Sales Interview Questions to Expect
By Lindsay B | June 2, 2022 | 0 Comments

10 Sales Interview Questions to Expect: How to Nail the Job

Are you preparing for a sales interview? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we will provide you with 10 sales interview questions that sales candidates can expect to be asked in a typical interview. We will also offer some tips on how to answer these questions effectively, and even interview questions to ask your interviewer or hiring manager.

The job of a salesperson is often seen as one of the most challenging in the business world. However, if you are prepared for the questions that will be asked during the interview process, then you have a much better chance of landing the job!

An Effective Sales Interview Process

An effective sales interview process should be composed of questions that assess a candidate’s skills, experience, and motivation. The sales interview questions should vary depending on the position the company or sales teams are hiring for.

If they’re looking to hire an entry-level salesperson, they’ll want to focus on questions that assess the sales candidate’s motivation and ability to learn new skills.

For experienced salespeople, they’ll want to focus on questions that assess the candidate’s past experiences and successes.

Asking the right sales interview questions is essential to finding the best fit for your team. That’s why sales candidates need to be prepared to answer questions about their experience, skills, and motivation.

Become A Part Of A Profitable Sales Team Today!

Use our guide on common sales interview questions and how to nail your sales job interview and you’re sure to not only catch the eye of the hiring manager but also snag the sales rep job you’ve been gunning for.

Sales interview questions can range from the broad – “What makes you a good fit for this position?” – to the specific – “Can you walk me through your experience closing a sale?”.

No matter what questions you’re asked, remember the three main goals of any interviewer:

  1. To learn about your sales experience at a previous employer and skills
  2. To get a sense of your drive, motivation, personality, and how you’ll handle a sales call or handle your sales environment
  3. To see if you’re a good fit for their company and will meet your sales goals

A sales interview can be tough – but it doesn’t have to be. By preparing for common sales interview questions, you can not only eliminate the stress of the unknown but practice your communication skills as well.

Want A Sales Career? Do Your Research

Want A Sales Career? You've got to do your research.

One of the best ways to prepare for questions is, unsurprisingly, to do your research.

Start with the basics – brush up on their company website, social media platforms, and any news articles or press releases that you can find.

Make sure that you’re happy with the company culture, the job description, core values, and past performance.

You should also take a look at their competitors. Knowing how your potential employer differentiates themselves in the market will help you better understand what they’re looking for in a sales candidate.

And finally, research interview questions that are commonly asked in sales interviews. This will give you an idea of what topics will be covered and allow you to come up with thoughtful responses in advance.

Practice Makes Perfect

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to start practicing!

The best way to do this is to sit down with a friend, spouse, family member, or someone else and have them ask you interview questions that they’ve come up with based on the research that you did into the company or company’s products.

You can also record yourself answering questions so that you can listen to them afterward and identify areas that you feel need improvement.

The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be going into your interview and acing every sales interview question that’s thrown at you. You’ve got this!

Types of Sales Positions and Professionals

Before we dive into the questions, it is important to note that there are different types of sales jobs. For example, some sales professionals work in retail environments, while others may work in more corporate settings.

A few common sales roles are:

Sales Representative – Sales reps are the ones who make the calls, set the appointments, and ultimately close the deal.

Sales Manager – Sales Managers are a step up from a sales rep. A sales manager is responsible for managing a sales team and often has other managerial duties as well.

Director of Sales – The director of sales is responsible for an entire sales department or organization. This is a high-level position with a lot of responsibility.

Sales Team – A sales team is a group of sales reps who work together to generate leads, make appointments, and close deals.

Now that you know a little bit more about the world of sales, let’s move on to some of the most common questions that you can expect in a sales interview!

Be Ready to Answer Behavioral Sales Interview Questions

Interviewers and hiring managers love to ask sales candidates behavioral questions in interviews. These are questions that ask you to describe a time when you did something related to the job.

For example, “tell me about a time when you overcame an objection” or “tell me about a time when you closed a big deal.”

Behavioral questions are meant to give the interviewer a sense of your drive, motivation, and personality. To see if you’re a good fit for their company. So, it’s important that you have some solid examples lined up before your interview.

If You’re Looking For A Sales Position, Here Are Some Common Sales Interview Questions You Should Expect:

1. How would you describe your sales process?

The interviewer wants to know if you have a system or method that you use when working with clients. They want to see if you are organized and efficient in your sales process.

Here’s how you want to answer:

“In my sales process, I like to start by building rapport with the client. I want to understand their needs and see how my product can help them solve their problem. After that, I’ll give them a demonstration of the product. And finally, I’ll close the sale with a call to action.”

2. What motivates you?

This question is designed to see what kind of things get you excited about selling. If money is your only motivation, then you might not be a good fit for the company.

The interviewer is looking for someone who is passionate about their work and motivated by more than just a paycheck. They want to know what motivates you as a salesperson. This question allows them to gauge your level of interest and commitment to the role, as well as to get an idea of what drives you to succeed.

Here’s how you want to answer:

“I’m motivated by the satisfaction of helping others and solving problems. I know that when I make a sale, I’m not just making money for myself, but I’m also helping the customer in some way. That’s what gets me excited about selling.”

Bonus tip: When answering this question, be sure to discuss both internal and external motivators. Internal motivators are things like a love of the challenge or a desire to exceed your expectations. External motivators are typically related to financial gains, such as earning a commission or reaching a sales goal.

Your answer should show that you are motivated by more than just money. Discuss how you enjoy the challenge of the sale, and how you get satisfaction from helping others achieve their goals.

3. What is your experience in [specific industry/vertical]?

If the company you are interviewing for specializes in a certain industry or vertical, they will want to know if you have any relevant experience. If not, they may be looking for someone with more knowledge in that area.

Here’s how you want to answer:

“I may not have experience in [specific industry/vertical], but I’m confident that I have the skill set to be successful. I’m a quick learner and I’m excited to learn more about this industry so that I can be the best salesperson possible.”

Bonus tip: If you don’t have any relevant experience, try to find a way to spin your other experiences so that they are relevant.

For example, if you’re applying for a job in the tech industry but you have experience in the automotive industry, you can talk about how both industries require understanding complex products and being able to sell those products to customers.

4. Describe a time when you overcame an objection from a prospect.

Objections are a part of any sales process, so the interviewer wants to know if you have faced any challenges in your sales career and how you handled them. This question will give them a better idea of your sales skills, techniques, and whether or not you’re a good sales candidate for their company.

Here’s how you want to answer:

– First, give a brief overview of the objection you faced and how you handled it.

– Second, explain what techniques or strategies you used to overcome the objection.

– Finally, highlight what made your approach successful.

Answering this question effectively will show that you’re a resourceful salesperson who can adapt your sales technique to any situation. This is a valuable skill for any sales rep, so make sure to emphasize this in your answer!

5. What is your experience with [specific product/service]?

If the company you are interviewing for sells a specific product or service, they will want to know if you have any experience with it. If not, they may want to see how quickly you’re able to learn new things.

Here’s how you want to answer:

– If you have experience, give a brief overview of it and then provide an example of a time when you successfully sold it to a customer.

– If you don’t have experience, tell them that but be sure to emphasize your willingness to learn new things quickly. You can even mention how well you did in learning about something else in the past.

6. Describe a time when you closed a sale that others thought was impossible.

Closing a sale is always a good thing, but closing a sale that others thought was impossible is even better. This question will show the interviewer or higher manager that you’ve got tenacity and put in effort via past performance.

Describing a time when you closed a deal that others thought wasn’t possible is a great way to show off your skills as a salesperson. This question will also show the interviewer your tenacity and sales efforts.

Here’s how you want to answer:

If you have never closed an “impossible” sale, tell them about a time when you went above and beyond to close a deal. You can even mention how you utilized teamwork to close the deal if it was a group effort.

If you have a track record for closing sales:

– First, give some background on the deal, and if it started with sales calls or a meeting.

– Then, explain what made it seem impossible to close the sales cycle.

– After that, detail the steps you took to successfully close the sale.

– Finally, emphasize what you learned from the experience and how it’s helped you in future sales efforts and customer relationships.

By following this structure, you’ll be able to show off your skills while also giving your sales leader or hiring teams a sense of how you operate under pressure and will work in the company culture.

7. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to increase sales without decreasing prices? How did you do it?

When interviewers ask questions about how you’ve handled situations in the past, they are trying to gauge whether or not you would be a good fit for their company.

By asking questions about your experience, interviewers are trying to get a sense of whether or not you would be a good fit for the company. And by asking questions about specific sales scenarios, they can get a better idea of your skills and techniques.

Here’s how you want to answer:

“In my previous role, I was able to increase sales by 20% in just six months. I did this by…”

Be sure to give specific examples of what you did and how it led to an increase in sales. By providing concrete evidence of your abilities, you’ll be much more likely to land the job.

8. What makes you a good fit for this company?

This is your opportunity to sell yourself to the interviewer or hiring manager. Be sure to do your research on the company beforehand so that you can tailor your answer to their specific needs.

Here’s how you want to answer:

“I believe I’m a good fit for this company because…”

This is your opportunity to sell yourself to the interviewer or hiring manager. Be sure to do your research on the company beforehand so that you can tailor your answer to their specific needs.

9. What type of company would you start tomorrow if you could?

This question allows the interviewer to see what kind of entrepreneur you are. If you have aspirations to start your own company one day, this is a great question to ask.

Here’s how you want to answer:

“I would start a company that…”

Be sure to include what type of company it would be, what products or services it would offer, and why you think it would be successful.

10. What is your least favorite part of the sales process?

This question allows the interviewer to see what you don’t like about sales. It’s important, to be honest here, as they may be able to help you with whatever it is that you don’t like.

Here’s how you want to answer:

“I don’t like…”

Be sure to include what it is that you don’t like, and why. This will help the interviewer understand your thought process and give them more insight into how you work.

These are just a few of the questions you may be asked in a sales interview. By preparing for these questions, you can greatly increase your chances of nailing the sales interview and getting the sales job.

Questions For Interviewers or Hiring Managers

Questions For Interviewers or Hiring Managers

Imagine that you’re interviewing for a sales job and all of the sudden, after asking a barrage of interview questions, your interviewer or hiring manager asks “Do you have any questions for us?”

What do you do? Should you ask a question? If so, what questions should you ask? Don’t panic! This is very common and we can help with that too.

Asking questions in an interview shows that you’re interested in the position and the company. Be sure to ask questions that are relevant to the job and company, and avoid questions that could be seen as negative.

You can ask potential sales managers questions like:

  • What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this sales position?
  • What kind of training will I receive?
  • What is your company’s sales strategy?
  • Is this a team environment?
  • Who is our target market and target audience?
  • What is the company’s business model?
  • What is the commission structure?
  • Does this position require cold call sales?
  • What are the long-term goals for this company?

By asking questions, you’ll be able to get a better sense of the hiring process, sales teams, and whether or not this is the right job for you.

Nailing a sales interview can be tough, but if you go in prepared, you’ll increase your chances of getting the job. Be sure to brush up on your sales knowledge and skills, and practice answering common interview questions.

With these sales job interview questions and tips in mind, you’ll be ready to take on any interview questions that come your way!

Don’t Forget To Brag!

You will want to mention your previous sales experience and successes here. This is your chance to show off a little and make yourself look good! Brag about your most successful sale, how you always meet your sales quotas, or how you’ve got valuable insight that would make you an ideal sales manager.

Sales leaders will want to know what you’re capable of, so don’t be shy, show them that you’ve got what it takes to be a successful salesperson and can be a valuable asset to their company!

Check Out Our Current Sales Jobs Listings:

Are You Someone Who Chose A Sales Career?

Do you enjoy being a part of a sales team? Do you have any advice for others who are currently looking to pursue a sales position? What are some other interview questions that you were asked by hiring managers when you were interviewing for a sales role?

We would love to hear from you and other successful salespeople, let us know what you think in the comments below!

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