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Customer Development Representative Jobs in Illinois

CWI

Sales Development Rep

Springfield, IL · On-site

$35K - $55K/yr

Sales Development Representative As a Sales Development Representative you will be a key ... Utilize the CRM system to record and manage customer information, appointments, calls, and sales ...

New

Clean USA

Business Development Representative

Sycamore, IL · On-site

$50K - $150K/yr

Business Development Representative Overview CLEAN USA WATER & FIRE is looking for a motivated ... Our company culture is built around taking care of customers, supporting our team, improving every ...

Formic

Sales Development Representative

Chicago, IL · On-site

Customer Success serves as the connective tissue between customers and internal teams, ensuring ... As a Sales Development Representative, you will serve as the front line of pipeline generation. You ...

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All JobsCustomer Development Representative JobsCustomer Development Representative Jobs in Illinois

Customer Development Representative information

See Illinois salary details

$32.5K

$56.7K

$89.2K

How much do customer development representative jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for customer development representative in Illinois is $56,663.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,100.00 and $66,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Customer Development Representative vs Sales Development Representative?

AspectCustomer Development RepresentativeSales Development Representative
Primary FocusBuilding customer relationships and understanding client needsGenerating and qualifying sales leads
Required SkillsCommunication, customer service, product knowledgeProspecting, cold calling, lead qualification
Work EnvironmentCustomer-facing, often in account managementOutbound sales, lead generation teams
Common Industry UsageTechnology, SaaS, B2B servicesTechnology, SaaS, B2B sales

While both roles involve engaging with potential or existing clients, Customer Development Representatives focus on nurturing relationships and understanding customer needs, whereas Sales Development Representatives primarily focus on generating and qualifying leads to support sales teams. Both roles require strong communication skills and are vital in the sales and customer success processes within similar industries.

What jobs pay 4000 a week without a degree?

A Customer Development Representative typically earns between $500 and $1,500 weekly, so earning $4,000 a week without a degree is uncommon in this role. High-paying jobs that can reach or exceed $4,000 weekly without a degree often include sales positions like real estate agents, certain skilled trades such as electricians or plumbers, and entrepreneurial ventures. Success in these roles usually depends on experience, skills, and performance rather than formal education.

Is SDR the hardest sales job?

The Customer Development Representative (SDR) role is often considered challenging due to its focus on prospecting, cold outreach, and qualifying leads, which require strong communication and resilience. However, the difficulty of sales jobs varies based on individual skills, company environment, and sales targets, so perceptions of difficulty differ among professionals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Customer Development Representative, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Customer Development Representative, you need strong communication, prospecting, and relationship-building skills, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems like Salesforce and proficiency in sales enablement tools are commonly required. Persistence, active listening, and adaptability help candidates excel in engaging prospects and handling objections. These skills are crucial for effectively driving sales growth, building lasting customer relationships, and achieving business targets.

What is a Customer Development Representative?

A Customer Development Representative (CDR) is responsible for identifying and engaging potential customers, often at the early stages of the sales process. They generate leads, qualify prospects, and nurture relationships to help drive sales growth for their company. CDRs typically work closely with sales and marketing teams to ensure a smooth transition from prospecting to the sales closing phase. Their goal is to understand customer needs, provide relevant information, and set up meetings or demos for account executives.

Is SDR a good entry level job?

A Customer Development Representative (SDR) role is often considered a good entry-level position in sales and business development. It typically requires strong communication skills, basic knowledge of CRM tools, and provides opportunities to learn about customer needs and sales processes, making it suitable for those starting their careers in sales or marketing.

What does a customer development representative do?

A customer development representative (CDR) is responsible for engaging with potential and existing customers to understand their needs, promote products or services, and generate sales leads. They often use communication skills, CRM tools, and sales strategies to build relationships and support business growth.

What are some common challenges faced by Customer Development Representatives, and how can they be overcome?

Customer Development Representatives often face challenges such as handling customer objections, managing a high volume of outreach, and maintaining motivation during periods of rejection. To overcome these, it's helpful to develop strong active listening skills, use proven objection-handling techniques, and rely on supportive team collaboration. Regularly setting achievable goals and leveraging CRM tools can also help stay organized and maintain a positive workflow.
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What job categories do people searching Customer Development Representative jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Customer Development Representative jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Customer Development Representative jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Customer Development Representative job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Customer Development Representative jobs in IL? For Customer Development Representative jobs in IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Customer Development Representative jobs near you
Infographic showing various Customer Development Representative job openings in Illinois as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,663 per year, or $27.2 per hour.

Sales Development Representative

SKF Group

Waukegan, IL

$77K/yr

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Sales Development Representative

Location: Waukegan, IL

Salary Range: $77,000.00 to $ 87,000.00

About SKF: 

SKF, reducing friction since 1907, re-imagining rotation for a better tomorrow! 

SKF is an industry-leading manufacturer that has been a cornerstone in industrial life. Wherever there are machines or products in motion, SKF bearings are there to reduce friction. SKF drives the industries that support our way of life, powers the machines that put food on the table, and even helps explore the cosmos. 

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. SKF is on pace to decarbonize all its production facilities by 2030.  

We're guided by our SKF values. Collaboration is critical to the success of our colleagues, partners, and customers. Curiosity and Courage provide a foundation for innovation and advancement. And we do this work out of Care for our people, customers, communities, and the planet.  

We're a company committed to a culture of belonging, where all our people are encouraged to be themselves and grow their careers in an equitable environment.  

Learn about SKF at www.skf.com.

 

Position Summary

The Sales Development Representative (SDR) plays a key role in driving pipeline growth and new customer acquisition by identifying, engaging, and qualifying current and potential customers. This role is designed to build a strong internal talent pipeline and develop future sales and business leaders.

Key Responsibilities

  • Identify and prospect target customers aligned with SKF's strategic segments
  • Execute outbound outreach campaigns (phone, email, LinkedIn, events)
  • Qualify inbound and outbound leads to generate sales-ready opportunities
  • Conduct discovery conversations to understand customer needs and applications
  • Schedule qualified meetings and hand off opportunities to Account Managers or Sales Engineers
  • Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Application Engineering to support growth initiatives
  • Maintain accurate activity, pipeline, and customer data in CRM systems
  • Build knowledge of SKF products, applications, and industry markets
  • SDRs are responsible for generating and qualifying leads and creating new opportunities that support the sales pipeline.

Customer Engagement

  • Engage current and potential customers through phone, email, LinkedIn, events, and coordinated field activity to identify needs, qualify opportunities, and create a positive first impression of SKF.
  • Conduct structured discovery conversations to understand customer applications, business drivers, reliability challenges, and timing for potential opportunities.
  • Support account development by scheduling qualified meetings, preparing clear handoff notes, and ensuring the appropriate Account Manager, or Application Engineering resource is engaged at the right time.
  • Maintain disciplined follow-up with customers, including timely responses, meeting recaps, action items, and next steps documented in CRM.
  • Escalate customer needs, technical questions, pricing requests, service issues, or high-potential opportunities to the appropriate internal owner while maintaining visibility until resolution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with OEM Sales, Sales Operations and Enablement, Marketing, Application Engineering, Customer Service, Product Line, and Distribution/Aftermarket teams to support pipeline growth and customer development.
  • Coordinate with Account Managers and Application Engineers to align outreach activity, account context, customer messaging, and opportunity handoff expectations.
  • Work with Marketing and Sales Enablement to execute targeted campaigns, support trade show follow-up, and convert market intelligence into actionable prospecting activity.
  • Collaborate with Application Engineering and Product Line teams to build technical understanding and connect customers with the right SKF expertise when application-specific support is needed.
  • Contribute to a consistent internal operating rhythm by sharing customer insights, lead status, activity updates, and CRM data that help improve forecasting, prioritization, and sales execution.

Operational Excellence

  • Qualified opportunities generated (SQLs)
  • Pipeline value created
  • Lead-to-opportunity conversion rates
  • Activity levels (calls, emails, meetings)
  • CRM accuracy and data quality
  • SDRs are typically measured on pipeline creation, conversion rates, and activity performance.

Strategic Communication

  • Communicate clearly and professionally with customers, prospects, and internal stakeholders, tailoring messages to the audience and business context.
  • Prepare concise customer outreach, meeting agendas, follow-up notes, and opportunity summaries that support effective handoffs and next-step alignment.
  • Provide regular updates on prospecting activity, lead status, customer feedback, and pipeline progress through CRM, weekly updates, and manager check-ins.
  • Translate customer insights, objections, and market signals into actionable feedback for Sales, Marketing, Sales Enablement, and Product Line teams.
  • Support leadership visibility by maintaining accurate reporting on activity levels, qualified opportunities, conversion progress, and emerging customer or market trends.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field (preferred)
  • 0-3 years of experience in sales, customer-facing, or technical roles
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to learn technical products and industrial applications
  • Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and highly coachable
  • Experience with CRM tools (Salesforce or similar) is a plus

We're looking for curiosity and willingness to learn, resilience and persistence in a high-activity role, strong organizational and time management skills, and team-oriented mindset with ability to collaborate cross-functionally.

Travel Requirements

Up to 50% of domestic travel

What You'll Love About SKF: 

Rest and Relaxation. Enjoy a generous PTO policy and 13 paid holidays. 

Work/Life Integration. SKF supports work/life integration, home, family, community, personal well-being and health.  

Diversity in the Workplace. At SKF, we strive to embed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in everything we do. By developing a culture of belonging, our people can flourish; leading to an inclusive, equitable environment that promotes leadership, engagement and innovation. 

Best in Class Benefits. SKF cares about the wellbeing of our employees. Comprehensive healthcare options to fit your needs and opt out payment.  Added benefits include company paid life insurance, STD, LTD. Supplemental benefits include critical illness coverage, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs, and much more! 

Bonus. SKF offers STVS (Short Term Variable Salary) or Sales Incentive based on company performance and at the discretion of management.  

Invest in your Future. Participate in our 401K program that boasts a 10% employer contribution: 100% match up to 5% of your elected contribution (100% Vested) plus an additional 5% company contribution.

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