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Lesson 6 of 6 · 25 min

SDR Interview Questions and How to Ace the Role Play

Prepare answers, a short mock call and questions of your own for sales interviews.

In this lesson1. Questions you will likely hear 2. The role play 3. Show you did your homework 4. Worked example: turning a weak answer around 5. Common interview mistakes

Questions you will likely hear

Interviewers want to see communication, resilience and curiosity. Prepare short stories for each: a time you persuaded someone, a time you handled rejection, a time you learned something quickly. Use a simple structure: situation, what you did, result.

Why sales?
Tell me about a time you were rejected
How do you organise your day?
What do you know about our customers?
Sell me this product

The role play

Many sales interviews include a mock cold call. Use the structure from this course: a specific opening, a permission question, two open questions, listening, and a clear meeting ask. Interviewers care less about a perfect pitch than about whether you listen, stay calm and ask for the next step.

Show you did your homework

Research the employer like a prospect: what they sell, who buys it and why. Prepare two questions about the role, such as how meetings are measured and how SDRs grow into account executives. Mention a relevant course you completed and what you practised. At XDQ Labs, candidates who arrive with a researched opening line for one of our services stand out.

Worked example: turning a weak answer around

Asked why sales, a candidate first says she likes talking to people. With practice she changes it to: I like understanding how businesses work and helping them solve problems, and I enjoy targets because they show progress. In my college fest I raised sponsorship by calling local businesses. The second answer shows motivation and evidence.

Common interview mistakes

Interviews for sales roles are themselves sales conversations. Treat the interviewer like a prospect.

No research on the employer
Pitching without asking questions in the role play
Not asking for the next step at the end
Vague stories without results

Key takeaways

Prepare short stories with situation, action and result.
In role plays, listen and ask for the meeting.
Research the employer like a prospect.
Ask about the next step at the end of the interview.

Try it

Write three interview stories using situation, action and result. Record a two minute mock cold call to a company you want to join, then send your best version with your application.