I’ve interviewed more than 250 people for sales positions in the last 10 years.
Although every top candidate has different strengths, certain trends come up again and again. I’ve learned to look out for these signs during interviews -- if a potential salesperson demonstrates most of them, they’re likely to be a great performer. (If they have all of them, their success is almost certain.)
Sales managers, use this list to determine whom to hire. Reps, use it to land the job you want.
1) Asks Great Questions
The quality of a salesperson’s questions during the interviews is by far the best and clearest indicator of their ability to succeed. A good question goes beyond facts the candidate could have easily learned by looking at your company website or LinkedIn page and delves into what’s needed to do well in this role.