Sales Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

In a sales interview you'll almost always get the same questions, and what's being evaluated isn't whether you know the "right answer," but how you communicate, how you listen, and whether you can sell something to someone who isn't making it easy for you. Here are the 12 most common questions for sales roles, SDRs, BDRs, or telemarketing positions, what employers are looking for with each one, and example answers you can adapt.

First: what they're actually evaluating in a sales interview

• How you communicate: clarity, confidence, and not rambling.
• Whether you listen: if you answer what they ask or just deliver a prepared speech.
• Your relationship with "no": in sales you hear way more "no" than "yes."
• Whether you're driven by targets: numbers, commissions, challenges.

Keep that in mind and the questions make a lot more sense.

Questions about you

1. "Tell me about yourself"

What they're looking for: whether you can introduce yourself in a minute, the same way you'll do with a customer.

Example: "I've spent three years in customer-facing roles in hospitality, where I learned how to handle difficult customers and sell the daily special even when nobody asked for it. Now I want to move into sales professionally, which is why I've been training in prospecting and how to run a call, and this role fits what I'm looking for because…".

Structure: where you're coming from, what you've learned that applies to sales, and why this role. Don't just recite your CV.

2. "Why do you want to work in sales?"

What they're looking for: that you're not here just because "there are lots of job openings."

Example: "I like talking to people, having clear targets, and knowing at the end of each day whether I've done well or not. And I'm motivated by the fact that part of what I earn depends on me."

3. "Why this company?"

What they're looking for: whether you've done your homework. Look up what they sell, who they sell to, and who their competitors are. One specific sentence about their product is worth more than any generic compliment.

Sales questions

4. "Sell me this pen"

What they're looking for: whether you ask questions before selling. The typical mistake is jumping straight into describing the pen.

How to do it: start by asking. "When was the last time you used a pen? What for? What bothers you about the ones you use?". Based on what they tell you, present the pen as the solution to that problem and close: "Will you take it?".

5. "How do you handle a customer who says it's too expensive?"

What they're looking for: that you don't drop the price immediately.

Example: "I'd first ask what they're comparing it to, because 'expensive' usually means they don't see enough value. Then I'd remind them what problem it solves and how much it costs them to keep going without it." You can find more on how to overcome price objections.

6. "Tell me about a time you convinced someone of something"

What they're looking for: a real story with a result. Use the structure: situation, what you did, and what happened. A non-work example works if it's specific.

7. "How do you organize your workday?"

What they're looking for: discipline. Talk about blocks of calls, logging everything in your CRM, and reviewing your numbers at the end of the day. If it's for an SDR role, mention how many calls or contacts you think is reasonable to make.

Questions about pressure and results

8. "What do you do when you've gone several days without closing anything?"

What they're looking for: that you don't fall apart. "I'd review where I'm losing sales in the process, talk it through with my manager, and keep working, because results in sales come from volume."

9. "How do you handle working with targets?"

What they're looking for: that targets don't scare you. Say you like them because you know where you stand, and ask them what the targets are for the role and what percentage of the team hits them.

10. "What salary are you expecting?"

What they're looking for: whether you understand how sales compensation works. Talk about base plus variable and ask about the OTE (what you earn when you hit 100% of target). You can find salary ranges by role in the guides for SDRs, account executives, or sales agents.

Questions if you have no experience

11. "You haven't worked in sales before, why should we hire you?"

Example: "Because I've spent years dealing with customers and solving problems, which is the foundation of selling, and because I've prepared: I've practiced calls, objections, and closes before coming here. I learn fast and what I'm missing is practice with your product."

If you want to see how to break in from zero experience, read how to become an SDR with no experience.

12. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Always say yes. Three good ones: "What does a typical day in this role look like?", "What percentage of the team hits their targets?", and "What would I need to have achieved in three months for you to say hiring me was the right call?".

How to really prepare

1. Say your answers out loud, don't just read them. In a sales interview, how you sound matters.
2. Practice the "sell me this" and objections with someone who pushes back hard.
3. Prepare two real stories about when you convinced someone or solved a customer problem.
4. Research the company: what they sell, who they sell to, and how much it costs.

With Ventaka you can practice your interview and sales calls with an AI-powered simulated customer who throws real objections at you and gives you instant feedback, plus you can see today's sales job openings. You get 3 days free: start here.

You might also like: How much does an SDR earn: real salary by experience