Take Advantage of Our Expertise with These Good Questions to Ask in a Sales Interview
When you are in the process of preparing for an interview, it’s important that you use two different lenses. First, of course, is polishing your own answers to potential questions. Secondly, you should identify what you want to ask to help you understand if you want to work there. After all, you get to interview the company just as much as they get to interview you.
The second point is something many people underappreciate. The questions you ask in an interview are so much more than a time for you to “look good.” They are your chance to vet the company even further – helping you avoid future surprises. When you prepare good questions to ask in a sales interview, you can confidently decide if you want to work there.
As a salesperson, you certainly know how to get people to open up. Pair that skill with our sales career expertise, and you will be able to get answers to everything that’s important to you in your next step. We certainly want to share sample questions we find to be good catalysts for conversation. First, let’s focus on good questions to ask in a sales interview that are uniquely important to you.
Recognizing Good Questions to Ask in a Sales Interview
There is a balance when it comes to interview questions. Some questions are fitting for anyone to ask in a sales interview. Others are personally important to an individual. The latter takes more intentional time and effort to identify but is absolutely worth the time investment. Spend time researching the company you applied to. Then you will uncover good questions to ask in a sales interview that you personally deem important. Here are some guiding points to research to help you in your journey:
Company History
The length of time a company has been in business, the services/products they have offered in that time, and their adaptability through time are all things you could find personally important. Each of those qualities impacts your job in a distinct way. For example, if the company is new in business, you could be expected to wear several hats. That could affect your ability to optimize your commissions.
Company Values
The values of a company need to align with your own values. That is particularly important for a salesperson as you are selling to those values. Spend time researching what the company values to ensure it matches what you are looking for in an employer. If you see something you feel is missing, you have a very clear discussion point for your interview. When it comes to good questions to ask in a sales interview, the best are those personal to you.
Online Reviews
We are lucky to have an abundance of information on a company website or online profile. We also have the opportunity to read reviews from people that have interacted with the company – as employees and customers. Take some time to look through employee and company reviews. Make a note to ask what the company is doing to address any common threads you discover.
Job Description Deep Dive
When you initially looked at the job description for the role you applied to, you likely spent your time envisioning yourself in the job. After all, you applied, right? However, our excitement can keep us from being too critical. Revisit the description using the lens of “can I actually see myself doing this for 40+ hours a week?” Your critical eye could highlight areas of the job description you may want clarification on. That could be something in the description you are really excited about or something you’re not so excited about. How much time might you expect to spend on the task?
Candidate Experience
You don’t have to spend too much additional time on this point. It’s certainly an important one to reflect on, though. What has your experience been like as a candidate? The interactions you have had, the speed in your process, and the questions you have been asked all tell a story about the company you applied to. Maybe you feel they didn’t ask much about your sales experience, but you have a lengthy sales career. Once you’re proud to have established. That could be a signal that they don’t require such extensive experience. If that’s the case, you should clarify how you would grow as a sales professional in the role. If the role is meant for entry-level professionals, it may not be a good fit.
Spend time researching each of the above points we outlined. Once finished, you will already begin to have a list of good questions to ask in a sales interview. Best of all, those questions will be very specific to your values, goals, and passions.
Our List of Good Questions to Ask in a Sales Interview
What is the company culture like, from your perspective?
Within each and every company, there is a distinct culture. The company either built that culture very intentionally or it came to be naturally. Of course, different people thrive in different environments. It’s always helpful to understand what the culture you’re joining could be like (and if you would enjoy it). If the organization you are interviewing with is relatively large, the culture will be quite different within each department. In that case, ask what the sales culture is like, specifically.
What makes you take pride in working here?
This is more than just a “feel good” question. You may certainly feel inspired if the response you get is aligned with your own values or passions. That is exactly what you want to figure out. Is the one thing your interviewer highlights as their biggest point of pride something you also find amazing?
What is your company’s competitive advantage in your industry?
Knowing why your product or service is better than the competitor is extremely important as a salesperson. It’s a large part of your pitch to potential customers. Learning what the competitive advantage is proactive can help you envision (or not) yourself selling to that advantage. Are you even passionate about the difference your interviewer brings up? That is an important point of reflection. It’s also why this makes our list of good questions to ask in a sales interview.
Can you outline what an average day for me would look like?
At this point, you have seen the job description for this position multiple times. Keep in mind that the description is written to try to pique your interest. With that said, it isn’t always the best representation of your actual day-to-day. Learning what an average day looks like will help you understand how much time you get to spend on your favorite or least favorite parts of the job. A follow-up question to this could be what you noted when you critically looked at the job description (suggested previously).
What does lead generation look like in this position?
There are many ways leads could potentially be generated in a sales job. The way leads are generated impacts your experience and your commission (quite drastically). Selling to interested individuals versus someone that has never heard of the company/offering creates two vastly different dynamics for you. The different dynamics also have different conversion rates. That reality makes this a very important one of our nine good questions to ask in a sales interview.
What distinguishes your best salespeople from the rest?
If you’re in sales, you are likely in it to be the best. Not only is that a big point of pride, but it also equates to more money in the sales world. Learning how you can position yourself to be the best before you even start serves as a powerful guide. Even more, this question also highlights to your interviewer that you are motivated to be the best. They will always appreciate hearing that.
How does your organization foster employee growth?
Your ability to further your own professional development is important wherever you are in your career – across any industry. No one wants to feel stagnant. It’s very helpful to set your own expectation with regard to how the company fosters your growth. Is it structured very intentionally at a company- or department-level? Is it something that is your supervisor’s responsibility? Are you left to handle it yourself? Each of those scenarios creates a very different experience and outcome for you.
What does the commission structure look like?
You should always have a very clear understanding of your income. The commission structures for different sales roles can vary. They can also change over time or due to performance. You should absolutely ensure you have clarity on how you will be paid and how that aligns with your needs. Say, for example, you will be working in a commission-only role, but you are brand new to sales. You are certainly going to have a bit of a learning curve. In turn, you won’t be bringing in as much money as you will later on. Can you afford to navigate that financially?
Can you share what the current challenges are that your salespeople are facing?
This makes our list of good questions to ask in a sales interview because it is another that helps you get a head start on something other people learn when they are employed. There are many factors that can impact obstacles salespeople do or don’t have. These include such as industry trends, competitor offerings, and more. By understanding what the current challenges are, you can identify if you are excited to take on the challenge. You can also take advantage of learning how to overcome the challenge throughout your training (or even in your interview!).
Prioritizing the Good Questions to Ask in a Sales Interview
Likely, this feels like quite an extensive list of questions to ask. It certainly is, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you may not need to ask each question you list as your interviewer(s) might answer them proactively. Additionally, not every question needs to be asked in one interview. You might ask four questions in one interview, two in an email exchange, and two others on an offer call. The important thing to keep in mind is that they are all good questions to get answers to before you accept or decline a job offer.
Empowered Candidates Make Confident Professionals
There are many sales jobs available in Dallas, each with unique qualities that will appeal to different sales professionals. Using your own research, as well as the good questions to ask in the sales interviews we guided you through, you will feel confident in your job search and interviews. Where we’re empowered, we’re confident.
To boost your confidence even further, lean on our team of sales recruiting experts. We can help you navigate your job search or even prepare for an interview. We’re here to give you the insight, guidance, and encouragement you need to create a thriving sales career. You have the skills and experience for your next step, we have the industry knowledge in Recruiting. Paired together, you will find the perfect sales job and nail your interview.