Sample Interview Questions for Sales Associates (with Answers)

If you are interviewing for a sales associate position, you will have a better preparation by learning of the questions that will likely be asked and practicing your responses with them before going for the interview.

This will definitely increase your chances of passing the interview and getting the sales associate job that you desire.

This post provides exhaustive list of common sales associate interview questions you can use in preparing for your forthcoming interview.

What do Interviewers look For in a Sales Associate?

Interviewers are looking for a sales associate with good organizational skills, that is able to work cooperatively with others and can demonstrate sound judgment and decision making skills.

They also look out for someone with strong customer service orientation – a person with the ability to engage customers in conversation about products or services.

Sample 10 Most Common Interview Questions and Answers for Sales Associate with Answers

Here are samples of common questions you can expect to be asked in a sales associate interview:

1.  How do you deal with complain from customers?

I would try to solve the problem and ensure that the customers are satisfied.

2. What can you bring to this company?

I believe I have a strong customer service orientation and good organizational skills, which will allow me to work cooperatively with others towards achieving goals.

3. What steps do you take to ensure customer satisfaction?

I would ask how I can help to solve the problem. Or if they just want me to listen, then I will let them talk about their problems and say anything that is on mind.

4. Why did you choose sales?

I chose sales because it seems like a fun job where one has the opportunity to be friendly with people every day.

5. Why do you want this job?

I love working in an environment where I can be friendly every day with people who come into contact with me.

6. What type of experience do you bring in this field?

I am very good with my communication skills and in dealing with people in general. I am also able to build relationships in the course of conversations, both online or offline.

I’m also great working in a team environment, which is how most work environments are set up these days due to globalization.

7. What are your short term and long term goals?

My short term goals are to become a successful sales associate with the company I work for now as well as maintain stability in my life; providing myself with enough money to live on.

As for my long-term goal, if by any chance it is possible, I hope to one day run this business as its CEO.

But first things first, getting hired here will need me taking care of all that’s required during the interview process.

8. What is your greatest accomplishment?

My biggest accomplishment would probably be managing two teams at the same time, one in Costa Rica and one in Rhode Island.

9. Why do you prefer to work for this company?

I want to work for this company because the success of the company is important to me.

I feel that my skills can really help this company succeed by continuing with what I’ve done in previous positions (sales, customer service) combining them with the skills of my co-workers.

10. Which of your personality traits can you share with us?

My biggest personality trait is being energetic! I have tons of positive energy all the time which makes people really happy around me.

My other trait is patience, which I learned after working on developing my skills over time.

This helps me teach new employees or deal with difficult customers by turning any situation into one where both parties are satisfied.

More Sample Interview Questions for Sales Associates

Here are additional sample interview questions for the sales associate job:

Sample Behavioral Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. Walk me through a time when you had to deal with an upset customer.

2. What challenges have you faced while trying to reach your goal?

3. How did you learn what type of work was right for you?

4. When are co-workers more important than task completion?

5. How do I know if there is something wrong in my sales process/approach/product knowledge and how can I fix it before it’s too late.

Sample Case Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. What is your three year plan?

2. If you were the CEO of a corporation, what would happen to it over the next twenty years?

3. How would you sell water by the cup instead of by gallon jug?

4. Why are people commodities in business corporations and not workers or employees? Explain.

5. What does “Charge more for less” mean to you?

Sample Competency Interview Questions for Sales Associate

1. What is your greatest strength?

2. What is your greatest weakness?

3. Tell me about a time when you were faced with an angry customer and how you handled the situation?

4. What do you like most about your current job?

5. Tell me about a time when what you wanted to accomplish at work was not achievable and what happened as a result.

Sample Problem-solving Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. Give me a time when you used negotiation skills to solve a problem.

2. How do you deal with an irate customer?

3. Use 3 words or less to describe yourself?

4. What would your ideal colleague be like?

5. Tell me about a recent goal that you set for yourself and how it has progressed since then.

Sample Situational Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. How do you handle making mistakes in the workplace?

2. Tell me about a time when you confronted an uncooperative customer.

3. Imagine I am your friend and I’m coming to buy something from this store. Why should I choose it over others?

4. Describe what has made the biggest impression on you in recent weeks, either good or bad.

5. What are two of your strengths/weaknesses that may not be immediately apparent at first meeting someone new?

Sample Communication Skills Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. What is the best way to improve public speaking skills?

2. When you feel nervous, what do you do?

3. What are some things that motivate you on a day to day basis?

4. How would your peers describe your work ethic?

5. Who has been the most influential person in terms of how you communicate with others today and why?

Sample Interpersonal Skills Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. Why did you choose this career field?

2. How do you build relationships with customers?

3. Do you know how to sell something without sounding like a used car salesman?

4. Do you remember a co-worker you didn’t really like?

5. Walk me through a time when you exceeded expectations, share details of the situation, what were your specific accomplishments, and why do you think this experience demonstrates great performance on your part?

Sample Company Culture Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. What is your favorite aspect about working in this company?

2. Why do you choose to work at our company?

3. Who are the people you would be close friends with on a personal level if we hired you?

4. Are you willing to relocate as required for this position?

5. Does this sound like a job where the hours will need to sync up with your family’s schedule so it can have an impact on their school or daycare schedules or does that not matter much to you?

Sample Sales Interview Questions for Sales Associates

1. What is the worst part of the job for you?

2. What motivates you to do well at work?

3. Give me an example of a time when you made someone happy by doing something nice.

4. Do you like working with people or things more? Why?

5. If I asked your most recent supervisor what they liked about working with you, what would they say (Positive)?

Sales Associate Interview Success Tips

A sales associate’s job is never easy. It takes the right type of person to be able to sell goods and services every day, sometimes under great pressure.

Sales associates need to have excellent communication skills, a pleasant personality, and an ability to work well with people at all levels in an organization.

The following tips will help you succeed at a sales associate job interview:

• Always dress for success.

• Have good manners (even when it doesn’t seem like anyone noticed).

• Be honest about your abilities and what you can offer the company or client.

• Maintain high standards of reliability, honesty, and integrity throughout your career

Conclusion

If you are interviewing for a sales associate position in your company or another organization, this post provided sample questions interviewers may likely ask you, to help you prepare effectively for the interview.