TOP questions for a sales manager interview

In this article, we will talk about the questions that should be asked during an interview for a candidate applying for the position of a sales manager.

Every position for which recruiters are selecting a candidate requires a specific set of questions. Naturally, technical recruiters should have a broad understanding of the IT field. Non-technical roles also have their specificities that need to be taken into account.

These questions can be divided into several categories:

 

• Personal questions
• Questions assessing professional skills
• Questions to evaluate leadership qualities and soft skills

Personal questions

Personal questions in an interview are designed to get to know the candidate and understand whether they will fit into the company’s culture. They allow for the revelation of a candidate’s personal qualities and their impact on work. This category also includes topics related to work organization and work ethics.

• Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

The answer to this question reveals a lot about the interviewee. It indicates what information the candidate is willing to share about themselves. From the response, the recruiter can preliminarily assess whether the person is suitable for the position or not.

• Why do you want to be a sales manager?

The answer to this question can help the interviewer uncover the motivation behind choosing this particular position. Since the role of a sales manager often doesn’t pay as highly as a sales representative but requires a more responsible approach, it’s important to understand why the candidate wants this role specifically.

• What motivates you?

Motivation is a crucial factor in successful sales management. Therefore, this question is essential for assessing the candidate. It’s good if the interviewee can not only answer the question but also provide examples from their previous work experience and discuss what motivated them there.

• What responsibilities were challenging for you in your previous job, and how did you handle them?

The candidate should demonstrate their ability to handle professional tasks. The recruiter needs to understand how a potential employee is accustomed to solving problems and whether this approach is suitable for working with the company’s teams.
The answer to this question can disappoint a candidate who wants to emphasize their successes rather than discuss difficulties. Nevertheless, the willingness to share a problem and its resolution is essential for the employer.

• How can your strengths and weaknesses help or hinder you in the position of a sales manager

Interviewers want to know in which areas the candidate is confident and which areas may need improvement. It’s important for the candidate to not only showcase their strengths but also acknowledge their weaknesses and demonstrate how they address them to ensure they do not hinder their performance.

 

Questions for Assessing Work Skills

This category of questions allows for a deeper exploration of the specific skills possessed by the candidate. These questions for a sales manager are specialized and reveal the candidate’s qualifications. From questions about how to hire and train new salespeople to how to deal with difficult team members, these questions are designed to determine whether the candidate is capable of successfully handling the position.

• What skills should a sales representative possess?

A candidate for sales manager should be able to describe the skills and qualities of their ideal salesperson. It’s a positive sign if, in addition to this, the candidate can also talk about potential red flags – qualities that should not be present in a candidate for this position.

• How will you prepare a new sales representative for the job?

The recruiter should understand whether the candidate has experience in training new employees and, if so, how they will do it. The amount of detail in the response indicates that the candidate understands the importance of training and supporting new sales department employees. Training plans should include setting goals for new team members, providing them with the necessary tools, introducing them to key people in the company, and so on.

• How do you approach goal setting?

An essential part of a sales manager’s responsibilities is setting achievable goals for the team. Any recruiter wants to know if the candidate has a reliable system for setting goals that motivate team members and enhance their effectiveness. This skill is crucial for a sales manager’s success as a leader.

• What do you know about sales forecasting, and what tools do you use?

Accurate sales forecasting is crucial for any organization. The team relies on these figures for long-term strategy and expansion plans. Recruiters need to know if the candidate can do this. The ability to analyze data and make accurate forecasts based on it is a key skill for a sales manager.

 

Leadership Style Questions

Leadership style questions aim to uncover the management methods employed by the candidate. They should take into account specific tasks and situations that the candidate encounters in the role of a sales manager, including areas such as motivation, goal achievement, recognition of effectiveness, and conflict management.

 

Leadership style questions help assess whether the candidate’s management methods align with the company’s needs.

• How to Motivate a Team?

A significant portion of sales managers inspire their sales teams. A candidate for a sales manager position should always have a good understanding of their team members and know how to motivate them to achieve goals.

 

Hiring managers want to know that the sales manager they are hiring recognizes the importance of this area and understands the nuances of working with a diverse group of individuals, each with different personalities and potential.

• How would you describe your management style?

The candidate should describe their leadership style in their own words. The choice of words and the examples provided demonstrate how well potential candidates fit the role of a sales manager.

 

Candidates should consider the organization’s culture in their response. The leadership style of a leader should align with the company’s management style, especially when the sales manager position serves as a stepping stone to other leadership roles within the organization.

• How do you set goals, track progress, and ensure productivity for your team?

Goal setting is a crucial part of a sales manager’s role, and it’s essential to have a plan for it. Additionally, the candidate should have a method for goal tracking. Measuring performance in goal achievement is a significant motivator for most salespeople.

• Tell me how you handle conflicts?

It’s important that a sales manager can resolve conflicts within the framework of the company’s approved methods and practices. A great response to this question includes an example of successfully resolving a conflict situation in a previous job. The response demonstrates the candidate’s leadership style, which should also align with the company’s culture.

 

How to Conduct an Interview with a Sales Manager (Tips for Recruiters)

Typically, hiring time is valuable, so recruiters often need to hurry to find a suitable candidate as quickly as possible. However, rushing during the hiring process can lead to selecting an unsuitable employee. Therefore, it’s important to focus on five key areas.

 

Interview Checklist for a Sales Manager:

 

• Candidate’s Personal Qualities: from who they are and what motivates them, to why they want to take on this position.
• Candidate’s Skill Sets, including what they look for in new employees, how they train salespeople, set goals, as well as interpersonal communication and management skills.
• Candidate’s Management Approach, covering how they motivate people, their management style, and approach to team progress.
• Candidate’s Work Style, including approaches to reporting, forecasting, and time management.
• Candidate’s Actions and Reactions in areas such as decision-making, project preparation, and personnel management.

 

How to Ace a Sales Manager Interview (Tips for Candidates)

The interview is a crucial moment in the hiring process. If you’re a candidate looking to secure a position as a sales manager, you should prepare thoroughly for it. Good preparation will help you feel less apprehensive about tough questions and increase your chances of succeeding in the interview.

How to Succeed in a Sales Manager Job Interview:

• Prepare concise yet comprehensive answers to common open-ended interview questions.
• Gather multiple examples from real work experience.
• Prepare responses that involve work methods, including step-by-step plans, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Find ways to talk positively about negative work experiences and problem-solving.
• Familiarize yourself with the culture and mission of the company where the interview is scheduled.
• Be able to demonstrate the differences between sales and management skills.
• Be capable of explaining how your strengths can benefit the company and your plan for addressing your weaknesses.

Why It’s Important to Prepare for an Interview

An interview provides an opportunity for both the recruiter and the candidate to learn as much as possible about each other. Hiring managers want the best candidate to make their job easier, and candidates want to secure a job to improve their lives. Because the interview holds significant importance for both parties, preparation is crucial.

Recruiters should have a clear understanding of the type of candidate they need, the essential skills required, and what they are willing to train. It is also vital that the candidate shares the company’s values and fits not only professionally but also as an individual.

 

Candidates who want to successfully pass an interview for a sales manager position should also not neglect preparation. If you are genuinely interested in this position, it’s worth finding out in advance what questions are commonly asked in such interviews and preparing possible answers for each of them. However, it’s not advisable to embellish the truth; if you don’t align with the company’s values and ideas, it won’t be comfortable for you or your team to work together.