and logistics readiness for heavy regional travel

How would you pitch a new in-store program idea to a retail field leadership team to get their buy-in?

ability to collaborate with and influence leadership partners, not just frontline staff

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? Generac has an exciting entry level Sales Development Representative position! The Sales Development Representative is responsible for a territory where they are accountable to grow POS sales at the store level. This role educates store associates on Generac’s product lines, answers questions from consumers, and pro’s buying the company’s products and providing support to the dealer channel for specific retail customers’ SF&I programs. The Sales Development Representative works with retailer field leadership to sell new ideas on how to grow the Generac brand across the store. Compensation for this role: $53,000 plus commission This position will be supporting one of the following markets: - Michigan / Ohio - Florida - Georgia - Wisconsin Job Description: • Drive incremental sales growth by selling all Generac product lines across multiple retail accounts by educating store associates and end users about the company’s products and brand and by using in-depth knowledge of product application and specifications to assist customer in selecting the product that best meet their needs. • Collaborate with the retail field leadership team to execute new in-store programs to drive awareness and increase sales. • Collaborate with retail store management to ensure the planograms are executed for portable generators and home standby units and is accurately stocked with Generac products for displays, end caps, buildouts in the stores. • Develop and maintain strong relationships with store managers, key decision-makers, and other relevant personnel in assigned retail locations. • Maintain and update records of sales activities, customer interactions, and market conditions in Salesforce. ​ Education • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience Certification / License • Valid driver’s license with the ability to travel locally up to 75% of the time Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Excellent written and oral communication skills • Effective presentation skills for small and large groups • Strong problem-solving skills • Ability to work independently • Ability to make decisions in the best interest of the customer and company • Ability to multi-task and prioritize activities according to importance and urgency • Ability to react well under pressure • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with CRM software. • Willingness to travel frequently within the designated region While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls.  The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.  On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders.  The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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