The 6 most frequently asked questions in sales interviews

It's not easy to sell yourself to recruiters who know that you're salespeople first and foremost...! So to keep a cool head, a bit of leeway and to avoid talking nonsense, it's in your best interest to carefully prepare certain hiring questions. The following 6 questions are recurrent, and here are the tips you need to prepare them as well as possible.

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What are you most proud of?

What, in your opinion, are the primary qualities of a salesperson?

How much did you sell such per month (or per year)?

What have you done since your last job?

Why should we hire you?

What are you most proud of?

Curiously, this question invites some relaxation as the recruiter asks you about your skills (without asking you directly). You need to have thought about it before the interview and selected an achievement that makes sense for you and your future career.

Once the moment comes, don't minimize your role, but show how you work. Don't embellish and... don't relax!

What, in your opinion, are the primary qualities of a salesperson?

The recruiter wants to know what kind of salesperson you are. Are you able to listen to your customers and their needs? Can you follow a sales process? The differences between good and not-so-good salespeople are tenuous. That's why the recruiter is likely to listen very carefully to your answer.

Before the interview, it's up to you to ask yourself this question. A little reflection on your business skills won't do you any harm. On the other hand, it could pay off handsomely... if you avoid stereotypes.

**How much do you sell of this per month (or per year)**

The recruiter is looking at your performance to see if you're a good salesman. Don't be smug about it, and put the real figures on the table. If your interviewer asks you this question, it's because he knows the figures for a good salesperson in your sector. Telling him that you sell 3 cars a month when a very good salesman sells two, can get you into a mess you can't get out of.

Be clear and sharp.

What have you done since your last job?

The recruiter wants to know how you manage a period of research, which, after all, is not so far removed from sales prospecting... It's important here, to value your organization and the way you prospect. Especially if your search is fairly lengthy, explain how you structure your days (sports, network invitations, ...), what networks you develop (alumni, recruitment agencies, ...) and the actions you undertake (job forums, conferences, ...).

Why should we hire you?

We agree, the recruiter doesn't need your advice to hire... However, he does want to see how you go about convincing. He wants to see you in action, to be able to judge you on the spot, and the ball is clearly in your court. Seize the ball while staying away from recruitment consultancy...

Review the job requirements point by point and match each element with your past experience. Review your performance and compare it with the job requirements. Are you missing a skill? Explain how and when you will acquire it. Do you stand out from the crowd in a particular area? Highlight it.

Above all, keep it simple and pragmatic.

Don't these questions come up in an interview after all? It doesn't matter, if the work you've done beforehand makes you more confident in yourself... It will optimize your power of conviction. It will even enable you, by distilling snippets of answers here and there, to back up your words, structure the conversation and make yourself better known.

But before you prepare for the recruiters' questions, you'd better prepare your presentation and your job interview!

Unless... you need to find the right job offer for you first!