You never know which questions you might be asked during a sales interview. While there are some standard questions you will get during most sales interviews, many sales recruiters seek to catch sales rep candidates off-guard by asking difficult and challenging questions.

One thing you may get asked is to teach the interviewer something. You may be asked to teach them about something they request or an idea of your own. You should especially be prepared to answer a question like this if part of your role will include training and teaching.

Here we provide you with some insights into how to approach answering this difficult sales interview question.

Have Different Answers for “Teach Me Something”

There are many ways to pose this request. You may be asked to teach the interviewer about:

1. A topic they provide (likely company-related)
2. A topic of your choosing
3. A product or service the company offers
4. Something completely unrelated to the interview

Why Do Interviewers Ask Candidates to Teach Them Something?

Interviewers ask these types of questions for a number of reasons:

1. They want to see how you will perform under pressure
2. The interviewer wants to see how creative you are
3. They want to see how well you explain concepts
4. They the interviewer to see if you are engaging

How to Answer “Teach Me Something”

1. Keep it simple:

Avoid choosing a complex topic. Choose a simple topic or concept that is easy to explain and will be easy for the interviewer to understand.

2. Make it fun:

Making the answer fun will help to engage the interviewer. Keep the answer lighthearted. Remember, the content is not as important as the delivery and showing your communication and teaching skills.

3. Make it easy to understand:

Have a well-structured and well thought out answer. You don’t need to go into great detail.

4. Choose a topic you know well:

The more you know about a topic, the better. If you have the option, choose a topic related to a hobby or personal interest. This will also give the interviewer some insight into your personality.

More Recruiter Advice to Have Successful Sales Job Interviews

Get more sales job interview tips. Check out these blog posts:

Clever Ways to Answer “Give Me an Example of When You Thought Outside the Box to Solve a Problem”

3 Creative Ways to Prep for a Mock Sales Presentation in a Job Interview

Strong Ways to Answer “What is Your Biggest Weakness” in a 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.