20 essential sales job interview questions form template
Value bundles that include this:
Our 20 essential sales job interview questions form template equips you with a structured framework for effective use.
Why this form is necessary
This 20 essential sales job interview questions form template aims to offer you a versatile and customisable tool, serving as a solid foundation for your needs. Utilise it to ensure consistency, enhance accuracy, and save valuable time.
Adapt it to suit your unique requirements, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in your HR processes.
Compliance notes
-
Equality Act 2010: Ensures that interview questions are non-discriminatory and do not relate to protected characteristics such as age, gender, race, disability, and more.
-
Employment Rights Act 1996: Provides a framework for fair treatment during the recruitment process, ensuring that interview questions are relevant to the job role.
-
Data Protection Act 2018 (incorporating GDPR): Requires that any personal data collected during interviews is handled in compliance with data protection principles.
-
Acas Code of Practice on Recruitment and Selection: Offers guidance on maintaining fairness, consistency, and transparency during the interview process.
-
Best Practice: Job-Relevant and Competency-Based Questions: Ensure that interview questions are directly related to the job role and assess the candidate's skills, experience, and suitability for the position.
Workflow sequence
Guide to interviewing standards
Our Guide to Interviewing Standards offers comprehensive guidelines, ensuring consistency and fairness in candidate assessments while enhancing hiring quality.
Specifications
5 mins
431 words, 2 pages A4
1 November 2024
20 essential sales job interview questions
No. | Question | Answer |
Competence-Based Questions | ||
1 | Can you describe a time when you successfully closed a challenging sale? What strategies did you use? | |
2 | Tell me about a time when you exceeded your sales targets. How did you achieve this? | |
3 | Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult customer. How did you handle it? | |
4 | Give an example of a time when you had to sell a product or service you were not initially familiar with. How did you prepare? | |
5 | Tell me about a significant achievement in your sales career. What steps did you take to achieve it? | |
6 | Can you provide an example of a time when you had to upsell or cross-sell to a client? What was your approach? | |
7 | Describe a situation where you had to overcome a major objection from a prospect. What was the objection, and how did you address it? | |
8 | Can you share an example of how you built a long-term relationship with a key client? | |
9 | Tell me about a time when you had to meet a tight sales deadline. How did you ensure you met it? | |
10 | Describe a sales campaign you worked on that required detailed planning and execution. What was your role and the outcome? | |
Non-Competence-Based Questions | ||
11 | How do you stay motivated and driven in a sales environment? | |
12 | What is your approach to setting and achieving your sales goals? | |
13 | How do you handle rejection or failure in sales? | |
14 | How do you keep up with changes and trends in the market? | |
15 | What methods do you use to build and maintain a strong sales pipeline? | |
16 | How do you approach networking and building professional relationships? | |
17 | What techniques do you use to understand the needs and preferences of your clients? | |
18 | How do you ensure you provide excellent customer service while also meeting your sales targets? | |
19 | How do you balance short-term sales goals with long-term client relationships? | |
20 | What do you believe are the most important qualities for success in sales, and how do you demonstrate these qualities in your work? |
Version: [1.0]
Issue date: [date]