These typical sales interview questions and answers explore your knowledge of sales techniques and your understanding of sales methods.
They are frequently asked during the sales job interview but candidates are often unprepared and unable to answer fluently and confidently.
Stand out from the crowd with impressive interview answers.
1. What sales techniques have you found most successful in handling objections?
When answering this sales question acknowledge that objections happen frequently during the sales process but that you view them as a positive rather than a bad thing.
An objection is a request for more information from the customer and gathering and giving information is one of the key steps to making the sale.
Highlight how you view an objection as an opportunity to engage in conversation about something the customer is interested in. Then focus on an effective strategy that you use to work through the objection.
Include the following key steps to handling an objection:
2. In the current sales environment, what is the process you go through to qualify prospects?
This question is designed to evaluate your ability to assess what is a solid prospect and not waste your efforts on poor prospects. In competitive economic conditions sales people can waste precious resources chasing every lead that comes their way.
Focus on the characteristics of a good prospect including;
Sales interview questions and answers about your knowledge and application of sales techniques and skills include:
3. What do you consider the key skills in closing?
Key points to keep in mind when answering this sales interview question are:
4. How do you know when to walk away from a sale?
Sooner or later it will happen that it is necessary to walk away from a customer.
This sales question is asked to determine that you do not walk away from opportunities too quickly or for the wrong reasons. You should have a walk-away strategy that is based on valid and consistent reasons.
These could include:
5. What is your favorite book about sales?
Sales interview questions and answers like this explore your attitude to professional and personal development. It is always impressive when candidates are able to list the books they have read.
Include time-honored sales books like How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham as well as some current popular sales books.
Make sure you have read the books and be prepared to answer questions like "What was the most important thing you learned from reading that book?"
Expect sales interview questions that explore your background research and knowledge of the company and industry including:
Common sales interview questions include:
What do you like/dislike about selling?
What are your sales strengths and weaknesses?
You can expect behavioral or competency-based interview questions that explore the skills required for success in a sales position. View these behavioral sales interview questions and use the sample answers to prepare your own good responses.
Always send a Sales Interview Follow Up Email and be sure to reinforce your chances of job interview success.
Entry Level Sales Interview Questions
Are you going for a job interview for a pharmaceutical sales position? Go to pharmaceutical sales interview questions to prepare properly.
Retail Sales Interview Questions
Stand out as the best prepared and most professional candidate in your sales job interview. Go through the sales interview guide for all the resources you need.