Top Sales Manager Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Sales Manager interview by going through these most asked Sales Manager interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

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  • Question: If you get a higher degree are you still willing to work for us?
  • Question Overview: A higher degree is a valuable asset for a sales manager, but it's not the only asset. A candidate with a higher degree might have more options in the job market, but that doesn't mean he or she won't be a good fit for your company. A candidate with a higher degree might be more willing to accept a lower salary, but that doesn't mean he or she won't be a good fit for your company. A candidate with a higher degree might be more willing to accept a lower salary, but that doesn't mean he or she won't be a good fit for your company.

    Sample Answer: I am willing to work for you even if I get a higher degree.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to accept lower salary
    • - Willingness to accept lower salary
    • - Willingness to accept lower salary

  • Question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Question Overview: This is a critical question for a sales manager. A candidate should be able to describe his or her strengths and weaknesses in a positive way. The applicant should focus on the positive aspects of his or her experience and personality.

    Sample Answer: My strengths are my ability to build relationships with clients and my ability to manage a team. My weaknesses include my inability to work alone and my tendency to procrastinate.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to describe strengths and weaknesses
    • - Evidence of personal growth
    • - Willingness to embrace the company's culture

  • Question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  • Question Overview: This is a critical question for any sales manager candidate. A good answer shows that the candidate has a clear vision of his or her career path and is willing to work hard to achieve it. The candidate should be able to explain how the job fits into the overall career plan.

    Sample Answer: I see myself as a regional sales manager with a clear path to the top. I want to be recognized as an expert in my field and enjoy the challenge of helping others succeed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Clear vision of future goals
    • - Evidence of long-term career goals
    • - Willingness to work hard to achieve goals

  • Question: How would you describe yourself?
  • Question Overview: A candidate's self-description is a good indicator of his or her personality. It's important to know whether the applicant is a team player, a good communicator, a leader or a follower.

    Sample Answer: I'm a team player who works well with others and can communicate effectively.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Self-description
    • - Ability to explain how the candidate works with others

  • Question: How do you coach your team?
  • Question Overview: Coaching is a critical part of a sales manager's job. It's important to have a clear strategy for coaching and mentoring your team members. A good sales manager will have a strategy for coaching new hires, experienced salespeople and even support staff. Coaching can be done in one-on-one meetings, group meetings or one-on-one training sessions.

    Sample Answer: I hold one-on-one meetings with each new hire to introduce them to the company and explain the sales process. I hold weekly team meetings to review sales results and discuss challenges.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Strategy for coaching new hires
    • - Mentoring experienced salespeople
    • - Coaching support staff

  • Question: Tell me about your self.
  • Question Overview: This is a simple question that can be difficult to answer. The candidate should focus on the positive aspects of his or her personality and professional background. The applicant should avoid negative comments about previous employers and colleagues.

    Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who enjoys challenges and learning new skills. I'm a team player who enjoys helping others succeed.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Positive self-image
    • - Evidence of personal growth
    • - Willingness to embrace the company's culture

  • Question: Why do you want to work for us?
  • Question Overview: This is an important question for a sales manager candidate. A good answer shows that the applicant has researched the company and is interested in the position. The candidate should be able to describe the company's products and services and express enthusiasm for the position.

    Sample Answer: I am interested in the company's products and services. I am excited about the opportunity to work with your team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of company's products and services
    • - Evidence of research into the company
    • - Evidence of enthusiasm for the position

  • Question: What do you know about WeWork?
  • Question Overview: This is a question that tests the candidate's knowledge of the company. It's important to know the company's history, its products and services, and its goals. The candidate should be able to discuss the company's culture and how it relates to the job.

    Sample Answer: WeWork is a global provider of shared workspaces and community for entrepreneurs, freelancers and startups. The company was founded in 2010 in New York City.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of company history
    • - Products and services
    • - Goals
    • - Culture

  • Question: What made you want to work with us?
  • Question Overview: This is a critical question for a sales manager candidate. The applicant should be able to explain the company's products and services and express enthusiasm for the company's mission. A good sales manager candidate should be able to explain why he or she wants to work with the company.

    Sample Answer: I want to work with your team because I know your products are innovative and your company is committed to customer satisfaction.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of the company's products and services
    • - Ability to express enthusiasm for the company's mission
    • - Willingness to explain why the candidate wants to work with the company

  • Question: Walk me through your resume and experience.
  • Question Overview: A candidate's resume is a snapshot of his or her career. It's important to know the candidate's career path and the skills and knowledge he or she brings to the job. A candidate should be able to describe his or her experience in an easy-to-understand way.

    Sample Answer: My resume shows my career path from entry-level sales to senior sales manager. I have a proven track record of success in each position.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Clear career path
    • - Demonstrates a history of success
    • - Evidence of professional growth

  • Question: What is your experience in aviation?
  • Question Overview: This is a question for a sales manager who is applying for a job in the aviation industry. The candidate should describe his or her experience in the industry and explain how it relates to the job.

    Sample Answer: I have experience working with clients in the aviation industry. I have also worked with clients in the travel industry.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of the aviation industry
    • - Experience working with aviation clients
    • - Evidence of participation in aviation activities

  • Question: What do you expect from your future manager?
  • Question Overview: This is a question that allows the candidate to express his or her expectations for the next job. The candidate should be able to express his or her desire for a supportive manager who is willing to help with career development and advancement.

    Sample Answer: I expect my manager to be supportive of my career goals and help me develop my skills.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire for a supportive manager
    • - Desire for a manager who will help with career development

  • Question: What is a challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it?
  • Question Overview: A candidate's ability to overcome challenges is a key indicator of future success. The candidate should focus on a specific challenge and explain how he or she overcame it.

    Sample Answer: I had to manage a team member who was not performing well. I had to find out why and then develop a plan to improve his performance.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Clear description of the challenge
    • - Evidence of overcoming the challenge
    • - Evidence of learning from the experience

  • Question: How do you set goals?
  • Question Overview: Setting goals is a critical part of a sales manager's job. The candidate should be able to explain how he or she sets goals and how the goals are communicated to the team. The candidate should also be able to explain how he or she measures progress toward the goals.

    Sample Answer: I set team and personal goals and checked on progress daily. I reviewed progress weekly with each team member.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Clear strategy for setting goals
    • - Clear strategy for measuring progress
    • - Clear strategy for communicating goals

  • Question: Give us an example of how you resolved a conflict with your co-worker?
  • Question Overview: Conflict resolution is a critical skill for a sales manager. It's important to resolve conflicts quickly and efficiently. The candidate should be able to explain how they resolved a conflict with a co-worker and how they would resolve a conflict with a team member.

    Sample Answer: I was able to resolve a conflict with my co-worker by listening to his concerns and offering solutions. I would do the same with a team member by listening to his or her concerns and offering solutions.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to resolve conflicts quickly
    • - Demonstrates conflict resolution skills
    • - Demonstrates ability to resolve conflicts with team members

  • Question: What immediate impact can you make to a company?
  • Question Overview: This is a critical question for a sales manager. The candidate should be able to describe how he or she will improve the company's sales performance. The candidate should be able to identify specific ways to increase sales and improve the company's bottom line.

    Sample Answer: I can increase sales by 20% within the first six months. I will increase the number of leads and close more deals by using AI-generated leads and social media.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Clear strategy for improving sales
    • - Evidence of past success in increasing sales
    • - Ability to explain how to improve the bottom line

  • Question: What makes Criteo better than its competitors?
  • Question Overview: This is a question about the company's culture and values. The candidate should be able to explain the company's mission and vision, and how it differs from its competitors. The candidate should also be able to explain the company's values and how they differ from competitors.

    Sample Answer: Criteo is a leader in online advertising. The company's vision is to provide a personalized shopping experience for every customer. Criteo's values are based on customer satisfaction and personal growth.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Clear understanding of the company's mission
    • - Values that support the mission
    • - Ability to explain how the company differs from competitors

  • Question: What was your job in the past?
  • Question Overview: A sales manager should be able to describe his or her previous job in a few sentences. The candidate should be able to explain the job's responsibilities and highlight the most important achievements.

    Sample Answer: I was a sales manager for a tech company. I was responsible for managing a team of six salespeople and developing new leads for the website.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Clear description of previous job
    • - Accomplishments that are relevant to the new position

  • Question: What do you like least about your job?
  • Question Overview: This is a question that every candidate should be prepared to answer. It's important to be honest and not to complain about something that is within the candidate's control.

    Sample Answer: I dislike the travel involved in my job. I'm working on reducing my travel time by using video conferencing and other technologies.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Acknowledgement of a problem
    • - Acknowledgement of the candidate's role in the problem
    • - Acknowledgement of the candidate's plan for resolving the problem