‘Sell me this pen’ and other common sales interview questions

Are you applying for a job in sales?

When you attend an interview for a sales job, you’re going to face some tough questions. Here are some examples and how you can tackle them to convince the hiring manager that you’re the person for the job:

1. Sell yourself in a single sentence

Get ready for this one because it’s a bit of a classic. You need to be brief, interesting and let your personality shine through. Prepare beforehand by jotting down the things that make you unique and then edit it down to just one sentence.

Focus on the three main words that best describe you and prepare examples that relate to these three words because the interviewer may ask you to elaborate.

2. Sell me this pen

It’s another classic question, but don’t let it trip you up. The employer wants to see how you approach sales. They’re looking for you to focus on the benefits of using the pen, rather than describe its features.

They want you to describe how the pen will make their lives easier or improves their lives if they buy it. Don’t forget to try to close the sale by asking if they’d like you to wrap it up as a gift.

3. What makes a good salesperson

A person that makes the company is only one part of the answer. If you’re interviewing with a small company, they’re more likely to place a lot of value on teamwork, so you should do some research and discuss your passions in such a way that they align with the company’s culture.

When or if you mention money, provide a real-life example of how you’ve helped an employer to make money or, if not that, then one of any processes you’ve made to help them save money.

4. What interests you most about this role

This is all about doing research. Your potential employer wants to know how much you know about the company and what makes you get out of bed in the morning for a role. If making money for them and moving up the career ladder is your motivation, they’ll like this, but you’ve got to be genuine in your passion and provide examples of this. Mention any positive feelings you have about the company and, of course, talk about any experience you have that’s relevant to the role.

When interviewing for a sales role, try not to make the interview all about you. Keep your answers genuine and honest and focus on the company that is considering hiring you or on the role or their product whenever possible.

Remember, too, that you must believe in what you’re selling. If you don’t believe in the company or product, consider taking a sales role with a different company so that you can deliver the goods for your new employer.