Top 10 Sales Representative Job Interview Questions

Amy Culver |
Amy is our Lead Copywriter at Snagajob, where she loves to use her word nerd powers to help workers and employers connect. Her first hourly job was as a cashier at Chick-fil-a.

Do you have a job interview for a sales representative position soon? That's exciting! 

When getting ready for a sales job interview, preparation is key. By using this list of the top 10 sales representative interview questions and practicing how to answer common job interview questions, you can be better prepared for the big day. 

How to prepare for your job interview

A great way to perfect your answers for the real interview is to sit down with a friend or family member and do a mock interview. Have them pretend to be your interviewer and ask you questions from the list below. 

Practice giving your answers until you feel completely comfortable and your answers are smooth and natural (but don’t sound too rehearsed). 

Have your mock interviewer ask you questions like these using different wording. This helps to ensure that you don’t get stuck in the rut of only knowing how to answer the exact sales interview questions below. It also helps to cut down on memorization, so your answers will flow better in the moment.

Your real interview won’t use these same questions, so you’ll have to be able to think on your feet. Practicing how to answer common interview questions will make sure you know how to answer similar questions when interview time comes.

Sales rep jobs: selling yourself in the interview

Remember, you’re interviewing for a sales position…so, start selling in the job interview by selling your own skills! 

They’re looking for someone naturally persuasive, who knows how to close a deal. What better place to start showcasing your skills than by using them to land the job?

Top 10 common interview questions for sales jobs

This list is not exhaustive, by any means. However, it does give you a taste for the kinds of questions asked in an interview, as well as insight into the best answers to interview questions. Studying this list will help you understand what interviewers are looking for from basic situational and behavioral questions.

They’ll likely ask about your sales skills, why you’re interested or what makes you qualified for the job. And, since being a sales representative involves interacting with people, the interviewer will also most likely ask you questions related to your customer service skills.

Chances are, they'll ask you questions similar to these:

1. Why are you interested in sales?

Employers want to know if you're actually passionate about sales or whether you're just looking for a paycheck. Explain what sales means to you and why you want to work in this field. Be sure to also show interest in working for their company specifically.

Potential Answer: "I'm interested in sales because I have great interpersonal skills and I'm passionate about providing excellent customer service. I have experience working with people in previous positions, and your company is appealing since you seem to value putting clients first."

2. How would you deal with an unhappy client?

By asking this question, employers are trying to determine whether you have adequate conflict resolution skills. It's helpful to highlight an experience from the past where you successfully handled a conflict by listening and meeting a customer's needs.

Potential Answer: "In the past, I've dealt with upset customers by carefully listening to them and then taking the necessary steps to ensure they walked away satisfied. I would first listen to their complaint. Next, I would ask them questions and determine how I could most effectively meet their needs. If I couldn't fulfill their expectations, I would seek help from management."

3. What could our sales team be doing better?

This is an opportunity to show off the research you've done on the company. You can prove to the employer that you not only care about the company, but you're also willing to go the extra mile for it.

Potential Answer: "Based on the research I've done about your company, it's evident that you value a strong work ethic in your employees and always put your clients first. After talking with some of your current sales representatives, I think something that could be improved is the team's ability to add emotional appeal to your products."

4. What motivates you?

This is a great opportunity to showcase your drive and ambition to win—something sales is all about. Make sure your answer isn’t all about money, though. It’s absolutely okay to admit that money is a motivator, but show them you care about what they do, and you’ll set yourself apart.

Potential Answer: "I love to win! There’s nothing more satisfying than closing the deal with a happy customer. Along with that, I often compete with myself and try to do better than I’ve done before. Sure, money is great, and it’s certainly a factor that helps to motivate me. However, it’s more about what I can do to impact the bottom line, support the team and provide great solutions for our customers.”

5. When a customer rejects you or a sale falls through, how do you respond?

What they’re really asking about is how well you handle disappointment and rejection. This is another chance to highlight your emotional intelligence and ability to handle tough situations. 

Potential Answer: "Well, that’s not ideal, and I do hate losing a sale. But, I don’t take rejection personally. Ultimately, the customer has every right to say, ‘no’. In a situation where they are a definite no, I would thank them for their time and move on to another opportunity. If there’s a chance they might change their mind, I would continue with the sales process as defined by the company. And if a sale falls through, I’ll ask for feedback on what I could do better (from management or the customer, if the opportunity presents itself), and then apply what I learn in the next deal."

6. Tell me about a time you made a mistake in a sales job?

What they’re really looking for here is three-fold: 

  1. How big of a mistake was it?

  2. How did you handle it?

  3. Did you apply what you learned going forward?

It’s fine to share a huge mistake, so long as the resolution was positive in the end. This is a chance to showcase that you’re willing to learn from mistakes and grow.

Potential Answer: "In my first sales rep job, I wanted to win so much that I forgot I was there to help the customers…I didn’t win very often. I was getting frustrated when sales kept falling through, so I started asking for feedback. A seasoned rep told me that the whole reason we had our job was to help people. Since then, I think more about how I can provide real solutions for my customers’ problems. Now, the sales come naturally. It feels great to win and help people at the same time."

7. How do you feel about cold calling?

In sales, it’s highly likely that you’ll have to make cold calls at some point in time. Cold calling isn’t the easiest task, and it takes a special skillset to do it effectively.

Potential Answer: "Cold calls aren’t the easiest thing in the world, but they’re often necessary. I don’t mind cold calls, as they give me an opportunity to build new relationships and help new clients. I look at cold calling as me reaching out to a stranger who might need my help and seeing how we can work together for a win-win.”

8. How do you feel about working in a team?

Most companies have sales teams, and you’ll have to work effectively as part of that team. This is your chance to show them that you enjoy collaborating with others and can do it well.

Potential Answer: "Being on a team is great. Sales can be challenging and having a team that understands and supports you is awesome. It’s also fun sharing ideas and learning together. While I may be my customer’s only point of contact, the whole team supports the sale."

9. What do you like least about sales?

Your interviewer wants to learn more about you, but they don’t want to hear a laundry list of things you hate about your job. Use this as an opportunity to honestly share something you don’t love (we all have things we don’t enjoy at work) but turn it into a positive.

Potential Answer: "I don’t love paperwork, but I know it’s necessary. I like to be out there interacting with people, helping clients and making sales! So, sitting at my desk doing paperwork isn’t my favorite thing, but it supports the sales process and our team’s success. It’s also a great time to reflect on what went well with a sale or what I could have done better."

10. Why do you want to work for our company?

Again, showcase the research you did in advance. Share the things you found most appealing about their company and why they stood out amongst all the jobs out there.

Potential Answer: "It’s clear that you value a strong work ethic and put your clients first. I also appreciate your mission statement and what you stand for. I want to work for your company because it’s a good fit for my own values, and I know I can add value to your team.”

Have you already had job interviews for sales representative positions? Did the interviewers ask you questions like the ones on this list? Tell us about it below!