This question allows you to know if they are accurate about the company’s weaknesses. It will be easier for your candidate to be candid with you at this point. This question can tell you how much your sales candidate has read up on their roles before attending the interview.

An ideal interviewing situation should consist of is multiple separate interviews, where different interviewers get to debrief before a final chat with the candidate. Both of these allow the interviewers to discuss personality traits they’ve noticed and analyze various answers and behaviors from the candidate. The importance of technical skills can not be overstated in an SDR role. The presence of technical skills in a candidate means they have the drive to develop a skill beyond an initial understanding.

A Remote Sales Development Representative

This strategy shows the hiring manager immediately how someone performs under pressure. It also gives insight into the amount of empathy they possess, which is an important trait for star sellers. You don’t want to say something as banal and trite as, “I try to learn from my mistakes” because that doesn’t tell the interviewer very much about your character in the workplace. No one likes it when all of their hard work doesn’t materialize into anything worthwhile; such is the world of a sales representative. Most likely, the interview is trying to determine your worldview on what it takes to have a successful career.

• The candidate should convey a clear belief of the importance of data in the sales process.
• The candidate can ask questions about their workflow or suggest a common problem, like ballpoint pen rollers sticking in the middle of notetaking.
• While some of this is done through email, the phone can be also be a primary tool.
• The key approach is to always look for all three traits of a team player.
• If the response to this interview question is calm and collected, with assured confidence to try again to do better—you may see the perfect SDR student in action.
• Quality salespeople will identify their limits and share what they expect to be briefed on before entering sales calls.
• This article provides a list of must-ask sales interview questions that help reveal candidates’ personalities so you can find the best person, or people, to join your team.

They want to know if you are coming from a similar or very different sales environment. Our SDRs set 20 meetings a month, but when I interview someone who sets 6 a month , I know we might have a bigger gap to fill. A natural sense of curiosity is a critical criteria for being a strong seller, and wanting to learn about technology that helps us improve shows that curiosity. It also shows that as buyer needs and preferences change, you are ready to meet them where they are.

And they also want to see if you can hit critical and relevant points of a story in a short time. “I’ve always been a very competitive person and love a good challenge. Even early on, in my schooling days, I would compete in all academic Sales Development Representative job programs . I loved the process of researching, preparing, and the thrill of competing for the #1 spot. Your mission to change the way companies engage with customers throughout their lifecycle really resonates with me, too.

Ask candid career questions

Your candidate must have experience in managing and guiding other team members. This question can help you build a better understanding of how they might be able to guide the members of your team. Your outside sales professional might have a fantastic professional history, filled with lots of success! By posing this question, you open up a door to learn more about what they’ve achieved, and whether this is the level of performance that you’re hoping for.

While compensation is important to every candidate, it should not be the only driver. A thoughtful answer shows that the candidate is fulfilled by this role—beyond a simple paycheck. Before a candidate walks through your door, you expect them to know at least your company’s name and a general understanding of the services you provide. If they know more, then it gives them some extra points for curiosity. Find, interview, and hire exceptional salespeople who will exceed quota every month. Listen for answers that suggest the candidate has done research about your industry, your product, and its competitors.

Download this checklist complete with all of the best questions to ask during an interview with a sales candidate. Sales reps who are relatively new to the world of sales might be quicker to give up on prospects or get unmotivated after losing a sure deal. Another question that is almost impossible to fake an answer to.

This could involve using tools like Trello or Asana to manage their tasks, or using a specific method for determining which leads or tasks are the most important at any given time. When you hire an SDR, you trust their ability to judge and evaluate whether a lead becomes a prospect — and the questions they ask are a major part of their success in the sales cycle. You want to hire someone you can trust to help boost your sales statistics, and you’ll lose a lot of time and money trying to turn a phone-shy SDR into a prospect hunter.

Interview questions for experienced sellers

During the interview, you’ll need to do more than simply respond to questions. Hiring managers will expect you to show that you’re an effective salesperson, too. That means showing the interviewer that you’ve got the sales skills and experience that they are seeking.

This question is great as it can help draw out humility in a candidate and give insight into how they handle rejection as well as challenges. Ever heard the expression, “it’s not what you say it’s how you say it”? In an SDR position, you generate demand in your solutions by being the subject matter expert. When a prospect has concerns about your offering or is not sure how this will be a solution they can leverage, they will start throwing out objections. Your job is to shift the confidence from you back to your prospect.

You can use their response to this question to determine whether or not they’re a good fit, from this perspective. But before we take a dive into the role-specific interview questions, let’s first take a quick look at some of the common sales interview questions you can always https://wizardsdev.com/ ask. No matter which sales role you’re interviewing for, make sure you include these eight must-have sales interview questions. Follow this guide to learn more about what a BDR is, what business development representatives do, and why they’re important for sales teams.

How would you initiate a conversation when cold-calling potential customers?

She didn’t provide any role insight at all either and I asked about 17 questions. Then she asked one question, Why do you want to leave your currently role? I said I’m seeking better employment opportunities and a career fit for me as my company isn’t ethically the best place to work at. Keep in mind, this company is in CCPA law suit, class action law suits, etc.

When the candidate describes their sales process, assess if it fits your product or service. But even if it doesn’t, detailed responses can show how dedicated and disciplined the candidate is. The following questions address the foundational skills a sales rep needs to succeed. Bear in mind that a strong candidate doesn’t need a perfect answer for every question. Instead, use these questions to see where the interviewee’s strengths and weaknesses lie. After sifting through resumes and cover letters, learning a candidate’s personality from just a 30-minute interview may feel like a tall order.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was wondering what had changed because she was initially receptive. I researched the industry and business itself and didn’t see any news, so the next time we spoke I focused on building the relationship rather than the sale. I learned a little more about her and connected over our shared favorite TV show.

InterviewHad the opportunity to interview for the role over a 3 weeks span. The one constant throughout the duration of the process was the recruiter Brad Holman. From the start, it was evident that he was deeply invested in the process as much as I was. Always present, willing to talk and stayed in constant communication – including the weekends.

Then, tell a story with specific examples and keep it relevant to the sales role you’re applying for. They want to be sure they are bringing someone onto the team who knows how to resolve conflict productively. Know the qualities specific to that industry and speak to why they interest you. For example, tech is known to be fast-paced with lots of growth opportunities, while pharmaceutical sales is more relationship-driven. This question is the hiring manager offering you a chance to highlight your passion and show you’re a trustworthy person. They want to know that you understand what you would be selling, and that you have an interest in it.