Sales interview questions

Six questions to practice out loud

Written by AI from sales job postings. Each one is the kind of question a sales interview asks, and each tests one of the five skills you are scored on.

1. QUESTION 1 · ROLE RELEVANCE

   Tell me about yourself in under two minutes, and finish on the sale you are proudest of.

   They are listening for: Background in three sentences, then one sale: who bought, what it was worth, and what you did that another rep might not have.

   What a strong answer includes

   Background in three sentences, then one sale: who bought, what it was worth, and what you did that another rep might not have. End on why this role. Weak answers walk the resume in order and never name a number.

2. QUESTION 2 · SPECIFICITY & EVIDENCE

   Walk me through the last new account you opened from nothing. Where did the lead come from, what did you say first, and how long did it take to close?

   They are listening for: Name where the lead came from and the first thing you said or wrote.

   What a strong answer includes

   Name where the lead came from and the first thing you said or wrote. Give the timeline, the number of touches and the deal size, and what nearly stopped it. Weak answers describe a sales process in general instead of one account.

3. QUESTION 3 · COMMUNICATION & PRESENCE

   A buyer tells you your price is too high and they are happy with their current supplier. What do you say next, and what do you ask before you talk about price again?

   They are listening for: Acknowledge the objection without arguing, then ask a question that finds out what they are comparing and what their current supplier gets wrong.

   What a strong answer includes

   Acknowledge the objection without arguing, then ask a question that finds out what they are comparing and what their current supplier gets wrong. Tie the price to one outcome they said they care about. Weak answers discount on the spot or recite features the buyer did not ask about.

4. QUESTION 4 · ANSWER STRUCTURE

   Tell me about a deal you expected to win and lost. When did it turn, what did you miss, and what do you do differently now?

   They are listening for: Pick a real loss with a customer type and a value.

   What a strong answer includes

   Pick a real loss with a customer type and a value. Say the moment it turned and the signal you saw too late, such as a new decision maker or a competitor's quote. Then name one change you made afterward. Weak answers blame price or the customer.

5. QUESTION 5 · JUDGMENT & PROBLEM-SOLVING

   One of your existing accounts has had flat sales for three months. What do you look at before your next visit, and what do you suggest when you get there?

   They are listening for: Start with the numbers: what changed, when, and against what baseline.

   What a strong answer includes

   Start with the numbers: what changed, when, and against what baseline. Say what you would check in person and what you would ask the owner, then one or two suggestions tied to what you found and how you would measure them. Weak answers jump to a promotion without diagnosing anything.

6. QUESTION 6 · JUDGMENT & PROBLEM-SOLVING

   It is three weeks before the end of the quarter and you are at 60 percent of your goal. Walk me through your pipeline and what you do first on Monday.

   They are listening for: Sort the pipeline out loud: which deals can close in three weeks, what each one needs, and which you set aside.

   What a strong answer includes

   Sort the pipeline out loud: which deals can close in three weeks, what each one needs, and which you set aside. Say who you call first and why, and how you keep next quarter's pipeline alive. Weak answers promise to work harder or offer discounts across the board.