SDR Questions to Ask Interviewer
Strategic questions to ask during a Sales Development Representative (SDR) interview that demonstrate your understanding of sales processes, lead generation, and your commitment to driving revenue growth.
1What does a typical day look like for an SDR at this company, and what are the key metrics I'll be measured against?
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What does a typical day look like for an SDR at this company, and what are the key metrics I'll be measured against?
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Why this works
Shows you're thinking about the practical aspects of the role and demonstrates your understanding of the importance of metrics in sales performance.
2How does the SDR team collaborate with the sales team, and what handoff process ensures qualified leads reach the right salesperson?
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How does the SDR team collaborate with the sales team, and what handoff process ensures qualified leads reach the right salesperson?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of the sales funnel and shows you're thinking about how your role fits into the broader sales process.
3What tools and technology does the company provide for lead research and outreach, and how do you measure their effectiveness?
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What tools and technology does the company provide for lead research and outreach, and how do you measure their effectiveness?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of technology in modern sales and demonstrates your interest in using data to improve performance.
4How does the company handle lead qualification, and what criteria determine if a lead is ready for the sales team?
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How does the company handle lead qualification, and what criteria determine if a lead is ready for the sales team?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of lead qualification processes and shows you're thinking about quality over quantity in lead generation.
5What training and development opportunities are available for SDRs, and how does the company support career growth in sales?
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What training and development opportunities are available for SDRs, and how does the company support career growth in sales?
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Why this works
Shows you're committed to continuous learning and growth, which is crucial for success in sales, and demonstrates your long-term thinking about the role.
6How does the company handle objection handling and rejection, and what support is available when facing challenging prospects?
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How does the company handle objection handling and rejection, and what support is available when facing challenging prospects?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of the challenges in sales and shows you're thinking about how to handle difficult situations professionally.
7What is the company's approach to cold outreach, and what strategies have been most successful for generating qualified meetings?
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What is the company's approach to cold outreach, and what strategies have been most successful for generating qualified meetings?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of effective outreach and demonstrates your interest in learning from successful strategies.
8How does the company measure SDR success beyond just meetings booked, and what other KPIs are important for performance evaluation?
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How does the company measure SDR success beyond just meetings booked, and what other KPIs are important for performance evaluation?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding that sales success involves more than just activity metrics and shows you're thinking about comprehensive performance measurement.
9What is the company's approach to territory management, and how are leads and accounts distributed among SDRs?
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What is the company's approach to territory management, and how are leads and accounts distributed among SDRs?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of territory planning and demonstrates your awareness of how lead distribution affects performance.
10How does the company handle follow-up and nurturing of leads that aren't immediately ready to buy?
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How does the company handle follow-up and nurturing of leads that aren't immediately ready to buy?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of the sales cycle and shows you're thinking about long-term relationship building with prospects.
11What is the company's approach to competitive intelligence, and how do SDRs stay informed about market trends and competitor activities?
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What is the company's approach to competitive intelligence, and how do SDRs stay informed about market trends and competitor activities?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of market knowledge in sales and demonstrates your interest in staying current with industry trends.
12How does the company handle lead scoring and prioritization, and what system determines which leads to focus on first?
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How does the company handle lead scoring and prioritization, and what system determines which leads to focus on first?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of lead prioritization and shows you're thinking about how to maximize efficiency in lead management.
13What is the company's approach to social selling and personal branding, and how do SDRs build their professional presence?
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What is the company's approach to social selling and personal branding, and how do SDRs build their professional presence?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of personal branding in modern sales and demonstrates your interest in building professional relationships.
14How does the company handle feedback and coaching for SDRs, and what system ensures continuous improvement in performance?
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How does the company handle feedback and coaching for SDRs, and what system ensures continuous improvement in performance?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of the importance of feedback in sales development and shows you're thinking about how to improve your skills.
15What is the company's approach to data and analytics in sales, and how do SDRs use data to improve their outreach and qualification?
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What is the company's approach to data and analytics in sales, and how do SDRs use data to improve their outreach and qualification?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of data-driven sales and demonstrates your interest in using analytics to improve performance.
16How does the company handle different types of prospects (enterprise vs. SMB), and what strategies work best for each segment?
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How does the company handle different types of prospects (enterprise vs. SMB), and what strategies work best for each segment?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of market segmentation and shows you're thinking about how to tailor your approach to different prospect types.
17What is the company's approach to sales enablement, and what resources are available to help SDRs succeed in their outreach?
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What is the company's approach to sales enablement, and what resources are available to help SDRs succeed in their outreach?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of sales enablement and demonstrates your interest in having the right tools and resources for success.
18How does the company handle lead attribution and tracking, and what system ensures proper credit for SDR efforts?
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How does the company handle lead attribution and tracking, and what system ensures proper credit for SDR efforts?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of the importance of attribution in sales and shows you're thinking about how to measure the impact of your efforts.
19What is the company's approach to sales training and onboarding, and what process ensures new SDRs are successful quickly?
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What is the company's approach to sales training and onboarding, and what process ensures new SDRs are successful quickly?
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Why this works
Shows you understand the importance of proper training in sales and demonstrates your interest in getting up to speed quickly and effectively.
20How does the company handle performance management and goal setting for SDRs, and what support is available for meeting and exceeding targets?
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How does the company handle performance management and goal setting for SDRs, and what support is available for meeting and exceeding targets?
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Why this works
Demonstrates your understanding of the importance of goal setting in sales and shows you're thinking about how to achieve and exceed performance expectations.
Best Practices for SDR Interviews
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Research the Company and Industry
Before the interview, research the company's products, target market, and recent news. This will help you ask informed questions and show you're genuinely interested in the position.
Demonstrate Sales Understanding
Use your questions to show you understand sales processes, lead generation, and the importance of metrics. This demonstrates your readiness for the role.
Show Interest in Growth and Development
Ask about training, development opportunities, and career growth. This shows you're committed to continuous improvement and long-term success in sales.
Question Sequences
The Process-Focused Sequence
The Growth-Oriented Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Ask About Compensation First
Focus on the role, the company, and your potential contributions before asking about salary. This shows you're genuinely interested in the position and the company's mission.
Don't Ask Questions You Could Answer with Research
Avoid asking basic questions about the company that you could easily find on their website or through other research. This shows you haven't prepared adequately for the interview.
Don't Focus Only on Your Own Needs
While it's important to understand the role and opportunities, make sure your questions also demonstrate your interest in contributing to the company's success and supporting the sales team.