Tips for Mastering Sdr Interviews

I've interviewed 1000s of candidates over the past 20+ years and have hired nearly 100% of them who took the following approach in the interview: First: take control by proactively offering to walk through your background. It's rare that folks take proactive control as an interviewee - most wait for the interviewer to take control. Think about why this is important if you're in sales... Second, in walking through your background, emphasize the following traits with a short story about each. Don't walk through bullets, TELL A STORY: **Grit. I want to know that you've had to overcome something. Weave (into your story) how you had to work through school, you had an activity or sport that took up a lot of time, you had a personal situation that was challenging. What drove you to push through and get to where you are now. Why and how >>> what. **Curiosity. I want to know that you're a proactive learner. Give me a situation where you had less info than you needed to make a decision but worked to get that information, in whatever way. (Bonus: I am expecting to see your curiosity in action when I give you the chance to ask questions) **Success. Talk about a small win somewhere in your background that you are proud of, and tell me the story behind that. Why was it important to you and how did you secure that win. Could be work, personal, anything. **Share your 'WHY'. What's motivating you to chase this specific opportunity. Why is this one the right fit? Don't be generic. This will show that you've done research and are prepared. To recap: - Take control of the interview (like you'll take control of a sales process) - Tell a story (the why works better than the what) - Grit (you'll get a lot of rejection in sales) - Curiosity (curiosity in general = superb discovery) - Success (Wins will beget wins) - Your WHY is very relevant to understanding mutual fit 950 tech, sales, CS, SDR, and leadership roles you can apply for today; maybe try out a few of these strategies: https://lnkd.in/ew93wnVw ✌️

If I were applying for an SDR role today, here’s exactly what I’d do: Research deeply : I’d go beyond the company website—dig into recent news, funding rounds, product updates, and even the company’s competitors. This shows that I’m genuinely invested. I don't care who referred me or how I got the interview. I'd bring my A game in every interaction. Your research will show when you talk. Tailor my resume : Every company has its own language. I’d match their tone, key phrases, and highlight the skills most relevant to that SDR role. Don't blidly add tools. No one is impressed with how you know sales navigator when your last job didn't require one. Show me the real deal. Engage with their content: I’d interact with their posts on LinkedIn, follow key employees, and leave thoughtful comments. Let them see I’m already in their ecosystem. Build a custom outreach sequence: I wouldn’t just wait for them to reach out. I’d send personalized emails that showcase my ability to prospect effectively, using the company’s own product or service as an example. Don't wait for them to send you an assignment. While others are waiting, you take the lead and stand out. Cold call prep: I’d practice cold calling using Blue with the persona they sell to as if I’m already working for them. I’d create a pitch for their target persona, download the recording, and send it to the hiring manager. Why leave anything to chance when you can start strong? What did I miss? #sales #sdr

You landed the interview—now let’s turn it into an offer. Your resume got their attention. This is where you bring it to life. After helping a lot of people prepare, I’ve seen how small shifts can make a big difference. Here’s what I usually recommend: 1. Get curious—then get specific. Look beyond the company homepage. Mention a recent change, new project, or something a leader posted. ➡️Try: “I noticed your team just rolled out a new scheduling system—how does this role connect with that?” 2. Share stories, not just tasks. It’s not about listing duties—it’s about helping them picture you doing the job. ➡️Try: “In my last role, I helped onboard new hires during a systems transition. It taught me how to stay flexible while keeping people supported.” 3. Ask thoughtful questions. You’re not just there to answer—they’re evaluating how you think. ➡️Try: “What does success in this role look like in the first few months?” That one always opens up a real conversation. 4. Follow up like a human, not a template. No need to overdo it. Add a personal touch that shows you were listening. ➡️Try: “Thanks again for the great conversation. I’ve been thinking about what you said around team dynamics—it really resonated.” 5. Mirror their tone, but don’t lose yours. You don’t need to match every word, but reading the room helps. If it’s casual, you can be more conversational. If it’s formal, tighten it up. ➡️The goal: show you can connect without losing your voice. I’ve seen people go from nervous to confident just by shifting how they prep. What’s helped you feel more confident before a big interview? #InterviewTips #CareerAdvice #HRRealTalk #ProfessionalDevelopment #CoachingTips

I am wrapping up our hiring process for our first two sales roles at Lawfully. We had over 700 applicants apply—standing out isn’t easy. For these roles I was the recruiter, hiring manager, and executive sponsor. Here’s my advice on how to stand out: Getting Through to the First Stage— 1. Reach out directly to the recruiter, hiring manager, or executive sponsor I gave priority to candidates who reached out personally. Some sent LinkedIn DMs, while others crafted thoughtful cold emails. Two memorable examples: one email had the subject line “Matt, I’m skiing my way into your inbox,” and another featured a personalized video introducing herself and addressing common interview questions. Make sure your outreach is thoughtful, creative, and mindful of people’s time. Done right, it sets you apart Done poorly, it can backfire. 2. Make your Linkedin look professional Many applicants had unprofessional profile photos, large employment gaps, or short stints at companies. While you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, with 700 applicants to review, these things can quickly lead to being passed over. You control your LinkedIn narrative and the professional story it tells. Demonstrate to recruiters that you can commit and follow through. 3. Use the right professional jargon. For this SDR role, candidates with SDR experience were fast-tracked to interviews. Ensure your job titles and descriptions align with industry standards to avoid being missed. Make it clear what you do, especially if your role mirrors the position you’re applying for. Getting Through the Interview Stage— 1. Research the company before your interview. Out of 60 people I interviewed, only one could identify our competitors, and few provided detailed responses about our products and services. One candidate couldn’t name a single thing about Lawfully, while another was clearly reading straight off our homepage. Take the time to learn about the company. It shows genuine interest and sets you apart. 2. Answer all the questions. I evaluated candidates on several criteria, including experience, passion, coach-ability, and their ability to learn. To gauge learning, I asked their favorite books—professional or otherwise. If someone admitted they didn’t read, it was a quick signal to move on. 3. Answer positively and tie it back to the role and your strengths. Strike the right balance between positivity and authenticity. Candidates who dwelled on negative experiences sent a clear sign they weren’t the right fit. 4. Align your answers with company & hiring manager goals When candidates nailed this, they were an automatic pass. One standout example was a candidate who asked about our goals right at the start of the interview. Throughout the conversation, he consistently explained how he would help us reach our milestone. I’ve got 20 more tips to share—including what it takes to crush the final round. Drop a comment, and I’ll send them your way!

If you’re interviewing for an SDR role, here’s a tip: Sometimes, you’ll be asked to do a mock cold call. The interviewer will want to see how you sound, overcome objections, etc. After the roleplay, ask these two questions: - “What could I have done to make that better?” - “Can I try again?” When you try again, use every piece of advice given by the interviewer. Why is this so important? - It shows you’re coachable - It shows that you can listen - It shows you care about improvement Out of all the interviews I’ve ever done, I think only two candidates have done that. *I ended up hiring both of them*