17 min
7 Sales Interview Questions & Answers That Will Get You The Job Selling Made Simple And Salesman Podcast
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- Management
If there’s one event that’s always a given when advancing your sales career, it’s sitting through an interview.
Whether it’s your first sales role or your dream position, nailing the interview is key to moving up. And same as with sales meetings, a successful interview is all about preparation.
So, what can you do to prepare?
One of the best ways to wow recruiters and clinch the sales job is to come up with answers to the most common sales interview questions beforehand.
This guide covers some of the most common interview questions for sales reps. And along the way, we’ll be looking at a few tips on coming up with the best answers as well as examples you can learn from.
Pre-Interview Preparations
Before hopping into the seven sales interview questions, it’s important to remember that interviews are won and lost on Preparation below. So be sure to follow sales interview tips beforehand to ensure the best chances of success.
* Do Your Research – An sales representative that proves they’ve done their due diligence is already a step ahead of the rest in the mind of the hiring manager. Learn more about the company and, if you can, the interviewer. Study their product line in-depth and get a sense of how they’re received in the market. Examine competitors and what they’re doing right. Even in interviews, knowledge is power.
* Create Your 30-60-90 Day Sales Plan – Your goal of this interview should be to prove you’re an exceptional salesperson. And developing a 30-60-90 Day Sales Plan does just that. This plan outlines exactly how you plan on achieving success during your first three months on the job. Done well; it’ll impress interviewers and tip the scale in your favor.
* Come With Your Own Interview Questions To Ask – This one is vital. Few things raise a recruiter’s critical eyebrow, like applicants that don’t ask questions. A thoughtful question indicates you’re interested in the company and role. But it also shows you’re active listening ability. Ask about their current sales team, the culture, quotas, and more. But above all else, ask something.
* Get In the Right Headspace – Beyond the typical pre-interview advice (get a good night’s sleep, exercise to relieve stress, remember to eat, etc.), you’ll want to think of your interview as a sales meeting. If you can’t sell yourself, then how will your employer know you can sell their products?
Sales Interview Questions & Answers to Prepare for
When it comes time for the big day, there are a few common sales interview questions recruiters will ask sales candidates. And the more prepared you are to answer them, the better your odds for winning the position.
Below are seven of the most common sales position interview questions. You’ll also find some example answers on how to answer that’ll help you stand out as an ideal candidate and get started in a career in sales.
1) Describe Your Sales Experience For Me
Winning Tip: This is a great time to share work experience as well as earned accolades. Complex numbers work wonders, and you should highlight any specific distinctions you’ve acquired throughout your career.
If you’re starting, be upfront about it, of course. But be sure to build on that by letting them know why you’re excited about this position and any experiences outside of work that make you a great sales candidate.
Examples:
“I earned the distinction of top salesperson for five years running at my past position.”
“I exceeded my quota by 20% in my first year at [former employer].”
“While I don’t have any direct experience in sales, I was president of the debate club and the head of fundraising in college. I’ve also wanted to work for [recruiter’s business] for years.”
If there’s one event that’s always a given when advancing your sales career, it’s sitting through an interview.
Whether it’s your first sales role or your dream position, nailing the interview is key to moving up. And same as with sales meetings, a successful interview is all about preparation.
So, what can you do to prepare?
One of the best ways to wow recruiters and clinch the sales job is to come up with answers to the most common sales interview questions beforehand.
This guide covers some of the most common interview questions for sales reps. And along the way, we’ll be looking at a few tips on coming up with the best answers as well as examples you can learn from.
Pre-Interview Preparations
Before hopping into the seven sales interview questions, it’s important to remember that interviews are won and lost on Preparation below. So be sure to follow sales interview tips beforehand to ensure the best chances of success.
* Do Your Research – An sales representative that proves they’ve done their due diligence is already a step ahead of the rest in the mind of the hiring manager. Learn more about the company and, if you can, the interviewer. Study their product line in-depth and get a sense of how they’re received in the market. Examine competitors and what they’re doing right. Even in interviews, knowledge is power.
* Create Your 30-60-90 Day Sales Plan – Your goal of this interview should be to prove you’re an exceptional salesperson. And developing a 30-60-90 Day Sales Plan does just that. This plan outlines exactly how you plan on achieving success during your first three months on the job. Done well; it’ll impress interviewers and tip the scale in your favor.
* Come With Your Own Interview Questions To Ask – This one is vital. Few things raise a recruiter’s critical eyebrow, like applicants that don’t ask questions. A thoughtful question indicates you’re interested in the company and role. But it also shows you’re active listening ability. Ask about their current sales team, the culture, quotas, and more. But above all else, ask something.
* Get In the Right Headspace – Beyond the typical pre-interview advice (get a good night’s sleep, exercise to relieve stress, remember to eat, etc.), you’ll want to think of your interview as a sales meeting. If you can’t sell yourself, then how will your employer know you can sell their products?
Sales Interview Questions & Answers to Prepare for
When it comes time for the big day, there are a few common sales interview questions recruiters will ask sales candidates. And the more prepared you are to answer them, the better your odds for winning the position.
Below are seven of the most common sales position interview questions. You’ll also find some example answers on how to answer that’ll help you stand out as an ideal candidate and get started in a career in sales.
1) Describe Your Sales Experience For Me
Winning Tip: This is a great time to share work experience as well as earned accolades. Complex numbers work wonders, and you should highlight any specific distinctions you’ve acquired throughout your career.
If you’re starting, be upfront about it, of course. But be sure to build on that by letting them know why you’re excited about this position and any experiences outside of work that make you a great sales candidate.
Examples:
“I earned the distinction of top salesperson for five years running at my past position.”
“I exceeded my quota by 20% in my first year at [former employer].”
“While I don’t have any direct experience in sales, I was president of the debate club and the head of fundraising in college. I’ve also wanted to work for [recruiter’s business] for years.”
17 min