The Best 21 Sales Interview Questions and Answers in 2022

For anyone who decides to pursue a successful career in sales, that means they have great ambition and drive.

They more than likely envision a particular future for themselves and their family that they want to achieve, which is why they want to become a salesperson.

With that being said, first, you have to get your foot into the door by getting past your first sales interview!

To help you out, here are some of the best sales interview questions and answers that will help you get past your first interview or screening calls.

Ahead are the top twenty-one best sales interview questions and their respective answers. Please note them as they could make the difference between obtaining a job offer or not.

First, you should follow these six general rules when interviewing for your first sales position.

Six Rules to Follow when interviewing for your sales interview.

Rule 1: Be Prepared.

Being prepared is the best thing to get past your first interview because it shows how serious and driven you are about the job. 

Ensure that you research the company, know what they sell, their competitors, and know what they specialize in. 

Knowing their products and services will show great interest in the position. If you don’t know much, go on youtube and learn what you can about the products they sell.

Rule 2: Be Confident but not Cocky.

Be confident in yourself and your abilities but do not overdo it by being cocky or arrogant. You have to let your interviewer know that you are a good fit for the job, but not by bragging about your accomplishments or how much money you used to make. 

Be confident and show them that you can do what is asked of you.

Rule 3: Show your willingness to work hard.

Don’t be afraid to tell them that you are willing to put in a lot of work and effort if given the opportunity.

If you’re going to brag about anything in your job interview, brag about how hard you work.

Sales is an occupation where a lot of work ethic is required, and they need to know that you have what it takes. They will also be able to see how excited and passionate you sound in answering their questions.

Rule 4: Ask Questions about the Company/Not about vacations.

Asking questions shows that you are interested in the company’s products, services, future growth, competition, etc. 

It also demonstrates to your potential new employer that you are very passionate about sales and want to prosper within the company. So make sure to ask questions during your interview!

Do not ask questions about days off or vacations. That is a complete turn-off in the sales industry and will make your interviewer think twice about hiring you. As a matter of fact, it’s most likely a quality of a bad salesperson.

Rule 5: Be Open and Honest with Your Responses.

Be open and honest about who you are, what you have done, where you have worked before, why you want to be a salesperson in the first place, etc. 

By being open and honest, you will gain the trust of your interviewer, and they will see that you are a trustworthy person who can be counted on for getting jobs done. 

Remember, always tell the truth!

Rule 6: Keep Your Answers Short and On-Point.

Do not ramble on and on about yourself, do not go off-topic, and do not lie or exaggerate your sales experience. Keep your answers short, sweet, to the point, but no one-word answers!

Now that you know what it takes to get past an interview for a sales position, here are the top six best questions to ask in your interview!

Questions to ask in your Sales Interview

1) How would you describe the company’s work environment?

This is a great question to ask because it demonstrates that you’re interested in working with a team and an enjoyable atmosphere. 

If answered correctly, this will let you know what kind of sales reps are hired there and if they’re happy with their job or not.

2) How much do the top sales reps in the company make?

By asking this question, you can see if the salaries/commissions are decent enough for you to work hard and achieve them.

If you hear some sales reps make large amounts of money, now you know you will be in the position to do the same, if not produce more and make larger sales.

Your hiring manager will love that you asked this question because they will view it as you being competitive and wanting to compete at a high level. It’s also great for the company because, In return, you will bring tremendous business and more sales.

4) ​Can you tell me about the company’s training program?

This is another great question because it shows that you want to learn more about what is offered to employees to develop yourself as a salesperson. 

It also shows you are willing to put in the work necessary to become great and make a lot of sales.

5) ​What does customer service mean to this company?

This question is a must-ask when interviewing for a sales job because you need to know the expectations when working with customers. 

Also, do they value their customer’s feedback and how important it is to improve their services or products?

6) ​Who would I be working with?

This is an excellent question to ask because your hiring manager wants to know if you are capable of working with other team members, and also, you get to see the type of people you will be surrounded by. 

Is it old, young, family-oriented, etc.? Knowing who you will be working with is important for understanding if they are supportive and competitive within the work environment.

What mindset should you have when entering your Sales interview?

The mindset you should have when entering your job interview should be “forget everything else, I’m willing to work 1,000 miles per hour to make as many sales as possible, and for my short term and long term dreams come true.”

Think in abundance!

If you think there is a chance for you to get hired, then there is!

That’s what separates the good from the great in any field: Those who give it their all and those who do the bare minimum. 

The moment you walk into your interview, it’s all on you!

Whether you get hired or not depends on how well you’ve prepared for the interview. This is why it is so important to have a set of questions for your interviewer.

If you have the mindset of competition, personal improvement, and respect for yourself, you are more likely to be hired as a salesperson. On the flip side, if you’ve been struggling to land a job and now all of a sudden have yourself an interview lined up – leave your desperation at the front door.

With this midset, the company you are interviewing for will know that you are the right fit for the job!

21 Questions to expect in your Sales Interview

• Why do you want to become a salesperson/Why do you want this job?

• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

• If I were to ask your last employer what you can improve on, what would they say?

• Do you consider yourself successful?

• What is your greatest accomplishment?

• How do you see yourself in five years?

• What type of person would you refuse to work with and why?

• Do you consider yourself a leader? If so, give me an example where you used leadership skills.

• Where do you see yourself in five years if we hire you today?

• How do you stay organized?

• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty for your company to be successful?

• How would you handle an upset customer?

• What are your greatest challenges in life?

• Give me an example of how you’re able to work well under pressure. How do you prioritize your daily tasks?

• What type of people do you have a difficult time dealing with and why?

• How would you describe yourself to a stranger at a party?

• How would you motivate your team members to accomplish their goals?

• Give me an example of how you plan for the future. Do you set goals?

• What is your ideal working environment like? Do you thrive under pressure, or do you freeze up?

• What are your salary requirements for this position?

• Do you have any hesitations about this job?

Those are the common questions that every interviewer asks. They’re looking for specific answers, so be sure to prepare before the interview. 

If you think about it, these interview questions can be broken down into three main categories: Personal, Leadership, and teamwork.

The answers should be focused on customer service.

The Best Answers to give in your Sales Interview Questions

• Why do you want to be a salesperson/Why do you want this job?

Be enthusiastic and confident, answer in the affirmative (i.e., “I’m excited and want this opportunity because…” or “This job is my dream job”). Be specific when you describe your motivations.

In any sales interview, it’s crucial to demonstrate why you want the position. 

It’s also desirable for your hiring manager to hear you say, “I want to make a lot of money.”

Wanting to make a lot of money is music to their ears because they believe that you are willing to put in the demanding hours of being successful and making many sales.

This will also tell your hiring manager that you are the right person and will motivate the company and your sales team.

• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

In particular, it’s essential to be confident when you answer this question. 

Your interviewer is looking for someone who can admit their weaknesses and demonstrate how they can work around them or strengthen that weakness through other means.

When answering this question, choose your top two strengths and one of the weaknesses that you’ve worked on.

Again, they are looking to see what value you can add to the company and your effect on your sales team.

• If I were to ask your last employer what you can improve on, what would they say?

When you are asked this question, it’s crucial to think about what an employer would want to hear.

For instance, if the interviewer asks what your last employer would say about you needing to improve on something, do not answer that they would say you need to improve in every aspect of your job.

You can mention your weaknesses and tell your interviewer how you learned to turn them around in this situation. You can make any negative into a positive.

• Do you consider yourself successful? Why?

This question is mainly to see if you think of yourself as a good candidate. It’s also to see how well you know yourself and your abilities.

Be confident when you answer because it shows that you are aware of what makes a person successful and that you can be successful.

For these example answers, keep a mental note that you are already successful because you strive and take the current actions for a brighter future.

• What is your greatest accomplishment?

This question is about you as a candidate and how you can add to the company culture. Your interviewer wants to know more about what makes you tick and what makes you stand out from other candidates.

In this case, they are not just asking for a job accomplishment but rather something personal that can help them determine if you would be a good fit for the work environment.

Let them know your most significant accomplishments derived from difficulty and adversity. Let your interviewer realize that you can fight for a successful career in sales.

• How do you see yourself in five years?

This question can be answered in different ways.

You don’t want to entirely say that you see yourself climbing the corporate ladder; however, you also don’t want to give off that impression that you have no interest in being successful.

To give a great answer, make sure to mention how relentlessly you are willing to work and help build your team.

When you answer this question, incorporate where you see yourself in the company. If you envision yourself being one of the top sales reps and one of the hardest workers, say it confidently.

• What type of person would you refuse to work with and why?

This question determines if you would be a good fit for the company’s culture and who you are as a person.

They also want to see how you would fit with a team.

In this answer, let them know that you are willing to work alongside any sales rep that works hard and wants to get better and make sales.

• Do you consider yourself a leader? If so, give me an example where you used leadership skills.

For this example answer, describe where you led and how it benefited your team and company. If not in the workplace, it could be in sports or other important situations.

Be confident in this answer because it shows that you are willing to take charge when necessary and contribute to success and sales.

If you cannot take the lead, that’s fine too. Your interviewer will also love to hear that you are great at taking directions and does whatever it takes to get the job done.

• How would you handle an upset customer?

For this example, show how you would care for an angry customer and turn their day around.

Tell your hiring manager you would tell the customer you understand their problem, calm them down, and help resolve it, whatever the situation is.

This proves that you are good at your job and know how to make people feel better about themselves and help them through difficult situations.

• What are your greatest challenges in life?

When you answer this question, be sure to mention your work in sales and how you overcome any challenge in the path of success.

Your hiring manager wants to know that you are willing to do anything it takes, from waking up early to staying up late to make a sale.

In your answer, let them know what makes you strive for success day in and day out.

• Give me an example of how you’re able to work well under pressure. How do you prioritize your daily tasks? Describe how you interact with your team.

These questions all show how you work under pressure and with a sales team.

Your hiring manager wants to determine if you’re ready for the real world of business and if you will be able to take criticism in stride.

When answering these challenges, keep in mind they want to see how persistent you are with your work.

Let them know you’re organized by making a daily schedule and daily goals.

When working with your sales team, mention how you love when everyone is on the same page with the same common goal. Which at the end of the day, is to make as many sales as possible.

• What type of people do you have a difficult time dealing with and why?

A great answer is that you work well with people overall, but it’s most difficult working with people that do not fully apply themselves.

Mention how you fully believe in having a sales team with a positive mindset, and when difficulties arise, it’s great to sit back, pivot, and execute on a plan.

• How would you describe yourself to a stranger at a party?

An example answer would be that you are a hard-working individual who loves talking to strangers and striking up conversations with people.

This will show them how confident you are in your own skin and how personable and outgoing you can be when in social settings.

• How would you motivate your team members to accomplish their goals?

This is a way to see if you are an effective leader and if you know how to motivate others and accomplish any goal by dividing it into smaller tasks.

You can answer this question by stating a great way to motivate a team is to find the common goal, discuss the steps it takes to get there, execute on it, and every day, talk about how great and beneficial the outcome will be.

• Give me an example of how you plan for the future. Do you set goals? 

The interviewer wants to know if you’re prepared for this job and if you plan on sticking around.

So, give them an example of how you set your goals and plans accordingly to gain future success, such as using a yearly, monthly, or daily planner.

An answer that would be great is how you always prioritize your day-to-day and month-to-month while always completing your essential tasks.

This skill shows that you are organized, reliable, and goal-oriented.

• What is your ideal working environment like? Do you thrive under pressure, or do you freeze up?

One of the most important questions is where the company wants to know if you will be successful in this position.

Let them know that working under pressure is highly expected, and any good sales rep with a big vision for making sales should expect and thrive from it.

Express to them that you are great with problem-solving and do whatever it takes to help increase the company’s sales.

Never say “no” to a challenge, and always deliver on your word. This way, they can trust you.

• What are your salary requirements for this position?

This shouldn’t be something to get nervous over.

An answer to this question would be that the requirements are negotiable since it’s more important for you to have a job that is right for you.

You can mention your salary at your last company and what you did to earn it.

If you feel that your workload will be more at the new company and you can efficiently add value, that will explain why you are asking for a higher salary.

However, it is also acceptable to say that your salary expectations are fair considering all your qualifications and previous success.

• Do you have any hesitations about this job?

Many interviewers ask this question. Here’s a simple tip: If you want the job as a sales representative, tell them you’re willing to start right away.

An answer to this would be how you’re eager to start as soon as possible, and it sounds like a job that fits your qualifications.

Tell them they have nothing to worry about because you will do whatever it takes to ensure the company’s needs are met.

What if your interviewer asks when can you start?

If the interviewer asks the magic words during your job interview, “when can you start?” If you really want the sales job, tell them you can start “right this second!” 

This is the best answer to give in your interview!

If you are contracted with another company, tell them that the first priority is the job they are offering. 

Tell them you will give the proper notice to your current company and will begin working with your new one immediately.

If you want to make sure they hire you, it’s on you to show how much excitement and effort you’re willing to put into this job.

They hired me! Now what?

Congratulations on landing the position! This means you did great with your job interview questions, and you left a great impression to show that you are the right fit!

What to do now?

You have a job offer! Now, all you need to do is accept it. 

Once you accept their offer, tell them how eager and excited you are for the first day of work! This will establish a great relationship going forward.

If this was your dream company, let them know that too.

Now you know what companies are looking for in sales interviews. So, prepare for your interview with these questions in mind!

Conclusion

Keep the idea of having a job that you love in mind.

If you really want to reach your goal and put in the necessary amount of work ethic, you will be successful.

At the end of the day, this is the point of the job interview questions.

Your hiring managers want to know if you have what it takes to be successful at fighting to make sales.

So, make sure you let your interviewer see how much you really want this!

Remember: Be confident and use these interview questions to guide you through your following interview!

Good Luck with your future success!