Sales executive interview questions

1Tell us about yourself.

What they want to know: Whether you can sum up who you are and why you fit, in a minute.

How to answer: Present, past, future: what you do now, one or two things you did that matter for this job, and why you want it.

2Why do you want this job?

What they want to know: Whether you know what the job is and chose it on purpose.

How to answer: Name two things about the role or the organisation that match what you are good at. Avoid salary and security as your main reason.

3What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What they want to know: Self-awareness, and honesty.

How to answer: Give a strength with a short example. For a weakness, pick a real one that does not break the job, and say what you do about it.

4Sell me this pen.

What they want to know: How you handle a sale: questions first, then benefits.

How to answer: Ask what they need it for before you describe the pen. Then link one feature to their need and ask for the sale.

5How did you achieve a target you were given?

What they want to know: Proof you can deliver numbers.

How to answer: Give the target, what you did week by week, and the result with a number.

6How do you handle a customer who says no?

What they want to know: Resilience and objection handling.

How to answer: Ask why, address the real concern, and know when to follow up later instead of pushing.

7How would you find new customers in a new area?

What they want to know: Prospecting and planning.

How to answer: Mention market visits, dealers or distributors, referrals and keeping a simple list of leads.