How to prepare for a Sales interview

What is the best product on the market, and why? The million-dollar question comes, and a thousand ideas come to mind.

A career in the sales industry is all about representing a product or service. Most of all, providing a service and adding value to a client. Sales positions are varied as much as there is something to present to a certain market, and if there's something worth buying, there is a team behind it that is responsible for the way it is presented.

Sales in itself is a broad topic as it can cover many different sectors. One can find sales departments in tech, finance, consulting, health and others. Perhaps what’s most common about sales is the setting up and meeting of targets. A clear sales revenue goal usually encourages sales teams to reach their KPIs, and rewards those who go above and beyond what’s expected of them.

General tips:

Preparing for a sales interview starts with yourself. Impressing your interviewer means presenting yourself as a brand in order to nail that job. In other words, if you can sell yourself, you’re halfway there.

The rest may involve in-depth knowledge about products, services, companies and customers. When preparing for your interview, try to imagine your industry as a vacuum with all the relevant connections. It also helps to take a trip down memory lane and research all the best products - what has stuck with you about that certain item or company, and how would you improve it? Next, why should people spend money or attention on it?

Interview preparation questions:

Here are a few sales interview preparation questions to practice

1. Why sales?
2. What makes you a good salesperson?
3. Rate the importance of the customer/client in the sales process from 0 to 10, and why?
4. What’s the best product on the market and why?
5. How do you reach your goals/targets?
6. What has been your shortest turnaround time for a major sale?
7. How would you sell me the chair you’re sitting on?
8. How would you sell a product to a different audience, and what would you do to make it interesting to them?

 

* Tips on answering these questions: align your experience to the attributes listed on the job posting and/or company culture and values

Questions to ask your interviewers:

The type of questions you may want to ask will depend on who is interviewing you, or which round of interviews you are currently in.

1. What is your favorite thing about being part of the sales team at this firm?
2. What can I expect in terms of company culture?
3. What are some of the unexpected realities of being a part of the sales team ?
4. What common characteristics have helped people at this level quickly succeed and reach an outstanding performance?
5. I know being a part of the sales team can be very dynamic. What can I expect my day-to-day to look like ?

Interview follow up:

They say small kindnesses never go unnoticed and this is particularly true when it comes to interviewing.

A simple thank you email to your interviewer goes a long way to cementing you in their minds long after your interview is over. Your email could be as simple as thanking the interviewer for their time, or mentioning a particular part of the interview you enjoyed. This would also be a good opportunity to extend your interest in connecting via Linkedin.

Your interviewer will generally set the expectation for when you can expect to hear back from them. If nothing is set, a good timeframe for a follow up is two weeks after the interview.

Checklist for the day of your interview: 

1. Get a good night’s sleep - This allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up, ready to ace your interview!
2. Start your day with breakfast - You might find you feel a bit sluggish and struggle to focus if you don’t.  Breakfast positively affects your mental performance, including your attention, ability to concentrate and memory. Skipping the most important meal of the day can make some tasks feel harder than they normally would.
3. Wear clothing you’re comfortable in - The dress code for sales interviews can vary from business professional to business casual, or even completely casual. With this in mind, it’s always better to overdress, rather than underdress. Comfortable clothing will also help you feel confident during your interview.
4. Leave your house early - Proper planning will help you arrive on time for the interview and eliminate any last minute stress.  Double-check the interview location and your best route to get there. If you’re driving there yourself, it’s a good idea to consider where you might park.
5. If you are having an online interview, remember to log on early and test your setup. You should check your connection, camera and microphone, as well as ensuring your background or environment is free from clutter and distractions.
6. Follow in Superman’s footsteps - Try this right before you go into the room or join your call. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, place your hands on your hips and breathe deeply. This is the Superman pose, specifically developed to encourage your body to regulate breathing and allow your mind to clear and your nerves to calm. Plus, you’ll feel like you could leap tall buildings in a single bound - what better way to take your next steps to professional success?

 

Now that you’ve just taken your next steps towards succeeding in your career, be sure to take a look at the Wizco Blog for more insider tips and tricks and walk into every growth opportunity prepared.