Question 1

Should I use Indeed or Shortlist to hire SDRs?

Accepted Answer

Indeed generates high applicant volume but requires significant manual screening — SDR job posts typically attract 100–300 applicants. Shortlist takes a different approach: it proactively sources passive SDR candidates and delivers 5 AI-scored, pre-screened candidates in 48 hours. For founders and hiring managers without recruiting bandwidth, Shortlist eliminates the screening burden.

Question 2

Why don't job boards work well for SDR hiring?

Accepted Answer

Job boards work on inbound volume — anyone can apply, quality varies widely, and you bear the full screening burden. SDR roles are particularly challenging on job boards because the role attracts both over- and under-qualified applicants. Shortlist's proactive sourcing approach targets candidates specifically matched to your role criteria, cutting time-to-shortlist from weeks to 48 hours.

Question 3

How much does posting an SDR job on LinkedIn cost?

Accepted Answer

LinkedIn job posts start at $300–$600 per sponsored post, with pay-per-click pricing for promoted listings. LinkedIn Jobs (standard) is free but gets minimal visibility without promotion. For the same $300–$600, you can run Shortlist for 1–2 months and receive 5 pre-screened SDR candidates in 48 hours — versus 100+ unscreened applicants you'd receive from a job board post.

Question 4

What is the biggest problem with using job boards to hire SDRs?

Accepted Answer

The biggest problem with job boards for SDR hiring is screening volume. A typical sponsored SDR job post generates 100–300 applicants. Screening each profile takes 5–10 minutes — that's 8–50 hours of work per posting. Shortlist delivers a pre-screened shortlist of 5 scored candidates in 48 hours, compressing the entire screening phase into a single form submission.

Factor	Shortlist	Job Boards (Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn Jobs)
Cost	✅ $199/mo, unlimited job posts	$150–$500/mo per sponsored post, or pay-per-click
Candidate volume	✅ 5 pre-screened, scored	50–300 unscreened applicants per post
Screening included	✅ Yes — AI-scored on 5 SDR criteria	No — you screen every applicant manually
Candidate quality	✅ High — passive candidates matched to role	Variable — anyone can apply
Time to shortlist	✅ 48 hours	1–2 weeks of screening to get to shortlist
Passive candidates	✅ Yes — Shortlist sources proactively	Active applicants only (not passively employed)
SDR-specific filters	✅ Built-in — quota, outbound, CRM	Generic resume keywords only

Shortlist vs. Job Boards

See the difference yourself

Shortlist vs. Job Boards

See the difference yourself

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