Interview-Ready Sales Role-Play Scenarios
20 real scenarios recruiters use in SDR, AE, CSM, and support interviews. Copy any prompt, practice out loud, or drill it live with an AI caller.
SDR
Cold call a VP of Sales
You've got 30 seconds. Cold call the VP of Sales at a 200-person SaaS company. She's skeptical of new tools and short on time.
Focus: Pattern interrupt, permission-based opener, one clean CTA.
SDR
Objection: 'We use HubSpot for that'
The prospect says they already have a solution. Handle it without insulting the incumbent.
Focus: Reopen the buying decision without attacking.
SDR
Voicemail that gets called back
Leave a 20-second voicemail with a real chance of a callback.
Focus: Trigger event, teaser, timing.
SDR
Get past the gatekeeper
The executive assistant screens all calls. Get transferred without lying.
Focus: Peer tone, honest research trigger, respect.
SDR
Follow up after a demo no-show
Prospect ghosted your demo. Write and deliver the follow-up in 45 seconds.
Focus: Empathy, humor, easy re-book.
AE
Run a 5-minute discovery
You have 5 minutes. Uncover pain, priority, and next step with a VP of RevOps.
Focus: Sharp questions, active listening, real close.
AE
Objection: 'Send me a proposal'
The prospect asks for a proposal on the first call. Don't send blind.
Focus: Trade info for the proposal.
AE
Multithread past your champion
Your champion says 'let me bring this to my team.' Ask to be in that meeting.
Focus: Coach the champion, offer to join, arm with materials.
AE
Negotiate a discount request
Prospect asks for 30% off. Protect price without losing the deal.
Focus: Trade scope for price, never discount cold.
AE
Close on the next step
End your call by locking a specific date, time, and owner for the next step.
Focus: Assumed close, calendar in hand.
CSM
Kickoff call with a new customer
Run the first 10 minutes of a kickoff call. Set expectations for the first 30 days.
Focus: Milestones, owners, dates.
CSM
Handle a churn threat
Your top customer says they're evaluating a competitor. Save the relationship in one call.
Focus: Listen first, quantify the concern, propose a specific fix.
CSM
Run an expansion conversation
Customer is happy. Turn that into a real expansion conversation without pressure.
Focus: Anchor to their outcome, name the next unlock.
CSM
Deliver a bad news update
A feature they were promised is delayed by a quarter. Tell them in a way that keeps trust.
Focus: Own it, contextualize it, offer a specific mitigation.
CSM
Run a live QBR walk-through
Present a mock QBR: last quarter's outcomes, this quarter's priorities, and a renewal path.
Focus: Data first, priorities next, renewal soft-landed.
Support
De-escalate an angry caller
The caller is yelling about a late delivery. Bring the temperature down in 60 seconds.
Focus: Lower volume, acknowledge, one specific question.
Support
Refund vs. replacement decision
Customer wants a refund. Policy says replacement first. Navigate it without a supervisor.
Focus: Offer two paths, respect their preference, protect margin.
Support
Handle a billing dispute
Customer says they were double-charged. Walk them through the resolution without blaming them or the system.
Focus: Empathy, transparency, clear next step.
Support
Warm-transfer to a specialist
You have to transfer. Do it without making the customer repeat their story.
Focus: 30-second summary, warm intro, stay on the line.
Support
Turn a saved customer into a review
You just saved a churn. Invite an updated review without pressure.
Focus: Timing, humility, easy CTA.