2 years ago
June 23, 2022

5 Interview Questions for Younger Gen Z Sales Candidates

Millions of younger candidates are entering the sales industry. Many of them are millennials and an increasing number are Generation Zers. As a sales organization, it’s important to craft your…

Rhys Metler

Millions of younger candidates are entering the sales industry. Many of them are millennials and an increasing number are Generation Zers. As a sales organization, it’s important to craft your interview questions and process based on your candidate pool.

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You must know your audience and understand the candidate you are interviewing in order to get a better assessment of who they are and what they can offer. In this blog, our sales recruiters outline some good questions to ask younger millennial and Gen Z sales candidates.

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Interview questions for Gen Z sales candidates

If you have interviews scheduled with younger up-and-coming sales candidates, be sure to include some of these types of questions:

1. What have you accomplished in the past that will help you in this role?

Even though a candidate may not have a lot of formal experience, they may have other experiences to draw from. Perhaps they led initiatives in school, have a lot of volunteer experience or have transferrable skills that match the demands of the job.

2. What motivates you?

The younger generation is less motivated by money. They want to have a sense of purpose, they want to be able to make a difference, and they want a greater work-life balance. Understanding their motivation can help you determine if they are a good fit for your company.

3. What are your goals with this job?

Understanding what a candidate wants to get out of a job is important. Do they see it as a stepping stone? Are they interested in long-term job security? Where does the candidate want to take their career?

4. Why are you interviewing for this job?

Gen Zers want to make career moves. They are competitive and they want to progress in their careers quickly. They are less willing to become complacent in a role. So, understanding their reason for applying is important. Is it because they want to level up? Or did they have issues with their previous employer? It’s an important distinction to make.

5. What is your ideal workplace setting?

This question can help you understand if the candidate is comfortable working in a traditional office setting, if they want to work remotely, or are seeking the flexibility of a hybrid work model.

Get more sales job interviewing advice on our sales recruiter blog

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Sales Managers: How to Use Your Culture to Your Advantage in a Sales Job Interview

Rhys Metler

Rhys is a tenacious, top performing Senior Sales Recruiter with 15+ years of focused experience in the Digital Media, Mobile, Software, Technology and B2B verticals. He has a successful track record of headhunting top performing sales candidates for some of the most exciting brands in North America. He is a Certified Recruitment Specialist (CRS) and has expert experience in prospecting new business, client retention/renewals and managing top performing sales and recruitment teams. Rhys enjoys spending quality time with his wife, son, and daughters, BBQing on a hot summer day and tropical vacations.

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