Sales Qualified Lead
A Sales Qualified Lead (SQL) is a potential customer that has been carefully screened and meets specific criteria showing they're ready to make a purchase. It's different from a regular lead because these people or companies have shown clear interest, have the budget to buy, and match what the company is looking for in a customer. Think of it like sorting through potential home buyers – you want to focus on those who are pre-approved for a mortgage and actively house hunting, not just casually browsing. Marketing teams identify these leads and pass them to sales teams when they're ready for direct contact.
Examples in Resumes
Developed system to convert marketing leads into Sales Qualified Leads with 65% success rate
Managed pipeline of 200+ SQLs per month, achieving 40% conversion to customers
Created criteria for identifying Sales Qualified Lead status, improving sales efficiency by 30%
Implemented tracking system for Sales Qualified Leads that increased close rates by 25%
Typical job title: "Lead Generation Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Lead Generation Specialists
Professional Networks
Online Communities
Events & Conferences
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you design and implement a lead scoring system?
Expected Answer: A strong answer should explain how they create point systems based on prospect behaviors (like website visits, email opens, download history) and demographic information to automatically identify the most promising leads.
Q: How do you measure the quality of Sales Qualified Leads?
Expected Answer: Should discuss tracking conversion rates, sales cycle length, and deal sizes, plus methods for gathering feedback from the sales team about lead quality and adjusting criteria accordingly.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What criteria do you use to determine if a lead is sales-qualified?
Expected Answer: Should mention the BANT framework (Budget, Authority, Need, Timeline) or similar qualification frameworks, and explain how they apply these in real situations.
Q: How do you handle lead handoff between marketing and sales teams?
Expected Answer: Should describe the process of documenting lead information, establishing handoff protocols, and ensuring smooth communication between teams.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's the difference between a Marketing Qualified Lead and a Sales Qualified Lead?
Expected Answer: Should explain that Marketing Qualified Leads show initial interest but need more nurturing, while Sales Qualified Leads are ready for direct sales contact and meet specific buying criteria.
Q: What tools do you use to track Sales Qualified Leads?
Expected Answer: Should be familiar with basic CRM systems and lead tracking tools, and able to explain how they use them to monitor lead status and progress.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic lead tracking and documentation
- Using CRM systems
- Understanding lead qualification criteria
- Basic sales pipeline management
Mid (2-5 years)
- Lead scoring implementation
- Sales and marketing alignment
- Lead nurturing strategies
- Performance reporting and analysis
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic lead qualification framework development
- Sales process optimization
- Team training and management
- Advanced analytics and forecasting
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic sales processes
- Inability to explain lead qualification criteria
- No experience with CRM systems
- Poor communication skills or understanding of sales-marketing alignment
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
7 Ways to Maximize Your Candidate Database ROI
From Passive to Active: Nurturing Candidates Over the Long Haul
Beyond Resumes: How Competency-Based Hiring Transforms Talent Acquisition
