eGigSales and business development interview questions and answers
Sales interviews want numbers and stories: targets you hit, deals you won or lost, and how you find and follow up with customers. Expect a role play.
12 questions. Read each one, start the timer and answer out loud as if you were in the room, then open the tip. Nothing is recorded.
Sell me this pen.
What a good answer covers
Ask questions first to find the need, then link the pen to it. Close by asking for the sale.
How do you handle a customer who says “too expensive”?
What a good answer covers
Acknowledge, ask what they compare it with, show value and options. Discount last.
What was your target last year, and did you meet it?
What a good answer covers
Give numbers: target, achievement and how. If you missed it, say what you changed.
How do you find new leads?
What a good answer covers
Name real channels: referrals, cold calls, LinkedIn, walk-ins, existing customers. Mention a routine.
Walk me through your sales process.
What a good answer covers
Prospect, qualify, understand the need, present, handle objections, close and follow up for repeat business.
What is the difference between a lead, a prospect and a customer?
What a good answer covers
A lead has shown some interest, a prospect is qualified with a need and budget, a customer has bought.
Tell me about a deal you lost.
What a good answer covers
What happened, what you learned and what you now do differently.
A customer keeps postponing the decision. What do you do?
What a good answer covers
Find the real reason, agree on a next step with a date, and make it easy to say yes.
How do you upsell to an existing customer?
What a good answer covers
Understand how they use what they bought and suggest the next thing that solves a real need.
How do you keep track of your follow-ups?
What a good answer covers
A CRM, a sheet or a diary: show you have a system and follow up within 24 to 48 hours.
Which CRM tools have you used?
What a good answer covers
Name them, like Salesforce, Zoho CRM, HubSpot or LeadSquared, and what you tracked.
Why do you like sales?
What a good answer covers
An honest reason: meeting people, solving problems, earning on performance. Back it with a story.
All 12 questions with answers
1. Sell me this pen.
Ask questions first to find the need, then link the pen to it. Close by asking for the sale.
2. How do you handle a customer who says “too expensive”?
Acknowledge, ask what they compare it with, show value and options. Discount last.
3. What was your target last year, and did you meet it?
Give numbers: target, achievement and how. If you missed it, say what you changed.
4. How do you find new leads?
Name real channels: referrals, cold calls, LinkedIn, walk-ins, existing customers. Mention a routine.
5. Walk me through your sales process.
Prospect, qualify, understand the need, present, handle objections, close and follow up for repeat business.
6. What is the difference between a lead, a prospect and a customer?
A lead has shown some interest, a prospect is qualified with a need and budget, a customer has bought.
7. Tell me about a deal you lost.
What happened, what you learned and what you now do differently.
8. A customer keeps postponing the decision. What do you do?
Find the real reason, agree on a next step with a date, and make it easy to say yes.
9. How do you upsell to an existing customer?
Understand how they use what they bought and suggest the next thing that solves a real need.
10. How do you keep track of your follow-ups?
A CRM, a sheet or a diary: show you have a system and follow up within 24 to 48 hours.
11. Which CRM tools have you used?
Name them, like Salesforce, Zoho CRM, HubSpot or LeadSquared, and what you tracked.
12. Why do you like sales?
An honest reason: meeting people, solving problems, earning on performance. Back it with a story.
Before the interview
- Read the job description twice and match two of your examples to what it asks for.
- Keep printed copies of your resume, ID proof and certificates ready, even for online rounds.
- Know your current CTC, expected salary and notice period. Check typical pay in our salary guide, and compare offers with the in-hand salary calculator.
- Genuine employers never ask you to pay for an interview, training kit or joining. Report anyone who does.