3 Interview Questions I Might Be Asked At A Sales Interview

Interviews for positions in the sales sector are highly competitive and demanding. This blog aims to help you prepare for some of the most common interview questions. ““`We will highlight the key concepts you should include in your answer, explaining the purpose of these questions.

Sales interview question #1. What does your daily schedule look like at your current role?

When an interviewer asks about your usual day at your current position, your response may provide them with a range of valuable information. The question aims to verify whether the responsibilities of your current role align with the requirements and expectations of the position you are applying to. This type of question also helps the interviewer understand what kind of environment you are working in and what are your daily challenges. Finally, your answer will show them what aspects of your current position are the most relevant to you.

How to answer this Sales Interview Question: Reflect and explain

The interviewers will compare your daily tasks and responsibilities to ones highlighted in the position you are applying to. Reading through the job description once again is a great place to start preparing your answer. 

Here’s how to decipher the job advert and use it to your advantage when answering this interview question:

Step one – highlight any skills or abilities required for the role. Next, explain how they apply to your current position and then how you use them to fulfil your obligations successfully. 

Step two – find an overlap between the role you are applying to and your previous experiences. 

Step three – Focus on the most relevant responsibilities and assignments by reflecting on your current position. Rather than providing a detailed analysis of every single activity involved in your daily schedule, aim to highlight the key points. Briefly explain how you approach your key tasks and why you do it this way. 

Step Four – Finally, try to keep your response concise and chronologically structured. To achieve this we’d recommend using the STAR interview technique.

A strong structure of your response is the key to successfully answering this question. Your structure should reflect real-life scenarios that you have faced.  

Variations of this interview question.

The spectrum of variants of this question may range from asking about your daily routine at work, after work, or even in your free time.

Always try to focus on the skills you are using and highlight your daily responsibilities and challenges you face. It may be beneficial to mention some of your skills that do not align with the role you are applying to. It will provide the interviewer with a broader insight into the range of abilities you possess. Remember to maintain a strong structure of your response. Mention key elements of your routine, talk about the challenges you face, and provide details of parts that apply to the position you apply for.

Sales interview question #2. What would be your procedure for handling customer complaints?

Handling customer complaints is one of the key procedures that require high professionalism and following a standardised procedure. Interviewers ask this question to find out how you approach a potential challenge at work. 

Here is how you can reassure them you are capable of handling stressful and demanding situations properly to keep the customers satisfied.

The steps to answer this sales interview question.

1. Show you can listen

The first step will be to show how you were able to listen to the customer giving the complaint. For this, you’ll want to explain how you were able to demonstrate active listening either over the phone or in person. Many employers will look for examples on how you were able to:

• Listen without judging, or jumping to conclusions.
• Be supportive and sympathetic towards the complaint, without imposing your opinions or solutions in this initial stage.

2. Gather evidence

Next, you’ll need to give details on how you gathered evidence to support your complaint handling procedure. You can describe the questions you asked to get the facts and gain a broader view on the case. The key with this is to show that you asked open questions that allow the customer to share all necessary details of what happened.

3. Agree on a solution

Then, you’ll need to explain how you were able to agree on a solution. Talk about the solution and the procedure you took to make all parties aware of what was going on.

4. Show you can keep your promises

Finally, you’ll need to talk about how you were able to keep any promises that were made. Alternatively, you can also talk about the results of the solution and how it impacted the business.

Having a strong customer complaint procedure is integral to the success of a salesperson. Though we hope that you don’t have to use it too frequently! To support you in the implementation of your own customer complaint procedure we’re creating a guide that you can implement and adapt.

Variations of this interview question

The range of variants of this question may include asking about your steps in an imaginative situation, a certain stage of the procedure, or simply general aspects of handling challenges like this. Make sure you provide a detailed answer, highlighting key concepts and explaining why you undertake certain actions. Assure them the company can trust you with its customers. 

Sales interview question #3. How is your experience relatable to this role?

Former experiences shape the way we approach challenges in our current positions. Interviewers often ask about these experiences to relate them to the role you are applying for. It is important to distinguish the relevant experience from the overall, general experience.

Relevant experience is everything that would make you successful in the position you are applying for. You should focus on these elements of your former roles and responsibilities, as the interviewers will try to align your response with the expectations they have for a successful candidate.

How You Can Answer This Sales Interview Question: Provide an insight

While answering this question you should focus on a number of key points, trying to provide the interviewer with a detailed insight on what you have been doing so far. Here are the steps to take in order to provide an insight into your career:

1. Read the job description carefully once again, looking for links between the desired traits and the experiences you had. 
2. Talk about the skills you developed through these relevant experiences, highlight the challenges you faced and elucidate how you approached them and what you learned. Try to minimise the differences between your previous roles and the role you are applying for. 
3. Use quantitative metrics where possible, showing evidence for your successes. Keep your answer detailed, highlighting your biggest achievements and accomplishments.
4. Finally, show the interviewer how these experiences made you grow and develop. Outline the trajectory of your professional development, mention your goals, show that you have been intentional on your career path and that you are committed to the field you work in.

Remember that your primary goal is to demonstrate that your former experiences have prepared you for this new position.

Variations of this interview question

The variants of this question may range from asking about specific experiences of yours, their application to certain situations and the general challenges you faced in the past. Always try to align your answer with the requirements for the role, providing detailed analysis of what you have done and what you have learned.

In summary

Although interview questions for positions in the sales department may vary significantly, they have a range of things in common. They all aim to verify how your previous experiences and gained skills apply to the advertised position, providing you with an opportunity to show why you are a suitable candidate for the job.