How Meerkat works
Meerkat introduces South African sales development reps to US software companies that want to hire them full time and remotely. Here's the whole thing in plain terms, so you can decide before you agree to anything.
The job
You'd work as an SDR (sales development rep) for one US software company. You find and talk to people who might buy the product, mostly by phone and email, and book meetings for the company's account executives.
It's a full time job with one company, not freelance work. It's an outbound role. It isn't a closing role.
Hours
Most of our companies are in US time zones, so your shift runs into the evening or night in South Africa. A typical window is 3 PM to midnight.
The hours for a specific company are shown before you agree to any interview, and you can say no to a role where they don't work for you.
Pay
You're paid in rand, and the amount is written into your employment contract. The minimum base salary is R25,000 a month.
The US company sets the rate and any raises. Companies see your base salary and the total you expect with commission up front, so nobody is surprised later.
Who employs you
You're an employee, not a contractor. An employer of record in South Africa employs you on a proper contract and takes care of payroll, tax, UIF and leave. You work day to day for the US company.
The steps
From "yes" to a first interview with a company, it usually takes a couple of weeks.
- 1Say yes to us on LinkedIn or WhatsApp.
- 2Read and accept the consent form (about two minutes).
- 3Do the pre-screen: five questions and a 60 second voice note (about 10 minutes, on your phone).
- 4A 20 minute video chat with our team.
- 5A role play call in your browser with a practice buyer (about 15 minutes).
- 6A final review and your setup checklist. Then you're on the bench.
- 7Once you're on the bench, US companies can ask to interview you.
Your setup
You use your own laptop. We don't provide a stipend at the moment. You need a quiet place to work, fast and reliable internet, and a backup for both power and internet, for example a UPS or inverter plus mobile data. We ask about this in a short checklist.
What it costs you
Nothing. Meerkat is paid by the companies that hire, never by candidates.
Your information
We only ask for what we need, we show companies an anonymised summary until they decide to move forward, and you can ask us to delete everything at any time. The consent form has the full detail, and you can read it before you accept.
Common questions
What is Meerkat?
Meerkat introduces South African sales development reps to US software companies that want to hire them full time, remotely. We screen you once, and then US companies can ask to meet you.
How much does it pay?
You're paid in rand, and the amount is set in your employment contract. The US company sets the rate and any raises. The minimum base salary is R25,000 a month, and companies see your base salary and your expected total with commission up front so nobody is surprised.
What hours would I work?
Most of our companies are in US time zones, so expect a shift that runs into the evening or night in South Africa, for example 3 PM to midnight. The exact window is shown before you agree to any interview, and you can say no to a role where the hours don't work for you.
Is it remote?
Yes, fully remote. You work from home, so you need a quiet workspace, your own laptop, and a reliable internet connection.
What does the process look like?
First a short pre-screen (five questions and a 60 second voice note). Then a 20 minute video chat with our team, then a role play call with a practice buyer, then a final review. Once you're on the bench, US companies can ask to interview you. The whole thing usually takes a couple of weeks.
What about load-shedding?
You'll need a backup for both power and internet, for example a UPS or inverter plus a mobile data fallback. We ask about your setup in a short checklist. It's part of being approved, and we're glad to talk through options.
Would I be an employee or a contractor?
An employee. You're employed in South Africa by an employer of record, on a proper contract with leave, UIF and tax handled. You work day to day for the US company.
Do I pay anything?
No. Meerkat is paid by the companies that hire, never by candidates.
Do I need my own laptop?
Yes, you use your own laptop. We don't provide a stipend at the moment.
What do you do with my data?
We keep your details to run the screening and for as long as you're on the bench, up to 12 months. You can ask us to delete everything at any time, and we'll do it within 30 days.
How quickly will I get a job?
We can't promise a timeline or a job. Being on the bench means US companies can ask to meet you. Some candidates are introduced within weeks, others wait longer.