Top 10 interview questions in sales hiring

Sales hiring is tough. Use these 10 sales interview questions to dig into a person's motivations and tenacity in sales.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Where questions stand in sales hiring
1:19 1: Why sales?
2:30 2: Why do you want to sell this product?
4:31 3: What do you know about our customers?
5:58 4: Tell me about our competitors
7:02 5: Tell me about the last time you were stressed out
10:06 6: Tell me the last time you took a risk that didn't pan out
11:24 7: The last time you lost a deal, why do you think they said no?
12:22 8: Tell me the last time you won a deal and why
13:05 9: What was the last sales strategy or tactic you learned?
14:17 10: What do you think it will take to sell me on you?
16:25 How to use these questions in sales hiring
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[@mattwood1977]

“You wanna get some one who can do it with either strength and honesty or if they bullshit at least bullshit well enough that you probably could by it...” This got me

[@Dwayndibb]

One question that nearly always is asked."What do you do when you are behind on your target? or its "Friday and your behind on weeks target?". Now that's a tough one. You can't say "I'm never behind target". What about say "work extra hours, work Saturday and study your pitch to see if its good enough". I have been asked this in many sales interview pity it's not in your top 10 as it's a real curve ball. Honestly because I know there is salespeople who are never behind target.

[@robertordonez9242]

These interview questions suck, it seems like you’re trying to draw away your candidates versus genuinely trying to get to know they’re behaviors. Constantly putting a candidate under pressure is only going to get you half assed bullshit answers when the candidate is nervous. Most salespeople aren’t nervous when they sell. You make it seem like you expect them to sell your product without any product knowledge. There’s only so much a salesman can do when selling in the dark.

[@kbtitan2464]

Well it's up to the candidate to do research beforehand

[@stnkold316]

Part of selling is to have a little improv skill

[@juliocarreno1982]

Great video !!!! Do u have one with the answer’s ...!!!! Would be helpful

[@BevenSpangenberg]

Great video and I was looking for this but I never searched for it, things come at the right time! Well played...

[@closecrm]

Happy to hear that! Thanks for commenting!

[@CA-gc8me]

Thanks, we will use several question in next week as we have over 10 sales rep to hire so :)

[@bbd3939]

Excellent information...very insightful and thorough...thank you!!!

[@kevinpheley574]

These are really solid questions, pleasantly surprised. Thank you.

[@closecrm]

Glad to hear that! Thank you for commenting!

[@kevinpheley574]

@@closecrm My new sales guy just started today. Keep you posted on the success.

[@mildsauce5019]

This video should have WAY more views.

[@branwenn001]

Hey Steli, I stumbled upon this video while preparing for my next interview, loved it and wanted to let you know it`s really interesting and helpful! Greetings from Zürich :)

[@closecrm]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!

[@lucianobenites4728]

Did you get job?

[@user-ly3cs3ue1y]

Can you give advice on internal hire interviews? I've read online that the hiring managers press you more and I first hand experienced that. They did things that I've never experienced in an interview such as talk over you to see how I would react, downgrade my current role in the company, challenge my thinking as they didn't want to hear about my current role but my life long experiences and it's potential impact on my sales approach and thus forth. It was a great learning experience but I would love to have input from another sales professional.

[@cedricblondel1071]

Thank you so much, this video helped me to prepare for my interviews, that was brilliant !

[@closecrm]

Glad you found this information valuable! Thanks for commenting!

[@cedricblondel1071]

Actually, i just got the job ! My first sales position : inside sales account manager 😀, so i will watch everything from you! Big thanks

[@closecrm]

That's awesome! Best of luck in your new role! Thanks for watching!

[@phaneendrapathuri8086]

@@cedricblondel1071 please share the question that were asked in interview it would be very helpful

[@TheMrwilliams2u]

Only been asked 2 of these questions ever.. these are great but not asked most of the time

[@richardbaxter7343]

Great Video. My favourite final question is to ask to prove what they claim to be their track record. It usually sorts the men from the boys.

[@closecrm]

Interesting... Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!

[@walidbahhur4198]

11. Do you have a problem lying to customers?

[@brendi_peace]

Hi there!, do you have a video with practical tests for a hiring process for a sales position? I think, as you said, we need to see how they "play" before hiring 😊

[@thandonebe481]

This would be helpful.

[@successfullife7689]

I am preparing for my next Interview, I don't have questions to post here, but I was thinking about some creative answers to the famous question "sell me this pen" : ) Cheers

[@capgaming69]

Successful Life use emotions. What kind of impression does using a cheap beat up pen leave when closing a deal in front of someone?

[@zamokwakhekhumalo5407]

i used this today amazing staf

[@NikunjGevariya]

Amazing video. It is helping me to prepare for my interview. Surprisingly this video has less likes and comments than it dissolves.

[@mdougf]

Very helpful-- thank you!

[@jjmah7]

If you close your eyes and imagine he’s a young Arnold Schwarzenegger, you can’t unhear it

[@dad2dan404]

Thank you for the insight. Very interesting.

[@closecrm]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!

[@PickupTruckFinanceUK]

Thanks for the help

[@tashabrevard1865]

This was very informative

[@closecrm]

Happy you found this information valuable! Thanks for commenting!

[@rossellasquillace9397]

Useful and great video, thanks!

[@sasidharan4771]

😊

[@closecrm]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!

[@hulkman129]

So you gonna do good in interviews now 😉

[@timfreeeed]

14:27 last question is 100% suitable for fake agent. after that the music starts

[@after1001]

Bout to use these, ty

[@closecrm]

That's awesome! Thanks for commenting!

[@djsyclone]

With questions like that, you better pay real well.

[@closecrm]

:)

[@djsyclone]

@@closecrm I take it back, this is actually really helpful

[@mariolbieb2737]

Hello, great video and very helpful but it took you 1:20m to get to the point.

[@closecrm]

Happy to hear you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!

[@sasidharan4771]

Nice

[@closecrm]

Thank you! :)

[@vadimcriciman]

Water

[@thatguymar3383]

Do I need a high school diploma

[@picklepirate]

Thepurple 9 yes. I’m job searching and about to go to a sales interview and every job requires a diploma or GED. If you can’t get the most basic form of education, how can they trust you to do your job?

[@micahfranklin4267]

How about them falcons caw caw caw

[@teenytinytoons]

No one wants to sell your or anyone else’s product. It’s just a job. Of course we are applying to multiple jobs.

[@rustymu87]

I like your eyes man

[@closecrm]

Thanks!

[@bumblebeebee0]

Your teath are super white! 🙃

[@closecrm]

Thanks! :)

[@lucianobenites4728]

Observant

[@amarg959]

Bullshit questions, get bullshit answers , you’re missing on a lot of potential great sales people by asking these type of questions

[@micahfranklin4267]

U really need a haircut but good vid