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SDR Hiring Scorecard Template

A structured framework for evaluating SDR candidates consistently. Score every candidate the same way — so your best hire is a decision, not a gut feeling.

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Why you need a hiring scorecard for SDRs

Without a scorecard, every interviewer evaluates candidates differently. Sales managers hire people they like. Founders hire candidates who remind them of themselves. The result: inconsistent hires, high turnover, and wasted ramp time.

A standardized SDR hiring scorecard forces consistency. Every candidate gets evaluated on the same 5 dimensions, using the same rubric. The best candidate wins on merit, not charm.

Shortlist automates this scorecard Instead of filling this out manually for each resume, Shortlist's AI scores every candidate against all 5 dimensions before you ever see them. You receive a pre-scored shortlist ready for interviews.

The SDR Hiring Scorecard (5-Factor Framework)

Score each dimension 1–5. Total possible score: 25. Use the weights to calculate a weighted average.

Dimension Weight Score 1–5 What to look for
Outbound Experience 30% _ / 5 Quota-carrying role, volume (50+ calls/day), tools used (Outreach, Apollo, Salesloft)
Domain Fit 25% _ / 5 Sold to similar buyers (ICP match), relevant industry, comparable ACV
Coachability Signals 20% _ / 5 Promotions, certifications (SPIN, Challenger, Sandler), tenure pattern, eagerness to learn
Communication Quality 15% _ / 5 Resume clarity, LinkedIn summary, cover letter specificity, articulate in screen
Career Trajectory 10% _ / 5 Upward progression, company quality tier, short-tenure red flags absent

Scoring rubric: 1–5 scale

Outbound Experience scoring

  • 5 — 2+ years quota-carrying outbound, 60+ calls/day, used modern sequencer
  • 4 — 1–2 years outbound with quota, some sequencer experience
  • 3 — Outbound role but unclear quota, or inbound-heavy
  • 2 — Sales-adjacent (CS, AE-assist) without pure outbound
  • 1 — No relevant outbound experience

Domain Fit scoring

  • 5 — Sold exact same ICP, same ACV range, same industry
  • 4 — Sold to similar buyers or adjacent industry
  • 3 — Some overlap in buyer profile or deal size
  • 2 — Different ICP but transferable skills visible
  • 1 — No meaningful domain overlap

Coachability scoring

  • 5 — Promoted, certified, references strong, asks smart questions
  • 4 — Some promotion or cert history, positive signals
  • 3 — Neutral — no red flags but no strong signals either
  • 2 — Flat career, short tenures, defensive in screening
  • 1 — Clear red flags: job-hopping, poor follow-through

Communication scoring

  • 5 — Crisp resume, compelling LinkedIn, specific cover letter, articulate on call
  • 4 — Clear resume, decent LinkedIn, communicates well
  • 3 — Average across all touchpoints
  • 2 — Unclear resume, weak LinkedIn, vague on call
  • 1 — Poor communication across all touchpoints

How to use this scorecard in your hiring process

Let AI fill out the scorecard for you

Shortlist's AI scores every candidate against these 5 dimensions automatically. You receive a ranked shortlist with full rationale — no manual scoring required.

Get AI-scored candidates for your role →
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