Sales interviews are changing. As more and more companies place extra emphasis on hiring the right person to avoid costly hiring mistakes, they are putting additional effort into the types of sales interview questions they ask.
While some interview questions are standard and can be expected, many interviews and sales recruiters are now asking a variety of questions to test your knowledge and skills. They want to see how you react when you are put on the spot.
One request you can expect from interviewers is to explain a concept or topic to them. “Explain something to me” is a challenging question, and the truth is very few sales candidates are prepared for it and can offer a great answer to the question.
There are a number of reasons why interviewers ask this question during interviews:
Depending on the sales recruiter, they may ask you to explain something specific, give you the option to choose the topic, or even request that you explain something completely unrelated to the role.
They key is how you respond to “explain something to me.” Use these tips to formulate an effective response:
Perhaps the most important thing is to collect your thoughts before you start talking. You don’t want to turn your response into a directionless ramble. Think about the topic, the sub-points you want to cover, and how you want to conclude, then start your response.
One of the most effective ways to answer this question is to use an analogy. Comparing things creates a visual or reference point for the audience. Plus, who doesn’t like a good story that explains something? It’s more engaging and will help people better understand the concept.
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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.