← ShiftKey
ShiftKey role-play cheat sheet
For the mock cold call at the end of most SDR interviews.
What they sell, in one line
A marketplace where healthcare facilities post open shifts and licensed professionals pick them up, plus software to manage staffing.
Who you'd be calling
Directors of nursing, administrators and staffing coordinators at nursing homes, assisted living and other care facilities.
Your opener
“Hi Karen, this is Jordan from ShiftKey. I know staffing is a daily headache for facilities like yours. When someone calls out, how do you cover that shift today?”
Problems you solve for them
- Last-minute call-outs leave shifts uncovered and put patient care at risk
- Agency staffing is expensive and slow to fill
- Schedulers spend hours on the phone just trying to find coverage
Discovery questions to ask
- When a nurse or aide calls out at the last minute, what do you do first?
- How much time does your team spend each week chasing coverage?
- What's your biggest worry right now, cost, quality of staff or unfilled shifts?
Objections they'll throw at you
“I don't have time, we're short-staffed.”
→ That's exactly why I called, and I'll keep it short. Can I ask just two questions about how you cover call-outs, and then you can decide if it's worth more time?
“Not interested.”
→ Fair enough. Are your shifts fully covered right now, or is it more that you're happy with how you fill them?
“We already use an agency.”
→ Many facilities do, and it often works for some shifts. How quickly do they fill urgent ones, and what does that cost you per hour?
“Just send me an email.”
→ Happy to. Who else on your team handles scheduling, so I can send it to the right people and make it useful?
Competitors worth knowing
CareRev, Clipboard Health, ShiftMed
Interview tips for this company
- Learn the basic terms: per diem, CNA, LPN, RN, agency staffing. Using them correctly shows you respect this buyer.
- Know that a marketplace has two sides, facilities and professionals. Be clear which side the SDR role calls on, and be careful and respectful about patient care and staffing pressure.
Written from public information about ShiftKey to help you practice. Ask an insider what their role play looked like; it's the best prep there is.