TOP 5 SALES INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH EXAMPLE ANSWERS

A career in sales is one of spontaneity and no day is the same. A common skill of a great salesperson is their ability to think on the spot, but another common, less spoken about skill is preparation.

We speak to so many sales candidates who just say they're going to "wing it" in their interview but this is the completely wrong way to go about it. You will never be able to fully predict an interview, the same way you'll never fully predict what'll happen in a job, but you can prepare to make those unpredictable things more within your control.

There are plenty of common interview questions that pop up in sales interviews, but here are 5 to get you started.

See here for ‘A Guide To A Successful Sales Interview’.

“Tell me about yourself.”

This question is one that most candidates hate. It’s broad, it’s hard to gauge what an employer is looking for from your answer, and really and truly – it’s awkward.

But it’s actually not as scary as you may anticipate. Most interviewers use this question as an icebreaker where they get to know a bit more about you, professionally and personally. Talk about:

• Your current job

• Your previous achievements

• Your goals and how they align with this opportunity

Emphasise your specific experience and achievements with things such as sales strategies, building rapport, and hitting targets. But don’t be overly robotic. This question is asked to see your enthusiasm, passion and personality so show it!

"I've spent the last five years honing my sales skills in the tech industry. I thrive in fast-paced environments and love connecting with clients to deliver solutions that exceed their expectations. In my previous role at XYZ Tech, I consistently hit my targets by 20% and was fully committed to developing my skills and developing strong relationships with customers. I plan to continue to develop my sales knowledge by stepping into a more strategic and business development type role, which is why I was attracted to this position."

“What do you know about this company/ industry? “

This is why you don’t wing it. Hiring Managers will want to know whether you've done your homework... why? Passionate and invested candidates are not just prepared but also interested to find out more.

Unless the role is specifically catered to people who have already worked in the same industry before, don’t worry about not knowing everything, just talk about what you know and understand the company, its goals and values. Additional tip: ask them a question based on the company’s goals or selling the industry. It’ll show your curiosity.

"I've done lots of research on XYZ company and I was really impressed by its reputation in the industry and how you’re planning continued growth, especially your recent expansion into international markets. I also have been drawn towards the company culture and your goal to support professional growth, as well as create a collaborative and motivating environment. As for the industry, I'm aware of the current trends and challenges, such as the shift towards sustainable practices and the increasing demand for personalised customer experiences."

"How do you handle rejection?"

In any other position, this may be a strange question for an interviewer to ask, but in sales – it’s a necessity for an employer to know your outlook on rejection. Are you resilient or will you give up after one setback? Are you spreading optimism to the team or pessimism? Does rejection drive you to develop your skills or make you lose focus and productivity? An employer will be trying to gauge not just if you’re cut out for a sales position with a lot of setbacks, but if you’ll be a positive person to be around in the office and in front of customers.

"My experience in sales has allowed me to embrace rejection as part of the journey. Whilst rejection can have nothing to do with you, I still use it as an opportunity to keep learning and adapt my strategies and approaches. This way I keep approaching the job with a renewed perspective."

You could also use the S.T.A.R. method to explain a particular situation where you handled rejection:

“In my current job, I had a potential client turn down a proposal I was really positive would come through. Instead of feeling defeated, I assessed where I could’ve gone wrong, asked my manager for feedback and we ended up adjusting our approach to reconnect with the client. They appreciated our thoroughness, and we ended up closing the deal."

"What's your strategy for building a strong client relationship?"

Hiring Managers don’t just want to know about your strategy, negotiating and objection-handling skills, they want to know if you can build rapport and sustain relationships. It’s always important to approach a sales interview remembering you're not just a salesperson; you're a relationship builder which means you need to display your consultative outlook and your desire to take care of customer needs.

"Client relationships are at the core of my approach. Whilst I’m a salesperson who is conscious of targets, I know that putting in long-term work with a client will lead to long-term income as I continue to understand their company’s needs and how I can support them. One example is when I turned a dissatisfied client into a loyal advocate. By actively listening to their concerns, showing empathy, and resolving their issues, I not only retained their business but also earned referrals to new clients."

"Where do you see yourself in five years?"

Sales is for the ambitious and especially if you’re interviewing with a company with lots of growth plans, they want to know if you plan on growing with them. Approach this answer with both ambition and realism and how you plan to get there.

“In five years, I would’ve developed not just my sales skills but my managerial skills which means I see myself as a sales leader, supporting a high-performing team, as well as continuing to build and maintain top clients. My passion for sales will drive me to exceed targets and continuously adapt to industry trends."

- Written by Arun Sutton

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