Sales Trainee

Why This Role Matters

Sales is where Shepherd's reputation is made and kept — one relationship at a time.

The Entry Level Sales Trainee is the starting point of a structured, 12-month development path designed to build the skills, product knowledge, and business acumen you need to carry a territory with confidence. You are not going into a job. You are entering a program built to make you ready.

When trainees complete the program ready to execute — to build dealer relationships, present solutions, and close with confidence — Shepherd grows. This role is an investment in the next generation of sales professionals who will drive that growth. It is also an investment in you, and we take that seriously.

How This Role Connects To Our Compass

We Keep Our Promises

You represent Shepherd to every customer you contact during training. That means follow-through on commitments, honest communication, and showing up prepared — every time. Customers experience Shepherd through you before you ever close a deal.

We Stay Hungry

You are in a 12-month learning program. You take what you hear in training and test it on the phones — you do not wait for someone to tell you what to do next. You treat every mentor interaction and customer visit as an opportunity to get sharper.

We Grow Together

Sales at Shepherd is not a solo act. You learn from your mentor, from branch teams, from counter staff — and you bring what you learn back into the organization. You grow by being coachable, not just competitive.

We Own It

No one will carry you through this program. You own your development — the gaps you find in your knowledge, the calls you follow up on, the preparation you put in before every customer interaction. Your results are your responsibility from day one.

We Go Above & Beyond

You do not just show up for work — you show up ready to contribute. You look for ways to add value on all calls, ask questions that go deeper than the surface, and build relationships that matter before you have your own territory.

Key Outcomes

Organized by what matters, not just what you do.

Training Program Completion

• Complete all Shepherd-assigned coursework covering electrical distribution, sales technique, product knowledge, and customer engagement
• Build working knowledge of Shepherd's product and service portfolio — you can speak credibly about what we carry and why it matters to contractors
• Apply learning by accompanying your mentor on live customer calls and observing — and contributing to — the full sales cycle
• Observe with counter, operations, and other inside sales employees to understand how Shepherd executes behind the scenes
  
  

Sales Readiness & Mentor Partnership

• Work alongside your Sales Mentor throughout training — not as a shadow, but as a developing contributor
• Build the skills and judgment needed to manage your own territory: prospecting, qualifying, presenting solutions, negotiating, and closing
• Demonstrate increasing independence and readiness for territory ownership as the 12-month program progresses
• Use every mentor interaction to learn how Shepherd's most effective sellers operate — and why
  
  

Customer Relationship Foundation

• Develop a genuine understanding of contractor and electrician business operations so you can speak about the problems Shepherd solves — before you try to sell anything
• Build the consultative selling skills needed to earn trust: listen first, connect solutions to real problems, follow through on every commitment
• Representing Shepherd professionally at every touchpoint during training — your reputation starts now, not when you get a territory
  
  

Territory Transition

• Successfully complete the 12-month program and transition into an assigned Account Manager
• Arrive with your account base prepared — with product knowledge, sales methodology, and relationship-building habits that let you generate early momentum
• Approach account ownership from day one as a builder, not a starter
  
  

What Success Looks Like

After 12 months, you and your supervisor should both be able to point to these markers:

• You have completed all training and can speak confidently about Shepherd's full product and service portfolio
• You have accompanied your mentor on enough calls to understand the real sales cycle — not just the theory
• You can conduct a discovery conversation with a contractor, identify their pain points, and connect them to Shepherd solutions
• You have demonstrated the professionalism, reliability, and follow-through expected of a Shepherd Sales Professional
• Your mentor and manager can point to specific moments when you went above and beyond — not because you were asked, but because you saw what needed to be done
  
  

Who Thrives Here

This role is a strong fit if:

• You want to build a real sales career, not just work a sales job — and you understand the difference between the two
• You learn quickly and apply what you learn without waiting for someone to tell you what to do next
• You communicate clearly, build rapport naturally, and represent yourself and Shepherd with professionalism
• You hold yourself accountable — you do not need a manager watching to do things right
• You are coachable — you take feedback seriously and use it, not just receive it
  
  

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• Strong time management skills and ability to work independently
• Ability to build genuine customer relationships — not just make contact
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements
  
  

Work Shift and Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, in office

Compensation Details: The expected pay rate for this position is starting at $28.00-$30.00 per hour depending on experience.

Why should you join Shepherd Electrical Supply?

At Shepherd Electric Supply, excellence in service, pricing, and products has been our mission since 1892. As the oldest wholesale electrical distributor in the Baltimore/Washington area, we take pride in our exceptional customer service and extensive inventory.

We have a rich history of partnering with industry leaders like Siemens and Eaton, and our commitment to quality and innovation has made us a trusted name in the industry. Join our team and be a part of our legacy!

Apply now and find out what’s next for you.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

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