Sales Trainee

Company Description

• We take care of our employees, and they take care of our customers!
• Become a member of a global community!
• The international logistics industry is an integral piece of the global trade puzzle; we make the world go round.
• Global supply chain management is what we do, and at the heart of Expeditors you will find professionalism, leadership, and a friendly environment, all of which foster an innovative, customer service-based approach to logistics.
• Expeditors is a global logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
• As a Fortune 500 company, we employ over 19,000 trained professionals in a worldwide network of over 350+ locations across six continents.
• Expeditors satisfies the increasingly sophisticated needs of international trade through customized solutions and seamless, integrated information systems.

Our Mission

• We recruit, train, and retain the very best logistics and technical experts the world over.
• We love to promote from within - more than 50 percent of our employees have been at Expeditors for five years or more.
• Our high retention rate is influenced by a unique compensation program for positions that are more than just jobs - they're chances to grow, do what you love and build a career with us!

Job Description

Position Summary

The Sales Trainee is an entry-level inside sales role in the Salt Lake City district. It combines outbound sales development with hands-on time in Expeditors' products and operational processes.

The role

starts with a required 6 to 12-month operations immersion period.

• During that time, the trainee works inside the district's operations teams to learn how Expeditors moves freight, clears shipments, and serve our clients.
• The trainee gradually builds their outreach, lead qualification, and meeting-setting work.
• As the trainee's operations knowledge grows, the focus shifts toward prospecting and securing first meetings for District Sales Executives and sales leadership.
• The expectation is this role transitions to a District Sales Executive within 12-18 months.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Product Immersion (Required, 6–12 Months)

• Complete a required 6 to12 month operations immersion period rotating through core products and services.
• Divide working time between operations and sales development as directed by the District Sales Manager. The split may change depending on need or progression.
• Learn the full shipment lifecycle hands-on: booking, documentation, routing, carrier coordination, customs clearance, delivery, and exception handling.
• Support operations during periods of high volume or staffing need as directed.
• Show product and process knowledge by using what was learned in operations in prospect conversations, lead qualification, and meeting preparation.

Outreach & Prospecting

• Make daily outbound calls, emails, and LinkedIn contacts to prospective customers in the Salt Lake City market.
• Research target companies with trade data, industry sources, and market intelligence to find importers, exporters, and supply chain decision-makers.
• Build and work prospect lists in line with district target industries and account strategy.

Lead Processing & Qualification

• Respond quickly to inbound inquiries, referrals, and assigned leads.
• Qualify leads on shipping profile, trade lanes, product needs, current providers, and decision-making structure.
• Keep contacts, activities, leads, and opportunities accurate and up to date in CRM.

Meeting Generation & Sales Support

• Secure discovery meetings and introductory calls for District Sales Executives and sales leadership.
• Prepare account research and pre-call briefs before customer meetings.
• Join customer meetings, presentations, and account reviews to learn the consultative sales process.
• Help existing and prospective customers grow and stay engaged by checking in with them regularly.

Learning & Development

• Support ad hoc projects and assignments as needed.
• During the training period, the trainee is expected to complete:

• Supply Chain Fundamentals
• At least one industry certification, such as the IATA Cargo Introductory Diploma, Licensed Customs Broker, or Transition & Implementation Level 1
• At least one Dangerous Goods certification (Air/Ground, Ocean, or Import)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or diploma, or equivalent experience
• Commitment to a 6 to 12-month operations immersion period, with flexibility to work in operational roles as business needs require
• Comfort with high-volume phone and email outreach
• Resilience and persistence in handling objections and rejection
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated, hardworking, honest, and confident
• Team-oriented with a can-do attitude
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally to customer sites

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Completing the operations immersion period within 6 to 12 months, with sign-off from operations leads on product and process knowledge
• Using operational knowledge credibly in prospect conversations and lead qualification
• Meeting weekly outreach targets for calls, emails, and touches
• Converting outreach into qualified conversations and booked meetings
• Handing qualified opportunities to DSEs with complete, useful notes
• Keeping CRM activity and lead records clean and consistent
• Completing required training and certifications on schedule
• Becoming steadily more independent at qualifying opportunities and presenting Expeditors solutions

Additional Information

Expeditors offers excellent benefits:

• Paid Vacation (first year prorated based off month of hire then eligible for 15 days)
• Annual Paid Holidays (10)
• Potential Flexible Days (2)
• Paid Sick Time (accrual rate of 1 hour of sick time per 30 hours paid, unused rolls over)
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match (Pre-Tax or Roth)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental & Vision Coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave (additional eligibility criteria)
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DC FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Training and Personnel Development Program
• Educational Assistance and Reimbursement
• Position is full time (40 hours per week) Monday through Friday 8am-5pm