You want the best sales reps when you hire. No two sales reps are created equally. We already know this. We also know that each time there is an opening on the sales team, it’s an opportunity to improve. It’s an opportunity to add a top sales rep to your team. It’s a person who can have a big impact on sales numbers and help your company achieve its sales goals consistently.

So, how do you recruit the best sales reps? How do you separate top performers from the rest of the pack? It often comes down to the questions you ask during the interview process.

Here are 6 interview questions to ask to recruit the best sales reps:

1. What drives you to be the best sales rep you can be?

A person can have countless motivating factors. For some, it’s all about money; for others, it can be about being the top sales rep or helping customers. The important thing here is to ensure the rep’s motivation is aligned with your company culture.

2. Where do you want to be in 10 years?

Most people leave their current job because of lack of growth opportunities. Knowing where a potential hire wants to be in 10 years and having an idea of their career path will help you determine if they are a good fit and if your company can offer them an ideal career path. If not, they may up and leave after a few years.

3. How do you keep up with industry news and trends?

Top sales reps are on top of their game. They know what is happening in their industry, and they know how to use this information when working with prospects and customers.

4. How do you handle objections?

Objections and being told “no” is part of the sales process. The best sales reps have a well thought out plan and approach for anticipating and handling objections.

5. What do you know about our company?

This question will provide you with some insight into how much research and prep work the candidate did prior to your interview. It’s a good sign of what you can expect if the candidate is hired and how they will prepare for customer calls.

6. How do you handle lost sales deals?

You lose more than you win in sales. How a candidate handles loss is an indication of their overall approach to sales. Focusing on learning something rather than dwelling on the loss says a lot.

Get more sales tips and advice by reading:

4 Ways to Sell Your Company in a Sales Interview

4 Ways to Spot a Suitable Sales Candidate During an Interview

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