{"id":1453,"date":"2010-10-28T11:29:19","date_gmt":"2010-10-28T18:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.comblog\/peak-do-you-ask-these-tough-questions-when-interviewing-sales-reps\/"},"modified":"2018-01-31T19:44:52","modified_gmt":"2018-01-31T19:44:52","slug":"peak-do-you-ask-these-tough-questions-when-interviewing-sales-reps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/peak-do-you-ask-these-tough-questions-when-interviewing-sales-reps\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you ask these tough questions when interviewing sales reps?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There is the old saying that sales reps perform their best selling during job interviews and much like peeling an onion, you don\u2019t know quite know who you are interviewing until you have peeled away a few layers.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the best kinds of questions to ask during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\" title=\"Sales Recruiting and Interviews\">sales interview<\/a> to find out the truth about whether you are interviewing a \u201ckeeper\u201d sales rep:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Open Ended \u2013 <\/strong>Open questions like \u201ctell us about yourself\u201d give you a sense of what is top of mind for the candidate. Do they start with accomplishments or their favorite hobbies?<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Direct Questions \u2013 <\/strong>Some candidates are uncomfortable with questions on quotas, achievements or dismissals and may provide vague replies. To get the truth, you will need to be direct. Did the company recognize that they achieved quota? Did they resign or were they terminated?<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Behavioral Questions \u2013 <\/strong>Ask not what the person will do for you or how they perceive themselves, but instead ask how they have demonstrated relevant behaviors in the past and ask for examples.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Third Person \u2013 <\/strong>Candidates are less inclined to fabricate stories when asked about how others would describe them. Ask questions like, \u201cif I spoke to your former boss, how would they describe you\u201d or \u201cif I worked with you at company X, what would I have seen in your work habits?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Probing Questions \u2013 <\/strong>When someone answers a question, dig deeper to see how it stands up. For instance, if someone claims they are ambitious and cites examples ask them to tell you more about what how that translates into actions and meaningful results.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Cross Referencing Questions \u2013 <\/strong>Often achievements are bumped up, so get into the habit of checking claims at different points in the interview. If a rep claims certain call volume that seems aggressive, at some point later on, ask what was the average call time and do the math to see whether it was actually possible to make that many calls each day.<\/p>\n<p>If you are structured and thorough in your interviews, your chances of picking the right people go through the roof!<\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-thumb-wrapper\"><!-- filter-class --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-thumb-container\">\n<h3>Related posts<\/h3>\n<div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- relpost-block-container --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-container\"><a class=\"relpost-block-single\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/employee-referral-programs-is-your-next-sales-rep-just-one-connection-away\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 215px;\">\n<div aria-label=\"Employees gathered around a computer\" class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/g9d6c5a5.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/employee-referral-programs-150x150.png) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: ProximaNova, sans-serif;;  font-size: 15px;  color: #6eba57;\">Employee Referral Programs: Is Your Next Sales Rep Just One Connection Away?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"relpost-block-single\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/states-with-the-best-worst-job-markets-as-economy-strengthens\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 215px;\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/g9d6c5a5.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Source-04-150x150.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: ProximaNova, sans-serif;;  font-size: 15px;  color: #6eba57;\">States With the Best &amp; Worst Job Markets as Economy Strengthens<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"relpost-block-single\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/hiring-outside-salespeople\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 215px;\">\n<div aria-label=\"Two professionals shaking hands.\" class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" role=\"img\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/g9d6c5a5.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/outside-sales-150x150.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: ProximaNova, sans-serif;;  font-size: 15px;  color: #6eba57;\">Outside Salespeople: Our Quick-Start Guide to Hiring<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- close relpost-block-container --><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- close filter class --><\/div>\n<p> close<\/p>\n<div class=\"abh_box abh_box_down abh_box_business\">\n<ul class=\"abh_tabs\">\n<li class=\"abh_about abh_active\"><a href=\"#abh_about\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"abh_posts\"><a href=\"#abh_posts\">Latest Posts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"abh_tab_content\">\n<section class=\"vcard abh_about_tab abh_tab\" style=\"display:block\">\n<div class=\"abh_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"avatar avatar-80 photo\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/media.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1cfb2152f763e6118839d97c16339339s80ampdmmamprg.png?strip=all\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1cfb2152f763e6118839d97c16339339s160ampdmmamprg.png 2x\" width=\"80\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_social\">\n<div style=\"clear: both; font-size:12px; font-weight:normal; width: 85px; margin: 0 0 2px auto; line-height: 20px;\">Connect:<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"abh_twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/eliotburdett\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Twitter\"><\/a><a class=\"abh_google\" href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/+EliotBurdettPeakSalesRecruiting?rel=author\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Google Plus\"><\/a><a class=\"abh_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/eliotburdett\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"LinkedIn\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_text\">\n<h3 class=\"fn name\"><a class=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/author\/eliotburdett\/\">Eliot Burdett<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"abh_job\"><span class=\"title\">CEO<\/span> at <span class=\"org\">Peak Sales Recruiting<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"description note abh_description\">Before Peak, Eliot spent more than 20 years building and leading companies, where he took the lead in recruiting and managing high performance sales teams. He co-founded Ventrada Systems (mobile applications) and GlobalX (e-commerce software). He was also Vice President of Sales for PointShot Wireless.<\/p>\n<p>Eliot received his B. Comm. from Carleton University and has been honored as a Top 40 Under 40 Award winner.<\/p>\n<p>He co-authored Sales Recruiting 2.0, How to Find Top Performing Sales People, Fast and provides regular insights on sales team management and hiring on the Peak Sales Recruiting Blog.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abh_posts_tab abh_tab\">\n<div class=\"abh_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"avatar avatar-80 photo\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/media.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1cfb2152f763e6118839d97c16339339s80ampdmmamprg.png?strip=all\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1cfb2152f763e6118839d97c16339339s160ampdmmamprg.png 2x\" width=\"80\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_social\">\n<div style=\"clear: both; font-size:12px; font-weight:normal; width: 85px; margin: 0 0 2px auto; line-height: 20px;\">Connect:<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"abh_twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/eliotburdett\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Twitter\"><\/a><a class=\"abh_google\" href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/+EliotBurdettPeakSalesRecruiting?rel=author\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Google Plus\"><\/a><a class=\"abh_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/eliotburdett\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"LinkedIn\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_text\">\n<h4>Latest posts by Eliot Burdett <span class=\"abh_allposts\">(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/author\/eliotburdett\/\">see all<\/a>)<\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"abh_description note\">\n<ul>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/books-about-sales-management-and-sales-leadership\/\">20 Of Our Favorite Books About Sales Management and Sales Leadership<\/a><span> &#8211; October 20, 2023<\/span> <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/how-to-make-progress-on-your-sales-goal-without-a-sales-leader\/\">How To Make Progress On Your Sales Goal Without A Sales Leader<\/a><span> &#8211; September 15, 2021<\/span> <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/how-cmos-can-retain-talent-during-the-great-resignation\/\">Augment Your Recruiting Strategy During \u201cThe Great Resignation\u201d<\/a><span> &#8211; July 26, 2021<\/span> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"et_social_bottom_trigger\"><\/span> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is the old saying that sales reps perform their best selling during job interviews and much like peeling an onion, you don\u2019t know quite know who you are interviewing until you have peeled away a few layers. Here are some of the best kinds of questions to ask during a sales interview to find<\/p>\n<div><a class=\"text-primary mt-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/peak-do-you-ask-these-tough-questions-when-interviewing-sales-reps\/\">&#8230;continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;Do you ask these tough questions when interviewing sales reps?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"limit_modified_date":"","last_modified_date":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sales-hiring-recruiting","category-interviewing-assessment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1453"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1453\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}