Preparing for a sales job interview can be stressful. You want to present your “best self” and win over the sales recruiter. And a job could be on the line.
Proper preparation is always key to successful sales job interviews. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of myths and even lies about the role the interviewer plays in the process. Today, we are going to debunk some of these myths:
Yes, the sales job interviewer is asking the questions, but this doesn’t mean they control the entire interview. You have to be ready to answer all types of questions. More importantly, you need to know how to use these questions to get across information about you, your experience and career. The ultimate goal of a job interview is to sell yourself. You have to take control to do so effectively.
Whether or not the hiring decision will be made by the interviewer will vary based on the company. In some companies, the interviewer will be the decision maker; in others, the interviewer may be the HR person. It’s also common for the decision maker, such as a sales manager, to sit in on the interview along with an interviewer. Try to ascertain who the decision maker is so you can focus your efforts accordingly.
Sales job interviewers are not specifically looking for right or wrong answers to the questions they ask. They want to learn as much as possible about you as a candidate in their short time with you. There is no perfect answer to an interview question. Focus on giving answers that help you stand out as the best candidate for the job.
There is no specific, correct length of response to interview questions. Yes, some answers will be longer than others. Don’t worry about talking too much. Focus on providing a concise answer that addresses all aspects of the question asked. Give a complete answer.
Have a job interview coming up? Brushing up on your interview skills? Check out these insightful blog posts from our expert sales recruiters:
Oh No, I’m Fired! What Do You Say in Sales Interviews?
The BIGGEST Sales Interview Fears and How to Overcome Them
What’s THE BEST Way to Prepare for Your Sales Interview?
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.
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.