Question Overview: All inside sales representatives encounter difficult situations, but the ideal candidate will not let these situations get the best of them. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand their philosophy for dealing with stressful situations and how they handle difficult clients.
Sample Answer: A client was angry about the cost of a package, so I allowed the customer to explain why they are upset without interrupting them. I provided a discount to ensure their business in the future.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a well-rounded background that includes experience in a variety of fields. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their personality and how they will fit into your company.
Sample Answer: I have a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in marketing. I am very interested in the field of marketing and have experience in sales, management, and customer service.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a positive and confident attitude about themselves. They will be able to explain why they are the best person for the job and how they will be a valuable asset to your company.
Sample Answer: I am a hard-working and enthusiastic inside sales representative with a strong work ethic. I have excellent communication skills and am able to build relationships with my clients.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience selling a product or service to a customer. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their level of expertise and how they have used their skills in the past. Focus on the applicant's tone of voice when discussing their experience. Do they appear confident or nervous?
Sample Answer: I have six years of experience selling a product to customers. I have always been able to convince customers to purchase my product and have never had a problem closing a sale.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience overcoming challenges in the workplace. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to see how they handle stressful situations and how they react to criticism.
Sample Answer: I was challenged with a large project that I had never worked on before. I was able to overcome this challenge by researching the project and asking my co-workers for help.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will explain why they are a good fit for the position and what they can bring to the company. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their confidence in their abilities and their desire to work for your company.
Sample Answer: I am a good fit for this position because I have experience as an inside sales representative and I am confident that I can help your company grow. I have a lot of experience working with clients and I know how to find new leads.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a weakness that is not a deal breaker for the position. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their self-awareness and their ability to admit to their faults.
Sample Answer: I am a perfectionist and can be hard on myself when I make mistakes. I am always working on improving my weaknesses and am confident that this will not be an issue in the future.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a positive attitude about their current employment and will be looking for a new job because they are ready for a new challenge. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their motivation for leaving their current job and how they feel about their current position.
Sample Answer: I am looking for a new job because I am ready for a new challenge. I have been working at my current position for two years and am ready to move on to something more challenging.
Question Overview: Inside sales representatives must have excellent interpersonal skills to work well with their management. The ideal candidate will explain how they handle difficult situations with their superiors and how they resolve conflicts. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to measure their ability to work with others and their ability to communicate effectively.
Sample Answer: I always try to talk with my manager about a difficult situation and attempt to resolve the issue. If that doesn't work, I ask for a meeting with the manager's manager.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the qualities that make an inside sales representative successful. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their philosophy for success and how they view themselves as a sales professional.
Sample Answer: I think you're looking for someone who is confident, knowledgeable, persistent and personable. I believe that I have all of these qualities and will be a valuable asset to your company.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have a positive attitude about their previous job and will focus on the positive aspects of the position. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to gauge their level of happiness and how they handle negative situations.
Sample Answer: I enjoyed the people I worked with and the flexibility of my schedule. I disliked the commute and the fact that I was working in a cubicle.
Question Overview: This is a very common question that is asked during an interview. The ideal candidate will be honest and will not provide any information that might be considered confidential. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their level of commitment to your company.
Sample Answer: I am interviewing with three other companies, but I am very interested in your company and would love to work here.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience working on projects that are similar to the ones you offer. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to determine if they have the skills and experience to handle your projects.
Sample Answer: I have worked on several projects that are similar to yours. I have experience working with clients and developing a project plan for them. I am comfortable working independently and in a team environment.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will explain how they see themselves ranking on the sales team and what they plan to do to achieve this goal. The applicant's answer to this question will give you a better understanding of their work ethic and their goals for the future.
Sample Answer: I want to be the top salesperson on the team. I plan to accomplish this by making more calls than anyone else and by closing more deals than anyone else.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will explain how they handle these situations and how they determine what went wrong. The applicant's response to this question will allow you to understand their problem-solving skills and their ability to move on from a lost sale.
Sample Answer: If I have a lead but am unable to close the deal, I ask the client what I can do to improve my service. I then use this information to improve my sales process.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will explain how they learned the most complex thing they have ever encountered and how they overcame the challenges of learning it. Focus on the applicant's ability to explain their process for learning something new and their level of expertise at the end of the process.
Sample Answer: The most complex thing I ever had to learn was how to use a new software program. I was able to learn it by reading the manual and watching online tutorials.
Question Overview: An inside sales representative is a combination of both sales and customer service. The ideal candidate will explain how they are able to balance these two roles and how they utilize each skill to their advantage. Focus on the applicant's ability to explain their role in detail and their ability to relate to you.
Sample Answer: Sales is the process of convincing someone to buy a product or service. Customer service is the process of helping someone after the sale. I am able to combine these two roles because I am confident in my ability to sell a product or service and I have excellent interpersonal skills.
Question Overview: The ideal candidate will have experience communicating with a variety of people. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their comfort level when speaking with different types of people. Do they have experience communicating with people from different cultures?
Sample Answer: I feel more comfortable speaking in English, but I am able to communicate effectively in Spanish. I have experience working with Spanish-speaking clients and have found that I can easily communicate with them.
Question Overview: This question is a classic example of a brainteaser. The applicant's answer to this question will allow you to understand their creativity and problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate will be able to think outside of the box and provide multiple uses for a pencil.
Sample Answer: A pencil can be used as a writing utensil, a tool to open a jar, and a weapon if needed.
Question Overview: This question is a great way to gauge the applicant's creativity and problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate will explain how they would use a paperclip to complete a task. Focus on the applicant's ability to think outside the box and their ability to explain their solution.
Sample Answer: I would use a paperclip to hold together a stack of papers.