6 SDR Application Mistakes You're Making
Here's the Fix
Read time: 2 min
Building the SDR team at Agorapulse, I announced on LinkedIn we're hiring.
Over 200 applications came in. Yours too?
Job hunting is a grind. I intend to reply to each applicant.
Having perused over a thousand applications, I've noticed patterns.
Some good, some troubling.
Let's talk about standing out.
Let’s start with common mistakes I’ve seen this week:
#1 - Not Applying Properly
On LinkedIn, people say, “Don’t fill out the form. Just talk to the boss.”
But you need to do both.
Fill out the form so we have your details. Then talk to us to stand out.
What to do: Apply first, then send a message.
You could send a video to stand out like Anand shared on the podcast.
#2 - The Vague Resume
Here are 2 mistakes with resumes:
Many resumes came in without numbers. In sales, numbers are very important.
Others missed the mark on relevance.
How to fix it:
Put your sales numbers on your resume: Include your ranking on the team, your quota attainment for the past year, and the ARR you’ve sourced.
Show direct relevance to the role: include that you have experience with prospecting if you’ve done cold outreach in the past.
Make every line count.
#3 - The Obvious Questions
Some ask things that are already in the job post, or could find the answers by doing a quick research.
Example: “Is there an office in San Francisco or is it fully remote?”
The Approach: Research, then ask. Show you've dug deeper.
#4 - The AI Parrot
On LinkedIn, I received 3 Identical messages from different candidates.
Same on the applications we got.
They were written by AI.
Better way: If you use AI, change the message to make it personal.
#5 - Messages That Are Too Long
If you write a long message, it’s a problem.
Your message like in sales, should be short and to the point.
What’s best: Write short messages that show you are clear and direct.
#6 - Reacting Badly to No
Reacting negatively to rejection is a red flag.
Just last Friday, I had to reject an applicant who responded with “Fuck your team” for not meeting our location requirements.
How to act: Ask why we said no. Stay polite and use it to get better.
Employ these strategies to make a lasting impression. I wish you the best of luck!
For your next application: Remember, these tips are your first step toward standing out.
The journey to a new job is a continual learning experience—each application brings you closer to your goal.
So, there we go. Thanks for reading.
That's all for this Sunday.
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See you again next Sunday.
Happy prospecting!
Elric
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