Interviewing a salesperson can be very challenging. After all, you are interviewing a person who is skilled at selling. Auto sales is a unique section of the sales industry. You’re selling high ticket items, and the vast majority of your sales will be face-to-face interactions.

As recruiters, we know you want to hire the best candidates possible. Here are some useful car salesperson questions to ask during the interview process:

1. Why Do You Want to Sell Cars? (If They’ve Never Sold Cars Before)

People have many reasons for applying to work as a car salesperson. Asking this question will give you some insight into why they applied for the job and their underlying career objectives and motivation.

2. What Do You Like About Auto Sales?

This is an innocent question that can tell you a lot about the salesperson. It can tell you where their focus is – do they like service-based jobs and working with people? Do they like the commission structure and the ability to make more money?

3. Why Do You Want to Work for Our Dealership?

There is no shortage of car dealerships for candidates to apply to. Why they chose your car sales business is important. Perhaps they drive a vehicle you sell or are a fan of your car brands. Asking this question will give you insight into how much research and thought they put into their decision to apply.

4. How Many Cars Per Month Did You Sell in Your Previous Role?

Performance matters. How a candidate performed in the past is definitely an indicator of how they will perform for your company. Therefore, asking about car sales numbers, sales quotas, and other performance metrics will give you insights into what you can expect from them if hired.

5. Sell Me This Car

Seeing the salesperson in action will give you a chance to see their approach to auto sales. Giving them a car to sell, or even allowing them to choose the vehicle, will let you see them work through a sales process. You will get some insights into the strategies and tactics they use.

6. What Is Your Key Success Factor to Sell More Cars?

There is a reason some salespeople sell more than others. For car salespeople, it can be a variety of things. For some, it’s following up, referrals, how they communicate, and other factors. Asking this question will provide you some insight into what the candidate believes is important to their success.

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SalesForce Search is a sales recruiting company which specializes in the recruitment and placement of sales professionals. We recruit salespeople in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. Find the right salesperson for your organization, start your search here.