Interview questions for sales jobs

If you are considering sales jobs, then your interview is a chance to practise those sales skills. An interview is, in itself, essentially a sales call where the product is you. Here are some of the most common questions you are likely to face with some guidance with regard to your answers

Q : Are you any good at selling?

A : Anything other than a resounding 'yes, of course I am' and you might as well leave. The question will, of course, be closely followed by 'prove it', but it is amazing how many will answer rather too modestly which answers such as 'okay I suppose' or ' not too bad'. If this is you listen up, sales jobs require dynamic, optimistic people which can really show the best side of their product. If this is all you have to say about yourself then maybe sales jobs are not for you.

Q : What can you show me to prove that you are good at selling?

A : Appointing people for sales jobs is a critical task for sales managers, get it right and they themselves will be successful. The converse is, of course, true. Consequently, they won't take your word for it that you are good, they will want proof, or evidence as it is usually referred to. For this you need to build a brag file, a portfolio of evidence of your successes that allow you to prove that you are a successful person and also the transferable skills you may have. This file may include anything form appraisals, league tables, letters of congratulations and awards. Ideally you need to showing good performance that is recent (last 12 month), comparative (compares against others doing the same), and sustained (prolonged of months, rather than weeks or days)

Q : Give me an example of where you have been successful?

A : What they will be really interested in here is whether you know why you were successful? Was it a planned and deliberate success (in which case it will be repeatable), or was it a chance happening or success without really knowing why? (which will likely not be repeated). Sales managers want people who are successful, know they are successful, and know why they are successful. You can plan a few examples of this in advance. Hesitate to provide an answer to this at your peril!

Q : Give me an example of an awkward customer you have had to deal with, tell me what happened and how you resolved the situation?

A : Unfortunately, in sales jobs you will encounter your fair share of difficult or awkward customers, no matter how pleasant or inoffensive you are, some people are just like this. What you need to be able to demonstrate is a scenario where you were able to handle things towards a positive outcome. You must avoid any situation which ended in confrontation, or you you loosing your cool. The best solution here is to be able to outlined a structured approach to any dispute situation, this should be something freely available to research on the web.

Q : Sell me this pen!

A : Every would be sales persons nightmare, but it shouldn't be with the right preparation. What your interview is looking for is the knowledge of, and ability to apply a sales process. No matter how false you may perceive the situation to be. It is indeed a good test of whether someone possess a sales structure either through experience or research. There are hundreds of examples of sales process in books and one the web, each with their own little acronym to help you remember. Learn one of these and practise on your friends, get it right it really could be your ticket into sales jobs.

There are, of course hundreds of potential interview questions you could get at sales jobs, but these are some of the most common, Prepare good answers to these in advance and you are significantly increasing your chances of success.