Sales Interview Answers
that Win the Offer

Sales interview answers to frequently asked sales interview questions. Prepare for success in your job interview and get the sales job you want.

Many sales professionals neglect to prepare properly for their job interviews. They are confident that their excellent communication and interpersonal skills will carry them through the interview.

While these skills are a great asset in any sales job it is essential to prepare for the questions you are likely to be asked in your sales job interview including those that explore:

• your sales strengths and weaknesses
• what you like and dislike about sales
• your understanding of the psychology and skills of sales
  

Best Sales Interview Answers

Plan good sales interview answers to these typical sales job interview questions.

What do you like and dislike about the sales process?

This question is asked to explore the candidate's self-awareness and motivation.

• Know your strengths in the sales process as these will translate into what you like.
• Your "likes" and strengths should correspond to the main priorities of this sales position.

For example, if your strength is negotiating, describe how you enjoy this aspect of sales and your satisfaction at coming up with win-win solutions. Highlight how this has resulted in both satisfied customers and increased sales which is what this position is looking for.

When responding to the "dislikes" go carefully!

• The best approach is to choose a characteristic of your present or previous company such as its poor delivery on the sales you made or its lack of flexibility when it came to negotiating sales solutions.
• Answer in a positive manner as someone who is able to take these sort of problems in their stride and constructively improve on them.

For example if the delivery of company products was slow and resulted in angry customers, discuss how you instituted a follow-up process that accelerated delivery.

List of Strengths and Weaknesses

Sales job interview strengths and weaknesses

What is your psychology of selling?

This is where you demonstrate your understanding of the entire structure of selling. Focus on your view of selling as a professional service directed at showing the customer how your product or service meets their needs and improves their lives.

Prepare a concise sales interview answer that highlights:

• your knowledge of how to communicate and build rapport with a client
• how to ask the right questions
• how to identify and understand the client's values, motives and needs
• the ability to offer the appropriate solutions
• how to handle objections and close the sale

Include adapting to different personality types and using persuasive communication skills.

What do you think are the most important skills in sales?

Put a number on the skills so that you can structure your sales interview answer around this. For example:

"I think the 3 most important sales skills are ..."

Rather than referring to specific sales techniques focus on competencies and abilities that every successful salesperson needs, such as:

• the ability to adjust your approach to different people and situations
• the ability to ask the right questions and listen carefully
• the ability to deal with disappointment and rejection
• the ability to stay motivated with a high energy level
• the ability to plan and prepare
• the ability to influence and persuade
• the ability to negotiate and reach agreement

Job Skills List

Sales Job Descriptions

Sell me this .......

This is a favorite sales interview question for trainee-type sales jobs.

Sales interview answers to the "Sell me this product" question should clearly show:

• your ability to uncover the customer's needs and wants
• your ability to select key features of the product
• your ability to sell the benefits of these features to the customer

In your sales interview answer to this question consider the following:

• The benefits should meet the customer's needs and make the sale. A basic rule of selling is to sell the benefits the customer will gain from the product rather than the list of features the product has.
• Candidates who are inexperienced in sales will often start to answer this question by listing all the attributes of the product without finding out the customer's needs and wants or explaining the benefits of each of each of the features.
• Discovering the customer's needs and wants relies on asking questions and listening carefully and this is where you start with your sales interview answer
• Ask the interviewer open-ended questions that identify his or her needs and wants about the product.

Interviewers commonly use a pen for this situation. You can begin by asking "What is important to you when selecting a pen?"

Then select the features that provide the relevant benefits. For example if the buyer wants a pen that is comfortable to hold, the seller points out the pen's rubber grip and explains how this allows for greater comfort.

Practice this sales interview answer technique and you will impress as a seasoned salesperson!

Treat the sales interview like a sales meeting. Know your product - you! Consider your strengths and weaknesses, your key achievements, what makes you the right candidate for this sales job?

Find sample answers to common interview questions including:

What has been your greatest achievement?

Why should we hire you?

What is your unique selling proposition that makes you stand out from the competition? Research the company beforehand. Use the resources listed at job interview information to help you with this.

Analyze the position and identify the needs. Prepare sales interview answers that persuade the interviewer that you clearly meet their needs.

Common Sales Interview Questions and Answers

Expect interview questions about your knowledge and application of sales principles and practices including:

• overcoming objections
• qualifying prospects
• closing the sale

Get help with preparing convincing sales interview answers to these questions.

Behavioral Interview Questions for Sales Jobs

Be ready for behavioral interview questions in your sales job interview. These will explore the common behaviors or competencies identified as essential for success in sales jobs.

Go through these competency-based or behavioral sales interview questions with answer guidelines and be well prepared.

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Customer service is integral to successful sales. Get help with answering customer service interview questions. Use the comprehensive answer guidelines to formulate your own winning sales interview answers to questions that explore your customer service skills.

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Good Questions to Ask in a Sales Interview

Sales is about asking the right questions. Have a list of good questions prepared for when the interviewer asks Have you any questions? Go to questions to ask the interviewer for a list of sample questions.

Entry Level Sales Interview Questions

These top 12 entry level sales interview questions with good interview answers will ensure you are well prepared for your entry level sales job interview.

Sales interview follow up email

Stand out from the competition and seal the deal with a good sales interview thank you email.

Sales Interview Follow Up Email

Your sales job application

Salesperson Job Description

Sales Manager Job Description

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