A Sales Development Representative (SDR) is an individual who works within a company's sales department and is responsible for generating new business opportunities through research and outbound prospecting. The role of an SDR is to generate interest in a company's products or services through proactive outreach methods such as cold-calling, emailing, and social media engagement. Once an SDR has generated interest, they will then pass the lead off to a Closing Sales Representative who will work to close the deal. SDRs are typically entry-level positions within a sales organization and serve as a stepping stone for those looking to pursue a career in sales. Many companies offer training and development programs for SDRs with the goal of preparing them for a future role as a Closing Sales Representative.