Reply rate, apply-starts, apply quality, interview drop-off, and “why you” clarity in screens.

Leading indicators show preference forming before outcomes lag. Watch: outreach reply rate in target segments, apply starts and completion rate, qualified apply rate, screen-to-interview pass-through, and late-stage drop-off reasons (“unclear role,” “not convinced,” “mismatch”). Add a simple question in recruiter screens: “What made you interested?” If answers start echoing your positioning and proof, choosability is working. Leading indicators help you iterate fast—tighten proof, clarify tradeoffs, improve close narratives—before you wait months for downstream metrics.