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POLITICO role-play cheat sheet
For the mock cold call at the end of most SDR interviews.
What they sell, in one line
Subscription news and tracking tools that help people follow government policy, laws and regulations, like POLITICO Pro and E&E News.
Who you'd be calling
Government affairs, policy, public affairs and compliance leaders at corporations, trade groups and law firms.
Your opener
“Hi, this is [Name] from POLITICO. I know I'm calling out of the blue. I work with government affairs teams on staying ahead of policy changes before they turn into headlines. Do you have 30 seconds to see if that's relevant for you?”
Problems you solve for them
- Missing a new bill or regulation until it's too late to respond
- Staff burn hours piecing together news from many places
- Leaders can't tell how a policy change will hit the business
Discovery questions to ask
- How does your team find out today when a new bill or rule could affect you?
- Which policy areas matter most to your business right now?
- What happens if your team hears about a change a day or two late?
Objections they'll throw at you
“I'm busy right now.”
→ Totally fair, I'll be quick. Could I grab 2 minutes later this week instead, and what day is usually calmer for you?
“Not interested.”
→ Understood, most people don't know much about us until they see it. Can I ask how your team tracks policy changes today, just so I know if it's worth another conversation?
“We already use something (like Bloomberg Government).”
→ Good, that tells me policy matters to you. Many teams use more than one source. What do you wish your current tool did better?
“Just send me an email.”
→ Happy to. So I send something useful, which policy areas matter most to you? And can we pencil in a short follow-up call after you've read it?
Competitors worth knowing
Bloomberg Government, CQ Roll Call, Axios Pro
Interview tips for this company
- Read a few POLITICO Pro and E&E News headlines first and mention one topic, such as energy or tech policy, in your role play.
- Know the buyer is a busy policy professional. Lead with timely information and saved time, not a feature list.
Written from public information about POLITICO to help you practice. Ask an insider what their role play looked like; it's the best prep there is.