The
interviewer will observe your personality, people skills and of course
your ability to communicate. That is what I look for when I am hiring
sales people. Here are some basic questions which could be asked of you.
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF
You should have a prepared response to the frequently asked question
“Tell me about yourself.” Your ability to recite your background in a
brief 120-second format is vital to the interview process. The
two-minute bio offers a quick peek into your background, strengths, and
career direction.
While every personal bio is unique, the traditional format looks something like this:
1. Begin with a brief remark about your background, such as your schooling, hometown, or other items of interest.
2. State your most recent employer, job title, and years with the company.
3. Offer one or two sentences about your job responsibilities.
4. Mention one or two special accomplishments in your most recent positions, including skill strengths.
5. Refer to prior positions to indicate career progression.
6. Indicate career goals.
Rehearse your 2-minute bio until it flows naturally according to the guidelines above.
WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?
The employer wants to hear your interpretation of the important aspects
of the job. If you spend your interview for a retail sales position
extolling your virtues as a computer expert you aren’t likely to
convince the interviewer that you have the skills needed to sell
merchandise.
This is an opportunity question: an opportunity to tell how well your
skills match the company’s needs. If the search is for a super
salesperson, tell how well you have honed your skills in persuasion,
communication, and perseverance. Give an example of a time that you made
a successful sale, or that you convinced someone to do something, or
when tenacity paid off.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR OUR COMPANY?
This is where your research of the company comes in. In today’s world of
instant information, we can no longer get away with going into an
interview without first having researched the company. The company in
turn wants to know if you have done your homework.
This question allows you to show off the research you have done on the
organization. Tell the interviewer you like the company’s size,
location, aggressive market stance, competitive thinking and creative
business policies. It is perfectly acceptable to admit that you looked
up the company on the Internet or in the reference section of the
library. This shows that you know how to find answers to questions and
arm yourself with information.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?
The employer wants to know if you have ambition and realistic,
structured goals. The company also wants to know whether you plan to
stay for a solid block of time. Occasionally an interviewer unearths
some important information regarding a potential employee’s longevity by
asking this question. If you plan to go to graduate school, take a
vacation tour, or move to a distant state, do not mention these plans to
the interviewer under any circumstances. You will be considered a
hiring risk no matter how strong your skills.
Remember that the main concern throughout the interview is to fill the
open position with someone who will be successful in it. Say something
like, “First, I’d like to gain a solid foundation in the position you
are considering me for, so that I am effective and successful in it. I’m
sure that as I continue to grow, there will be opportunities within the
company to offer me upward professional growth and new challenges.”
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESSES?
It is unlikely that most interviewers are straining their ears to hear
your list of weaknesses. They simply want to see how you handle the
question.
Some job candidates can get away with an answer like,” While I certainly
have weaknesses, I don’t believe I have any that are significant to the
position. As you’ve described the position to me, I think it would
allow me to call upon my strengths.”
If you don’t feel you could pull that off, name a weakness that is
first, not closely related to the position for which you are
interviewing, and second, a technical skill that you can easily learn
rather than a shortcoming in your personality, which is very difficult
to change. Then tell the interviewer how you are working to improve your
weak spot.
TELL ME ABOUT A PROBLEM YOU’VE FACED AND HOW YOU HANDLED IT
They want assess your analytical skills as well as your ability to relate a delicate situation with tact and diplomacy.
To prevent yourself from stumbling and fumbling for a good response,
prepare one before you set foot in the interview. Your answer should
involve a clear presentation of the problem, the steps you took to
correct the problem, and the results of your actions. Remember to keep
it to less than two minutes.
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST STRENGTHS?
The interviewer is hoping to hear that your strengths match the needs of
the job. He or she also wants to know how you present yourself and will
watch warily for overconfidence, boastfulness, dishonesty, and lack of
assertiveness.
This is an opportunity to highlight your strong points, so make the most
of it. Speak of one or two strengths and then offer examples of how you
have used these strengths.
WHAT INTERESTS YOU MOST ABOUT THIS JOB/
The interviewer is looking for your areas of enthusiasm – where you will
put the most energy into the job. Make sure your strong areas match the
needs of the company’s needs.
Answer this question with a question. Ask the interviewer to clarify the
position for you before you answer, “so that I can be sure not miss any
key aspects of the job.” Then match your interest areas with the key
components of the job.
Peace and blessings!
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