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Sales Research Intern at Soda — Research Report

Introduction

The Sales Research Intern role at Soda offers hands-on experience in market analysis and lead generation for a fast-growing background check platform. With an ongoing application deadline and fully remote work in the United States, this internship bridges academic learning with real sales strategy. It's a prime opportunity to build skills that launch careers in sales ops or business development, often leading to full-time offers.

Overview of Soda

Soda is a venture-backed SaaS company revolutionizing background checks for hiring teams worldwide. Founded in 2021, it provides automated, compliant screening tools that cut verification time from weeks to hours using AI-driven data aggregation.

In the competitive HR tech space, Soda stands out against giants like Checkr and GoodHire by focusing on enterprise-grade accuracy and global coverage. Its niche in sales-driven screening serves tech firms, finance, and healthcare, processing millions of checks annually.

Key products include Soda Verify for instant credential checks and Soda Global for international compliance. The company has raised over $50 million in funding, fueling 300% year-over-year growth as of 2025.

Soda's remote-first culture emphasizes transparency, with weekly all-hands and async communication via Slack. Employees rave about its collaborative vibe on Glassdoor, citing fast promotions and equity perks. People flock here for the mission: making hiring fairer and faster.

Sales Research Intern Role

Role Overview

As a Sales Research Intern, you'll support the revenue team by identifying high-value prospects and enriching lead data to fuel Soda's sales pipeline. Your work directly impacts deal velocity, helping close enterprise contracts worth six figures. This role exposes you to B2B sales cycles in a high-stakes industry.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Conduct market research on target industries like tech and finance to build prospect lists.
• Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator and ZoomInfo to gather firmographics and technographics on 50+ accounts weekly.
• Analyze competitor landscapes, summarizing insights in concise reports for account executives.
• Verify lead data accuracy, flagging compliance risks in background check regulations.
• Assist in crafting personalized outreach emails and sequencing campaigns in HubSpot.
• Track pipeline metrics, contributing to weekly sales dashboards in Google Sheets or Tableau.
• Shadow customer calls to understand pain points in hiring verification processes.

Day-to-Day Workflow

Your day starts with Slack stand-up, reviewing overnight leads from the sales team. Mornings focus on research sprints: scraping data from Crunchbase and company websites, then enriching it in Salesforce. Afternoons involve report synthesis and collaborating via Loom videos for feedback.

Expect 4-6 hours of deep research, broken by quick wins like list exports. End with a debrief, prepping tomorrow's targets. It's rhythmic yet varied, blending solo analysis with team syncs.

Tools and Technologies

Soda's stack centers on sales enablement: HubSpot for CRM, LinkedIn Sales Navigator for prospecting, and ZoomInfo for intent data. You'll use Google Workspace for docs, Tableau for visualizations, and Apollo.io for email sequencing. No coding required, but SQL basics help with data pulls from Snowflake.

Skills and Requirements

Technical Skills

Proficiency in Excel for data manipulation and pivot tables is essential; advanced users leverage Google Sheets formulas. Familiarity with CRM tools like Salesforce or HubSpot speeds onboarding. Domain knowledge in HR tech or sales ops, plus comfort with research platforms like Crunchbase, sets you apart.

Soft Skills

Strong research curiosity drives success—think detective work on elusive leads. Clear communication shines in summarizing complex data for non-technical sellers. Adaptability thrives in a fast-paced remote setup, where initiative means proposing process tweaks.

Experience Expectations

Soda targets rising juniors or seniors in business, marketing, or data analytics programs—no GPA cutoff, but 3.2+ helps. Prior internships in sales or research aren't mandatory; personal projects like lead gen spreadsheets or campus sales club experience count. A one-page portfolio of research samples impresses.

Salary and Benefits

Expect $25-$35 per hour for this remote U.S. internship, aligning with Bay Area sales intern benchmarks adjusted for Soda's Series B status. Paid at 20-30 hours weekly over 10-12 weeks.

Perks include a $500 learning stipend for courses on Udemy, full health benefits eligibility, and unlimited PTO. Remote setup covers home office reimbursements up to $300. Top performers often convert to full-time Sales Development roles at $70K base plus commission.

Soda Hiring Process

Step-by-Step Hiring Stages

1. Application: Submit resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn via Soda's careers page or Greenhouse ATS.
2. Screening: 15-minute recruiter call assessing fit and motivation.
3. Assignment: 2-3 hour task building a sample prospect list from a target ICP.
4. Interviews: Two 45-minute rounds—one with sales manager, one with peer intern.
5. Offer: Verbal next day, written within 48 hours including start date.

Application Timeline

Apply anytime—ongoing deadline means rolling admissions, with cohorts starting quarterly. Process wraps in 1-2 weeks; summer spots fill by May. Early apps get priority for mentorship pairings.

Screening Methods

Greenhouse ATS scans for keywords like "market research," "lead generation," and "sales ops." Tailor your resume with metrics, e.g., "Built 200-lead list boosting outreach 30%." No portfolio required upfront, but link one in your cover letter.

Interview Preparation

Example Interview Questions

• "Walk me through how you'd research a prospect in fintech for background check needs."
• "Describe a time you handled messy data—what tools did you use?"
• "How would you prioritize leads from a list of 100 companies?"
• "Why Soda, and what excites you about sales research?"

How to Answer

Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. For research questions, screen-share your process live—pull up LinkedIn, explain filters. Quantify impacts: "My list increased conversions by 15%." Practice aloud to sound natural.

What Recruiters Evaluate

They prioritize research thoroughness over polish—can you uncover hidden insights? Cultural add: enthusiasm for Soda's mission and remote collaboration. Metrics from your assignment predict real output.

How to Get Selected

Practical Tips

• Customize your cover letter with Soda-specifics, like referencing their recent funding round.
• Build a sample deliverable: a 10-prospect report on HR tech buyers, shared via Google Drive.
• Network on LinkedIn—message current sales team members with thoughtful questions.
• Optimize resume for ATS: front-load skills section with "prospect research" and tool names.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Generic applications ignoring Soda's focus on verification tech.
• Skipping metrics—vague "did research" flops; say "analyzed 500 companies."
• Poor assignment execution: rushed lists without enrichment get auto-rejected.
• Ignoring remote fit—highlight self-motivation examples.

How to Stand Out

Create a Notion portfolio with mock Soda research: ICP analysis plus visuals. Attend HR tech webinars, cite learnings in interviews. Referrals via alumni networks double odds—search "Soda intern" on LinkedIn. Follow up post-assignment with refinements showing grit.

Final Thoughts

Landing the Sales Research Intern spot at Soda catapults your career into high-growth sales ops, with skills that transfer anywhere. Don't wait—ongoing deadlines mean now's the time to apply and showcase your edge. Tailor, practice, and persist; your breakthrough awaits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the salary for Sales Research Intern at Soda?

A: Hourly pay ranges from $25-$35, based on location and experience, for 20-30 hours weekly. Includes stipends and conversion potential.

Q: How competitive is it to get hired at Soda?

A: Moderately competitive—50-100 apps per cohort, but strong assignments convert 20-30%. Stand out with targeted research samples.

Q: What skills are most important for this role?

A: Research prowess with tools like LinkedIn and HubSpot, plus analytical thinking. Curiosity trumps prior experience.

Application Tips

• • Reference specific company initiatives mentioned in the research
• • Align your experience with the role requirements
• • Prepare questions that show you've done your homework
• • Practice explaining how you can contribute to their goals

Interview Preparation

• • Study the company culture and values
• • Understand the industry challenges and opportunities
• • Prepare examples that demonstrate relevant skills
• • Research recent company news and developments