Pretty negative experience. Started with two current BDRs asking me questions more conversationally. They were nice enough and reiterated that they remember interviewing so wanted to offer their support and get to know me. After those two I was interviewed by two BDR managers. Both were extremely cold and impersonal to the point of bordering on unprofessional. One didn't even tell me her name when she introduced herself. There was no attempt to get to know me as a person or hear me out in my explanations - it was an interrogation. Lots of gotcha questions. If I had a good answer to a question they would keep probing on the topic until they found an angle I couldn't answer as effectively. I understand they have to discern between candidates and want to move efficiently through interviews but it isn't a good look to drill candidates and make an effort to catch them out. You can be friendly and personable while still asking in depth, challenging questions and make an effort to understand a candidates background/experience. Most questions were prefaced with statements like "We have a lot of other candidates obviously so..." or "I'm sure you obviously did a ton of research for this interview.." Obnoxious.. Yes your Salesforce, I get it. But candidates do have a lot of other options in the Bay Area - many of which pay more competitively and offer quicker paths for internal advancement. A lot of the questions also felt unrealistic to answer with the information they provided. They were on their computers during the interview. One had told me they were on the salesforce candidate portal, but I am pretty sure they were messaging each other. I recognize a lot of these reviews complaining about interviews come across as a candidate with sour grapes because things didn't go well or he/she didn't get an offer. The thing is, I did research salesforce, the BDR role, and invested some time into understanding their products prior to the interview, and I did have sufficient experience with a strong track record of quota attainment at another company. In all honestly I don't think I would have taken the BDR role if offered anyway, so maybe all is as it should be. Candidates: My advice to BDR candidates is to make sure you have thoroughly researched salesforce and be able to clearly explain at least a few of their products. Have strong answers in explaining how you prospect/prioritize accounts/tackle and plan your day. Have a clear and concise answer for Why Salesforce and Why you would be a good fit for the job. Salesforce: Recognize that how someone withstands an interrogation is not necessarily reflective of how well they will be able to perform in a role. Make an effort to sincerely get to know the candidate your interviewing. How they sound, how they come across and who they are as a person is what prospects they are on the phone with are going to hear. An in depth knowledge of Salesforce and specific prospecting skills can be taught in training. Being personable as an interviewer and being thorough don't have to be mutually exclusive.

3 steps: recruiter screen, recruiter, final round panelist. Talk about yourself, more conversational than technical. Did not do mock cold call or mock presentation at all. Purely questions like tell me about yourself, why salesforce etc