Best Sales interview question you have been asked?

Been asked by an interviewee or and interviewer - one that really shows the candidate is a killer

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13
JDialz
Politicker
23
Chief Operating Officer
Best interview question I have ever been asked for any job was "What question do you think I should have asked you, but I didn't ask?"

I was like well gaht dayum I didn't see that one coming... and I have used that myself when interviewing candidates ever since.
Savagedoge
Tycoon
2
Account Executive
I love this question. A prospect introduced a version of this after a disco and I was like imma steal this one.

I ask this question at the end of every disco. 
JDialz
Politicker
4
Chief Operating Officer
I responded with a funny-ish answer so I could have a few extra milliseconds to come up with a proper response.

It was the end of the interview, so I said "well since we're almost out of time here I think you should ask 'so, when can you start?'" But after the uproarious laughter subsided, I said "we're interviewing you and some others for this position, which is a newly-created role here. Do you think we should have created this position in the first place? Based on what you know about our firm, what pain points do you think led to us deciding we needed to create this new role?"
Savagedoge
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
Noice. 
E_Money
Big Shot
0
💰
Did you have to answer your own question?
JDialz
Politicker
1
Chief Operating Officer
Oh yes. 
thegrinch
Politicker
1
SDR
I would say - 'Covid has been tough and the pandemic has made it difficult to maintain culture. How would you contribute to our culture despite these tough times?'

And then I would offer my response - 'During the NorCal fires my triathlon team had to stop training because of the terrible air quality. Though we were unable to train outside, I was able to find and make a deal with the local indoor YMCA to let us train in their indoor pool. They had an indoor filtration system so athletes could train comfortably despite poor air quality outside. The moral of the story is I try to solution the problem rather than accept it and be a part of it. If there is negativity, fear and frustration on the team because of the pandemic rather than feed into that, you can count on me to be an active part of the solution.'
closeit
0
Head of Sales
That'll make your palms sweat
DCAE
0
Account Executive
I ask this in almost every meeting. I seem to recall that in "The McKinsey Way", this is referred to as the McKinsey Question: "“Is there anything else you would like to tell or any question I forgot to ask…?"
NoSuperhero
Politicker
0
BDR LEAD
Never been asked, but will steal it hahaha
mrjve
Member
-2
Account Executive
love it 
salesnerd
WR Officer
8
Head of Growth
This is as an interviewer. I find that there are a few things that define great reps and try to ask them a few questions that help me determine if they have those skills.

Curiosity: I tell them to "teach me something". Most people are confused, but I explain it can be anything that I don't know. I've been taught everything from dog aorta anatomy to how to land a backflip skiing to the best way to harvest corn. It shows me that the person has the interest to learn new things AND the ability to convey those to a beginner. 

Grit: I ask "Why shouldn't I hire you?" This question always gets a confused stare. It's just "what are your weaknesses?" in other words. However, most people aren't prepared for it. It shows me if you know the potential objections and how you can respond to them.

Organization: I'll say "okay, it's your 90 day evaluation and we're sitting down and I say 'we're promoting you early' why are you getting promoted early, how are you going to change your day to day, and what are you going to do to ensure your next promotion?" This question is a doozy, intentionally. It shows me that they can listen, compartmentalize the different components of the question and answer all of it. 
MrMotivation
Politicker
2
Sales
I am going to steal that teach me something question. I like that a lot. I have always asked the "why shouldn't I hire you question." Gets some good blank stares. @salesnerd always hitting hard with the insights
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Tell me how you won your biggest deal.

Walk me through your prospecting new business process.
kiraugais
WR Officer
2
I work on the WR product
interesting post? @BigMeech 
CoorsKing
WR Officer
2
Retired King of the Coors Knights
Yup. This is exactly the type of post I was talking about, these are great. The features would apply here both from a post and follow perspective. 
E_Money
Big Shot
1
💰
Pitch us Instagram like no one has ever heard of it before. 
DwightsEgo
Politicker
9
BDR Manager
The pictures will go on the line. 
E_Money
Big Shot
1
💰
YOU'RE HIRED
CubsFan
Politicker
0
Head of Sales
1000%
LordBusiness
Politicker
1
Chief Revenue Officer
I don't know about "best" but I always ask people "what's your biggest weakness.  And anyone who answers with a cliche' "positive weakness" like "I work too hard, or I care about my clients too much" immediately gets a negative check box on the interview for me.  I want to work with people, people who are coachable, and can self identify their weaknesses and get real and open and transparent about them (and working on them).  
JDialz
Politicker
7
Chief Operating Officer
"My short game."

specktyr
Praised Answer
1
Account Manager
This hits too close to home.
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
0
Officer of ♥️
‘My weaknesses? I care too much, I work too hard, and I give too much. My strengths? Well you see my weaknesses are actually my strengths too’ - Michael Scott
Rupert_Pupkin
Contributor
1
Account Executive
"What's the most difficult thing you've ever been through, personally or professionally, and how did you get through it". Caught me way off guard but elicited a very genuine response. I think it's from the McMahon playbook, because I've heard it a few times on podcasts since.
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
1
Officer of ♥️
Whats the most difficult part of this role?

or

What would you say the biggest challenge facing the company is?

or

tell me one thing you love and one thing you wish you could change about the company (quickly gauge their bs ometer)

or

what happened to the last person in this role?

or

whats the average quota achievement of reps at company?

or

what does the ideal first 3 months in the role look like to you?

or

What does the ideal candidate for this position look like & sound like? (Then try and tell them how your experience alligns with this)

questions that show you are genuinely interested to see if you yourself are a good fit for the company vs just trying to get the job & brush there ego with talking about themselves
Salespreuner
Big Shot
1
Regional Sales Director
Perfect this. I did face couple of them !
mrjve
Member
0
Account Executive
Honestly, the best question I ever got was "why should I not hire you?" It opened up a great conversation and let me find out more about how leadership thinks there. 
The_Sales_Badger
Notorious Answer
0
Account Executive
When's the last time that you gave up on something, and why?
SgtAE
WR Officer
0
AE
When i got my first job as a BDR my then VP of sales straight up asked me how much do you want to earn? I believe it was to ascertain how high I thought the ceiling was, and how hungry I was to attain it. 
closeit
0
Head of Sales
"Tell me about a time when you received negative feedback, and how did you handle it?" 
rekled
Opinionated
0
Strategic Account Executive
I have two... 

1) Tell me something about you that I would not get from your LinkedIn profile or resume. 

2) Who do you follow on LinkedIn and why? 
NorthernSalesGuru
Politicker
0
Manager, Outbound Sales
“Do you shit?”

I’m now good friends with the person who ran the interview and here was his rationale.

Sales is a game of trust and heavily involved being able to communicate 1:1. 

He wanted to see if I had the ability to handle a complete curveball, and respond in a manageable way to control the conversation.

I got the job. I told him I shit multiple times a day....
niamirza
0
VP of Sales
I love the company culture without knowing it <3
Canada
Personal Narrative
0
Account Executive
That has got to be the stupidest and most unprofessional question I've ever heard.
Pennington
Fire Starter
0
Director of Sales Operations
I like to ask them to explain something that they do on an everyday basis as if I have never heard of it before. 

For Example: Making your morning breakfast or Coffee, Working out, Journalling, Meditating, Going to the Gym.

Helps me to see how they articulate and hold a conversation. 
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
Would you be hired had you been in my side? If yes, what would you negotiate?
khiz
Fire Starter
0
Account Manager
I was asked - what's stopping you from joining us? Pretty good question I think
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