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.

Interview Practice

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  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: How do you manage your time?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be able to manage their time well. A sales representative needs to be able to manage their time well in order to meet their daily, weekly and monthly goals. Look for candidates who can provide you with examples of how they manage their time well in their previous jobs.

    Sample Answer: I manage my time well by staying focused on my goals. I also stay focused on my daily tasks and weekly goals.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to manage time well
    • - Ability to meet daily
    • - weekly and monthly goals
    • - Ability to stay focused

  • Question: What are you proud of?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be proud of their past achievements. Look for candidates who are proud of their past achievements and can name specific achievements that they are proud of.

    Sample Answer: I am proud of my ability to exceed my sales goals. I am also proud of my ability to work well with others.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to name specific achievements
    • - Confidence in their abilities

  • Question: Tell me about a time you failed and what could you have done differently?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have failed in the past. It is important to learn from past mistakes and to grow from them. Look for candidates who can provide you with an example of a time they failed and what they learned from it.

    Sample Answer: I once failed to meet my daily goal. I learned that I needed to work harder and dedicate more time to achieve my goals.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to learn from past mistakes
    • - Confidence in their skills
    • - Ability to grow from past failures

  • Question: Can you tell me about yourself?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate will have a specific and detailed answer to this question. The candidate should be able to tell you about their education, their work experience, their skills and their accomplishments.

    Sample Answer: I graduated from the University of California with a degree in business. I have worked for ABC Company for the past five years. I have experience in sales, customer service and management. I am currently looking for a new job because I am interested in a career change.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to provide a detailed answer
    • - Confidence in their skills and experience

  • Question: How would you be good at sales?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be able to explain how they would be good at sales. They should be able to provide examples of how their skills and experience would make them a great sales representative.

    Sample Answer: I have the confidence and the skills to sell. I have a proven record of success in sales. I have the ability to explain why I would be good at sales.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their ability to sell
    • - Ability to explain why they would be good at sales
    • - Ability to provide examples of how they would be good at sales

  • 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: What are your long term goals?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have a long term goal. The goal should be realistic and something that they can achieve. Look for candidates who have a long term goal that is related to the job you are hiring for.

    Sample Answer: My long term goal is to become a sales manager at your company.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Long term goal related to the job
    • - Confidence in their ability to achieve their goals

  • Question: What do you think is leadership?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be able to provide a definition of leadership. A good definition of leadership should include the ability to lead others, the ability to motivate others and the ability to influence others.

    Sample Answer: Leadership is the ability to influence others and motivate them to follow your lead.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to define leadership
    • - Ability to lead others
    • - Ability to motivate others
    • - Ability to influence others

  • Question: If your supervisor were to describe you in one word, what would it be?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should be described as a hard worker and someone who is willing to go the extra mile to make sales. Look for candidates who are described as hard workers and who are willing to go the extra mile to make sales.

    Sample Answer: My supervisor would describe me as a hard worker. I am always willing to go the extra mile to make sales.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Hard worker
    • - Willing to go the extra mile
    • - Dedicated to their job

  • Question: If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?
  • Question Overview: An ideal candidate should have a specific answer to this question. The answer should be related to the job they are applying for. For example, if you are hiring a sales representative, the ideal candidate should talk about how they would spend their time and money if they had all the time and money in the world.

    Sample Answer: I would travel around the world and visit different countries.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Confidence in their answer
    • - Ability to relate their answer to the job