Sales job interview questions tend to cover several angles, and for good reason. Sales roles are multifaceted. And a successful career in the field requires a wide range of skills, a certain willingness, ambition, a growth mindset, and a host of other key attributes and tendencies.
You can't address all of those elements with a short, simple list of four or five universal questions, so unfortunately, there's no definitive guide on how to interview for a sales job. That said, there are certain elements you can keep in mind.
To help you get there, we’ve compiled a list of 13 common sales job interview questions that can help set you on the right path, along with information on how to answer them, some interview it directors managers email lists preparation tips, and some questions you can ask to impress your interviewer. Let’s dive in.
Sales Interview Questions and Answers
"What do you know about our company?"
Why do they ask?
This question helps interviewers gauge your levels of readiness and interest. They want to know that you are excited about working for their company, not specifically, not just the idea of working in general.
Employees who care about the businesses they work for are more likely to remain engaged and actively contribute to a company’s culture and its team dynamic. By asking this, they’re trying to get a read on whether you’ll be a team player who believes in their organization’s mission or someone who could potentially “phone it in” and ultimately drop out shortly after accepting the job.
How to respond
Start by reading the organization's website and Wikipedia entry, if applicable, then search the company name on Google to read what others are saying about them.
Concisely summarize what you've learned about the organization's solutions, who it serves, who it competes with, and what industry analysts, employees, and other stakeholders are saying about it. Finally, repeat these steps for the company's top three competitors.
«Tell me a little more about yourself.»
Why do they ask?
This question helps your potential employer get a feel for your ability to communicate and properly balance personal and professional information. It's also a chance to get a sense of who you are as a person and a chance to see how well you can build a relationship without being too casual.