Sales Development Representative screening interview questions

What a good sales development representative screen should establish

• Motivation and resilience
• Crisp verbal communication
• Research and prospecting approach
• Coachability
• Metrics orientation

The questions, and what to listen for

1. 01

   Sell me on why you want to be an SDR.

   Listen for: Genuine drive, understands the path and the grind.

2. 02

   How would you research a prospect before a cold call or email?

   Listen for: Specific sources and a plan to personalize.

3. 03

   Role-play: I'm a prospect who says 'we already use a competitor.' Go.

   Listen for: Acknowledges, asks a question, does not argue.

4. 04

   Tell me about a goal you hit that required consistent effort over months.

   Listen for: Discipline, tracking, and persistence.

5. 05

   How do you handle a week of constant rejection?

   Listen for: Reframes rejection as part of the process; keeps activity up.

6. 06

   Describe a time you received tough coaching. What did you change?

   Listen for: Specific behavior change; welcomes feedback.

7. 07

   Which sales tools have you used (CRM, sequencing, dialers)?

   Listen for: Named tools or fast learning attitude.

8. 08

   How do you organize your day to hit activity targets?

   Listen for: Time blocking, prioritization, energy management.

9. 09

   What is a recent thing you learned on your own?

   Listen for: Curiosity and self-direction.

10. 10

    Where do you want to be in two years?

    Listen for: Ambition aligned with a sales career path.

Red flags

• Cannot articulate why sales, beyond money
• Gets defensive in the role-play
• No example of sustained effort toward a goal