Sales interviews are a tough breed. That’s because hiring managers expect you to be highly persuasive to succeed as a salesperson. So you really need to sell yourself and keep your composure.
We can’t tell you every question that’s going to come up (we’re good, but we’re not that good). But we can certainly share some of the most common sales interview questions.
This question sets the tone for the rest of the interview. This is your opportunity to give a strong first impression and sell yourself. You should summarise the most relevant parts of your career in your answer (don’t just recite your sales CV, give extra details). But the interviewer isn’t just checking out what you say. They’re also watching how you say it. Are you engaging them? Can you use a bit of humour? How clearly are you communicating? These factors all contribute to nailing this question.
We know what you’re thinking… ‘how does this relate to sales?’. And although this is a common question for any interview, sales managers like to ask this for their own reasons. As a salesperson, you’ll be expected to research customers and products. The best salespeople know their customers, products and industry inside out. So really go all out when doing your company research. Justify why you want to work for this company specifically.
By asking this question, hiring managers want to hear your passion for sales. The sales industry has a high staff turnover. So they want to make sure you’re in it for the long haul. Because sales is a competitive job, you might talk about your love for winning. Or, since it’s a people-facing industry, you could explain how much you enjoy using your powers of persuasion.
Not everyone is built to be a salesperson. In fact, most people aren’t. So you need to prove why you’ll excel in sales. If you’ve excelled in a sales role before, this is a straightforward question to answer. But if you’re new to sales, you’ll need to work a little harder to convince the interviewer. Talk about your ability to influence people, motivate yourself, and compete.
Everyone has weaknesses. So don’t try to sidestep this question with something generic like being a perfectionist. Interviewers aren’t too concerned with your weakness itself. They really want to see if you can face your weaknesses honestly and what you do to correct them.
Sales managers want to hire people who are highly motivated. The best salespeople are those who have a real drive behind what they do. People who have a fire in their belly and are hungry to succeed. For some people, their family is their biggest motivation. For others, it’s being able to afford the finer things in life. And in some cases, it’s mainly status and recognition that motivates them.
This question is to test how career-driven you are. If you don’t have visions for your career in 5 years' time, you won’t get far. Sales managers want to hear what you envision for your sales revenue, your network, and your career progression.
In sales, targets are part of everyday life. But no target can be hit without a method. So not only do you need to talk about exceeding a target, but you also need to break down your strategy. Talk about the most challenging parts of the process and how you overcame them.
Even the best salespeople experience lulls. But if you’re not prepared to change your strategy during the lulls, you won’t make it out alive. If your sales are low, expect to stay late, call through all your leads, and increase your Key Performance Indicators. You should also review your entire process to see where you’re going wrong and what you can change.
Looking for a new role in sales? Send us your CV today, and we’ll be in touch with any relevant opportunities!
Vanessa Ramkissoon | Recruitment Content Expert
