People who work in sales are generally very good at coming up with answers on the fly. That’s a great skill to have but a job interview is not the place to rely solely on your quick wit. You need to go in prepared. The following are 5 of the most common interview questions for a sales position including tips on how to best answer each question.
You’ll be asked about different tasks you may need to perform, like cold calling. You should either say you’re happy to provide the service, or, if you are a bit uncomfortable, say “it used to be something that made me uncomfortable but I’m working on my confidence in phone calls and I’m happy to do them.”
Interestingly one of the best answers to this question is to pick out a specific market segment and ALWAYS follow it up with what you’re doing to be more comfortable. Example “after I’ve been lightly rejected, I sometimes struggle to try a second time if I feel there is something there, but I’ve been practicing and I’m getting much better at learning how to adapt so that they respond better to my follow ups.”
Of course, your work experience will play a big role. If you have the experience, share all of the details (including numbers, if they’re favorable). If you don’t, be honest. Say something like “I haven’t had the opportunity to work in sales, but I do love a challenge and I am confident around people. I am even happy to prove it to you if you like.”
This is just telling a story. Think back to your experiences and try to find one that is innocuous. Ideally, it should come with a positive outcome, but even if not you can say what you’re working on, such as “I did once have a phone call with a potential client that simply exploded on someone in their office while on the phone with me. It did make my relationship with her unusual at first but I’ve been working on staying positive even if something strange like that occurs.”
Objections and rejections are a common part of the sales experience, and those unprepared for them are going to struggle. You can be honest, but always confident and working towards change. For example: “well rejection always hurts but it is the nature of the business. I have my own coping strategies I’ve developed over the years and when I’m confident in the product, like I am with yours, rejection can’t let me down.”
Another popular approach is not to use a question at all. Many sales interview candidates have been challenged by the phrase – sell me this pen. Have a look at our response to – sell me this pen, just in case you are challenged with this task.
There are a lot of different sales interview questions and answers, and this only scratches the surface. If you have time look over our 15 popular sales interview questions and answers before your interview. Most importantly, remain positive and showcase the qualities that make a successful sales applicant. After all a sales interview is very much about how to best showcase yourself.
COMMENT: What are some other sales questions you’ve experienced that you would like our help to answer?
LIVE Role Playing Cold Calling Objections
What’s your phone call procedure when making a cold call?
Most companies who perform cold calling provide their employees with a specific script to follow to maximize their cold calling effectiveness. Hiring managers might ask you about your preferred procedure or the process you used in past positions to see if youre familiar with the basics of cold calling etiquette. When you answer, include the reasons for each step in your procedure:
Example: “When making a cold call, I find its very useful to have a script or protocol to follow to ensure I maximize my time and effectively engage with the customer. In the past, Ive used this process for cold calling a new potential client:
Cold calling interview questions with sample answers
Cold calling is a job skill that many different positions require. If youre interviewing for a role that requires cold calling as a job duty, you can expect to answer questions about it during your job interview. Review this list of common cold calling interview questions and sample answers to help you prepare your own response:
What should you disclose when making a cold call?
Some industries and businesses have certain disclosures theyre required to make when performing cold calls. Others prefer to offer disclosures to potential customers or clients because it helps build an honest and transparent relationship. Hiring managers want an answer that shows you understand the importance of clarity and regulation in your answer:
Example: “As a telemarketer, I know we must abide by specific regulations and ensure we disclose certain facts and information to our callers. I think providing disclosures is a great practice, even if its not required, because it shows were an honest organization interested in helping our customers. For every cold call I make, I ensure I tell the caller:
You can tell that you like human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone to find the right product or solve their issues.
23) What will you do in a situation where the system is not working, and a customer is still on call?
Deceptive telemarketing is termed use when misleading information of the product is conveyed to attract customers. It can be avoided by taking the following steps:
Telemarketer, generally use an electronic device or software to dial phone numbers automatically. These devices are called auto-dialers.
It is a list of phone numbers that call centers cannot call unless they have a long business relationship with the owner of the number. In the outbound call, it is vital to check the DND status.
Why do you want to work as a Telemarketer?
Not many kids dream of working in telesales once they grow up, and you should try to be realistic in your answer. At the same time, however, try to find at least something good about the job. I can give you some hints: Job of as telemarketer isn’t physically demanding (compared to many jobs in restaurants and fast food places that will pay you the same wage). You typically work in nice and clean office environment, with a computer, headphones, etc.
You can also praise the flexibility of the job–sales people call customers at any time, so if you are still studying or have some other obligations, it won’t be a problem to arrange a fitting schedule for you. Last but not least, telemarketing is a great learning experience. You will do mostly cold calling (contacting people who have no idea who you are), which is the toughest form of selling.
If you succeed as a telemarketer, I dare to say that you will do well in more sophisticated sales jobs as well, jobs that pay big sales commissions and can make you a rich man. But it isn’t only about money. In telesales you learn more about people, and also about yourself. Can you handle repetitive rejection? Can you stay calm and courteous when the person on the other end pours bad words in your direction? These aren’t easy experiences, but once you manage to handle such situations, you’ll find it easier do deal with everyday life problems… You can refer to some of these reasons while explaining your job choice.
You’ll be asked about different tasks you may need to perform, like cold calling. You should either say you’re happy to provide the service, or, if you are a bit uncomfortable, say “it used to be something that made me uncomfortable but I’m working on my confidence in phone calls and I’m happy to do them.”
Of course, your work experience will play a big role. If you have the experience, share all of the details (including numbers, if they’re favorable). If you don’t, be honest. Say something like “I haven’t had the opportunity to work in sales, but I do love a challenge and I am confident around people. I am even happy to prove it to you if you like.”
Interestingly one of the best answers to this question is to pick out a specific market segment and ALWAYS follow it up with what you’re doing to be more comfortable. Example “after I’ve been lightly rejected, I sometimes struggle to try a second time if I feel there is something there, but I’ve been practicing and I’m getting much better at learning how to adapt so that they respond better to my follow ups.”
People who work in sales are generally very good at coming up with answers on the fly. That’s a great skill to have but a job interview is not the place to rely solely on your quick wit. You need to go in prepared. The following are 5 of the most common interview questions for a sales position including tips on how to best answer each question.
Another popular approach is not to use a question at all. Many sales interview candidates have been challenged by the phrase – sell me this pen. Have a look at our response to – sell me this pen, just in case you are challenged with this task.
FAQ
How do you prepare for a cold call interview?
- What is cold calling? …
- Describe your experience with cold calling. …
- What strategies do you use on a cold call to build rapport with the caller? …
- What’s the most effective time to make a cold call? …
- What’s your phone call procedure when making a cold call?
What kind of questions should be asked in cold calling?
What is cold calling in answer?
What is cold calling select the best answer?
