Organizations manufacture goods and products to be ultimately sold to their customers. Selling goods is an art, and involves a lot of technical skills, high persuasion levels, and excellent communication skills. Therefore, it is a necessity for business organizations to hire and appoint a qualified professional having an excellent ability to sell the goods of the organization to its customers. This qualified professional is none other than a sales executive, who is appointed at various levels as per the hierarchy and organizational structure of an organization. The need and demand of a sales manager are huge, without which the company might not be able to sell its entire production and would always carry a higher inventory cost.
Best 21 Interview Questions To Study
1) How Effective Are Your Presentation Skills?
Being in the profession you would be required to prepare a presentation for your seniors and bosses from time to time. Persuade your interviewer so that he or she believes that you have excellent presentation skills.
Sample Answer
Presentation skills are necessary and vital in the life of a sales manager. I believe, I am in possession of some adorable presentation skills and can deliver effective and fluent speeches along with it. On the technical front, I have an excellent knowledge of MS PowerPoint and Advanced excel so as to prepare detailed, well-researched, and engrossing sales presentations.
2) Develop A Storyline For The Parents Of A Toddler?
This question tests your knowledge of practical working procedures.
Sample Answer
A toddler is basically in need of toys, diapers, and most importantly love. Hence, while creating a story, these things would most certainly be included. Suppose, I need to sell baby diapers then I would create a homey setting, hire a senior female model and a toddler. They would certainly be putting on display the love and affection of a mother and her child. The child would cry due to the bad quality of the existing diaper it is using, and our own product could be advertised as a solution.
3) How Important Is Customer Satisfaction In Enhancing Sales Of A Particular Product?
This question tests your knowldge of the core aspects of marketing and sales.
Sample Answer
Customers are the kings and serve as the most basic reason for the existence of several prominent organizations operating across the world. If the customers are satisfied, this not only helps in enhancing the goodwill and reputation of the company in the market but also helps in free marketing of the products of the company. Hence, customer satisfaction is of prime importance.
4) Name At Least Two Sales Management Software?
This question tests whether or not you are tech-savvy and have knowledge of leading sales management software.
Sample Answer
I am aware of the various sales management software, but would like to quote two software, upon which I possess an excellent grip, these are:
- Zoho CRM and
- Teamgate
5) How Do You Prioritize Several Tasks?
There would always be situations wherein you would be required to prioritize between different tasks. Share your genuine strategy with your employer.
Sample Answer
In order to effectively prioritize, I always prefer to create a list of tasks to be performed by me during the day, based on the level of difficulty. Most difficult tasks are placed at the top, followed by the least difficult tasks. This way I am able to complete and execute all my tasks in a time-bound manner.
6) What Is The Importance Of Sales?
This question tests your knowledge and understanding of your own profession and its relevance.
Sample Answer
If an organization, does not involve itself in giving effect to sales, then it would most probably, be cleaning the dust off its shelves full of inventory. Sales are the essence of a manufacturing organization as goods and products are manufactured for the people, hence they must reach people. This journey of a particular product from the warehouse of the company to the houses of its customers is effected appropriately through the sales. Hence, efforts must be laid so as to effectively sell a product.
7) How Good Are You In Taking Orders?
Being a territorial sales manager, who is most commonly the area head of a particular region, you have to take orders and instructions from your seniors and bosses. It is a mandatory requirement and you must convince your interviewer that you are superior in performing such a task.
Sample Answer
In my humble opinion, I am an expert in both understanding the guidelines, instructions, or orders and executing them as per the expectations. Be assured that I would never falter, in taking orders from my seniors and would never show any strand of arrogance, which is the primary reason for a conflict in opinions. I have excellent active listening skills, which I can use to completely understand the organization’s expectations.
8) Can You Handle Stressful Working Conditions?
Being a territorial sales manager, you would be handling an entire territory. Hence, you are expected to work for long hours. Answer this question in a positive manner.
Sample Answer
Yes sir, absolutely. I have the ability to handle high work pressures by working for a strong stretch of hours with minimum supervision and guidance. I would always be there till the closing time of the office and would never work as per the watch. Further, I have excellent physical fitness and high concentration levels, which further makes me a candidate, to handle high workloads efficiently.
9) What Is The Importance Of Data In The Life Of A Sales Manager?
Analyzing data is essential and is a key element in identifying as well as judging the needs and preferences of the customers of a particular region. Hence, always answer this question in a positive manner.
Sample Answer
Relevant data is very important in the life of a sales manager, as it serves as the basis and the starting point for evaluation purposes. Using the data related to customer’s preferences, tastes and behavior an appropriate marketing strategy can be designed, which can ultimately help an organization to increase its sales and revenue.
10) How Will You Handle An Overbudget?
Overbudget refers to a situation in which the allocated budget of the organization is exceeded and crossed. Suppose, you are offered $100,000 in order to advertise and boost the sales of a product, but your marketing strategy is costing $150,000. This is termed as an overbudget of $50,000. Efforts must be laid to avoid such a situation.
Sample Answer
Money is the most essential element in designing advertisement campaigns. An organization can spend millions in a matter of few minutes. Going over budget simply shows the lack of understanding and negligence of a sales manager. It should be the primary responsibility of a sales manager to design marketing strategies that are contained within the budget of the organization. However, in my opinion, it is satisfactory, if the budget is crossed due to some unexplainable or unexpected situations such as natural calamities, unstable political situations, medical emergencies, etc. Be assured, I strictly adhere to the budgetary needs of the organization and would never cross them.
11) Rate Your Leadership Qualities On A Scale Of 1 to 5?
A territorial sales manager is a position of influence and garners huge responsibilities and accountability. You are certainly required to lead a team of young sales professionals, for which you need excellent leadership ability.
Sample Answer
I completely understand the relevance and importance of this question. Being a sales manager, in most probable situations, I will be required to lead a team of young sales professionals. I am absolutely ready for the same. I rate myself a 4.8 in leadership, as I have the ability to give clear and crisp influential speeches with the ability to create effective marketing strategies.
12) Tell Me How Will You Sell A Racing Car To A Senior Citizen?
This a tricky interview question, which is primarily associated with judging your body language, presentation skills, and level of intelligence and wits. Answer this question with a positive frame of mind.
Sample Answer
I believe senior citizens are in most need of a racing car, as they are into their second childhood. In order to give effect to the sale, I would first of all start with the comfort and luxury that the car has to offer like I would explain the comfort of the leather seats or maybe the beauty of the polished wooden deck. I would certainly come to the speed factor since it is a racing car, but that would be my last ace.
13) How Will You Handle A Less Motivated Sales Personnel Working In Your Team?
In order to succeed as a group, it is necessary that every employee of the organization works hard with utmost passion and zeal. Hence, always answer this question, in a way, so as to fetch the performance from even a discontent employee.
Sample Answer
It is common for employees of an organization to become monotonous and boring after working on the tasks consistently, which ultimately leads to their downfall in terms of work and performance. In order to handle such a situation, I always motivate them with lucrative monetary benefits as well as recognition. A dipping sales personnel is always under my lens, and I always maintain a keen eye on his or her individual performance. Initially, it is my habit to warn them 2 to 3 times, and after that, I immediately report and complain about them to my seniors.
14) What Are The Various Factors In Your Opinion, That Influence The Formation Of An Excellent Marketing Strategy?
Territorial Sales managers are tasked with improving the sales in the region allotted to them, and for this, they are required to formulate an excellent marketing strategy. You are expected to share your strategy with your interviewer. The effectiveness of the strategy has the ability to impress your interviewer and eventually increase your selection chances.
Sample Answer
There are various factors that influence the creation of an influential marketing strategy, which includes:
- Identification of the class of customers to be tapped, primarily dependent on the product manufactured
- Creation of attractive and engaging advertisement banners and storylines
- Use the power of social media to promote as well as create a buzz for the product
- Use loyalty programs, rewards, and cashback, so as to make your product more visible and popular
15) What Motivates You To Work?
There are several motivational factors for different individuals that entirely depend on their circumstances, living conditions, and situations experienced by them in their daily lives. These factors motivate an employee to work hard and push their limits. An interviewer is always interested in understanding your personal motivational factors.
Sample Answer
Being a person from a not so influential financial background, money has always been the primary motivational factor for me, which forces me to perform in an adept manner. Further, apart from money, my desire to continuously improve myself, and advance my career by securing a higher managerial position, also motivates me to work hard and push my limits.
16) What Is The Best Way To Understand Territorial Customer’s Preferences?
Understanding a customer and his or her psychological aspects is one of the most vital tasks of a sales manager. Hence, efforts must be laid to have a complete understanding of the same. As a sales manager, you ought to have some strategies in your mind, just share them with your interviewer. Avoid generic answers.
Sample Answer
Being a sales manager, our entire career revolves around understanding the product and its possible customers. It is necessary to understand the attitude and mindset of a customer, which is possible, through the following manners:
- Nowadays, almost all the complaints of the customers are recorded. In order to understand the preferences and attitude of the customers of a territory, it is necessary to listen to their problems and complaints attentively.
- An active understanding of the shopping habits of the customers also helps to have an insight into the minds of the customers of a particular region or territory.
- Conducting surveys has been proven as the most influential manner to record the customer’s preferences, which can be analyzed so as to draw conclusions and results.
17) Have You Applied With Our Rival Companies?
This is a tricky interview question, that must be handled in an efficient manner. Every interviewer understands that you would have applied with other organizations so as to increase your selection chances. there is no benefit to answer this question in negative unless you have genuinely not applied anywhere else.
Sample Answer
To be honest, Yes sir, I have applied with our organizations as well. I did so primarily to increase the probability of my selection and ensure that I am employed somewhere, which is possible only if I apply more and more with several employers. However, I am deeply interested and committed to working with your organization and looking forward to kickstarting.
18) When Can You Start?
It is common for interviewers to ask about your availability during an interview session itself. This question in no way guaranteed your selection and you are requested to keep your emotions and aspirations controlled. Just reply in a genuine manner.
Sample Answer
- For Employed Individuals: Being an employee working actively for ABC corporation, I express my disability to start immediately. However, being desperate for a job change, I will send a notice to them within the next 2 days. It is the organization’s policy to serve you a relieving letter within the next 10 days. Hence, considering 2 days of margin, I assure you that I will be able to start on or after (___mention the date of your joining_____).
- For Unemployed/Fresher Individuals: Since I am not working anywhere and have no prior commitments to fulfill, I assure you that I can join this prestigious organization immediately.
19) Why You Chose Us?
This is a common interview question that enables an interviewer to become aware of your level of seriousness and commitment towards the organization you sought to work with.
Sample Answer
Being an excellent organization with a considerable market share and more than 2 million active and loyal customers, it would be no surprise that you would soon acquire a pole position in your respective field. There is a huge reputation of the organization in the general market, and the work culture deployed is hugely admired. I really want to be a part of the workforce of such a prestigious organization and wish to advance my career with you. Further, lucrative salaries and adorable incentives, entice me to join this organization.
20) What Can Be Your Biggest Advantage For Us?
This is a common interview question through which an interviewer wants to know your level of self-awareness and self-recognition. This question must be answered after conducting thorough scrutiny of the self and must not be skipped at any cost.
Sample Answer
I believe my ability to work for long hours throughout the day, with minimum supervision and influence, is the biggest advantage and ability that I can offer to the organization. Such an incredible quality of mine empowers me to achieve the organizational targets and goals in a time-bound manner and serve the organization with all my zeal. Further, I am a hardworking individual rearing to work for your prestigious organization. Once hired I can prove to be an asset to the organization.
21) Do You Have Any Questions For Us?
It is a common practice of interviewers to ask this question at the fag end of an interview session. This question gives an opportunity to the candidates to ask a few questions from the interviewer in regards to the organization, the job profile, the job description, the duties to be performed, etc. A candidate must prepare these questions beforehand. Further, one must try to never skip such an important question, as doing such would simply show that you are underprepared and do not value the position offered.
Sample Questions
- What are the various health benefits offered by the organization to its employees?
- How do you calculate leave compensation?
- How many paid leaves are available in a year?
- Do you provide paternity/maternity benefits to its employees?
- What are the various incentives extended by the organization to its meritorious employees?
- Please explain in brief the measures adopted by the organization to safeguard its employees from possible harassment and ragging at the workplace?
Download the list of questions in .PDF format, to practice with them later, or to use them on your interview template (for Territory Sales Manager interviews):
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162520312737
- http://197.156.112.159/bitstream/handle/123456789/1455/stephen-p-robbins-organizational-behavior-full.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
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