Top Sales Representative Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

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

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  • Question: What questions would you ask to understand a client’s needs?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate will know how to ask the right questions to understand a client’s needs. The right questions will help the candidate to make a sale. Look for candidates who will ask questions about the client’s needs, their business, their competitors and their goals.

    Sample Answer: I would ask questions about the client’s needs, their business, their competitors and their goals. I would also ask them if they have any problems with their current products or services.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to ask the right questions
    • - Confidence in their sales approach
    • - Great sales technique developed from previous jobs

  • Question: What do you know about our marketing strategies?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should know about your company's marketing strategies. If you are looking for a sales representative, the ideal candidate should know about your company's marketing strategies. Candidates should be able to talk about your company's marketing strategies and how they will help you sell more products.

    Sample Answer: I know that you are currently using a mix of online and offline marketing strategies. I am confident that I can increase sales by using these strategies.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of your company's marketing strategies
    • - Confidence in their ability to sell
    • - Ability to connect with people

  • Question: Why are you looking to change jobs?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have a reason for looking to change jobs. The reason for looking to change jobs should be related to the position you are hiring for. For example, if you are hiring a sales representative, the candidate should be looking to change jobs because they want to increase their sales and earn more money.

    Sample Answer: I am looking to change jobs because I want to increase my sales and earn more money.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to increase their sales and earn more money
    • - Desire to work in a new environment
    • - Desire to work for a new company

  • Question: When can you join us?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be available to start work as soon as possible. Look for candidates who are available to start work immediately. If the candidate is not available to start work immediately, ask them when they will be available.

    Sample Answer: I am available to start work immediately.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Availability to start work immediately
    • - Confidence in their availability

  • Question: What is your biggest weakness?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have a weakness that is not related to the job. For example, if you are hiring a sales representative, the ideal candidate should have a weakness in their personal life, such as spending too much time on social media. The candidate's weakness should not be related to the job.

    Sample Answer: I spend too much time on social media.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - A weakness that is not related to the job
    • - A weakness that does not affect their performance
    • - A weakness that does not affect their ability to sell

  • Question: Where are you from originally?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be able to provide you with a specific answer to this question. If you are hiring someone from out of state, you might want to know if they are willing to relocate. If you are hiring someone from out of the country, you might want to know if they have any visa issues.

    Sample Answer: I am originally from New York. I am willing to relocate.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to relocate
    • - Visa issues

  • Question: What salary are you looking for?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have a specific salary in mind. Sales representatives should have a salary range in mind, as well as a specific salary. An ideal candidate should be able to provide you with a salary range and a specific salary amount.

    Sample Answer: I am looking for a salary of $50,000 to $60,000 per year.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their salary range
    • - Confidence in their specific salary amount

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you were in trouble, how did you handle it?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be able to handle problems and overcome them. Look for candidates who have experience with handling problems in their previous jobs. Candidates should be able to provide you with examples of how they handled a problem in their previous job.

    Sample Answer: In my previous position as a sales representative, I was in trouble when I lost a client. I handled the situation by identifying the problem and finding a solution.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to overcome problems
    • - Confidence in their skills
    • - Ability to stay focused

  • Question: How do you deal with rejection?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be able to handle rejection well. A sales representative needs to be able to handle rejection and move on to the next sale. If a candidate cannot handle rejection, they will not be successful in sales. Look for candidates who can explain how they deal with rejection and how they move on from it.

    Sample Answer: I have been rejected many times in my previous jobs. I have learned how to deal with rejection and move on. I am confident that I can make a sale and close the deal.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to move on from rejection
    • - Confidence in their ability to make sales
    • - Ability to handle rejection

  • Question: How do you close a sale?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate will have a proven record of success in closing sales. The candidate should be able to provide you with examples of how they closed sales in their previous jobs.

    Sample Answer: I close sales by following the steps to make a sale. I ask probing questions, make recommendations and close the deal.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Proven record of success in closing sales
    • - Ability to provide examples of closing sales
    • - Ability to follow the steps to make a sale

  • Question: What is your opinion on cold calls?
  • Question Overview: Cold calling is a technique that sales representatives use to make sales. An ideal candidate should have experience with cold calling and should be able to tell you how they are successful with cold calling.

    Sample Answer: I have a proven record of success with cold calling. I have been successful in making sales through cold calling.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Experience with cold calling
    • - Proven record of success with cold calling
    • - Ability to overcome objections and close the deal

  • Question: Are you open to a non-standard work schedule?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be open to working non-standard work hours. Some sales positions require employees to work nights, weekends and holidays. Look for candidates who are willing to work these kinds of hours.

    Sample Answer: I am open to a non-standard work schedule. I have worked nights, weekends and holidays in my previous job as a sales representative.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to work non-standard hours
    • - Proven record of success in a non-standard work schedule

  • Question: How do you handle pressure?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be able to handle pressure well. A sales representative needs to be able to handle pressure from customers, co-workers and management. Look for candidates who are able to handle pressure well and who have the ability to stay focused on their goals when they are under pressure.

    Sample Answer: I have a proven record of success in sales. I have also handled pressure well in my previous jobs.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to stay focused
    • - Ability to handle pressure
    • - Confidence in their skills

  • Question: How would you get customers to come to your store?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate will have the ability to get customers to come to their store. The candidate should be able to provide you with specific examples of how they got customers to come to their store. Look for candidates who have experience in getting customers to come to their store.

    Sample Answer: I would use my personal connections with clients and friends. I would also use my connections with other sales representatives and the company's connections with clients and friends.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to get customers to come to their store
    • - Confidence in their ability to get customers to come
    • - Experience in getting customers to come

  • Question: What will you do when your project is rejected 97-99% of the time?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate will have a plan to overcome rejection. The candidate should be able to explain the steps they would take to overcome rejection. The candidate should also be able to explain how they would increase their success rate.

    Sample Answer: I would figure out why my project is being rejected and fix the issue. I would also look for other ways to get my project accepted.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to overcome rejection
    • - Ability to increase success rate
    • - Ability to stay focused

  • Question: How would you break up your day hour-by-hour?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate will have a plan for how they would spend their time during the day. They will know exactly how they would spend their time to make the most sales. Look for candidates who will be able to tell you how they would spend their time, and how they would make the most sales.

    Sample Answer: I would spend my time making calls, following up with clients and making sales.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to plan their day hour-by-hour
    • - Ability to make the most sales
    • - Ability to stay focused

  • Question: What is your attitude towards winning or losing?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have a winning attitude. They should be confident in their abilities and be able to win in any situation. Look for candidates who have a positive attitude towards winning and losing.

    Sample Answer: I have a positive attitude towards winning and losing. I believe that you can always learn from your mistakes and that you can always win if you try hard enough.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their skills
    • - Positive attitude towards winning and losing
    • - Ability to stay focused

  • Question: What was your quota at your previous job?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have a proven record of success in sales. They should have a quota that they met or exceeded in their previous job. Look for candidates who have a proven record of success in sales and who have exceeded their quota in previous jobs.

    Sample Answer: My quota was $100,000 per year. I exceeded my quota each year I worked as a sales representative.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Proven record of success in sales
    • - Ability to exceed quota

  • Question: Will you be willing to travel?
  • Question Overview: Depending on your company, you might need your sales representatives to travel. An ideal candidate should be willing to travel and should have experience traveling in the past. Look for candidates who have traveled in the past and who are willing to travel in the future.

    Sample Answer: I am willing to travel. I have traveled in the past and I am comfortable with traveling in the future.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to travel
    • - Willingness to travel
    • - Proven record of success while traveling

  • Question: What interests you about this position?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be interested in the position for the right reasons. Look for candidates who are interested in the position because they want to make a lot of sales and earn a lot of money.

    Sample Answer: I am interested in this position because I want to make a lot of sales and earn a lot of money.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to make a lot of sales
    • - Desire to make a lot of money
    • - Confidence in their ability to make sales