Thursday, October 25, 2012

25 sales engineer interview questions and answers pdf

25 sales engineer interview questions answers

The job interview questions sample below are used to ask Sales engineer and other Sales engineer positions related. You can use them to ask yourself or candidate as follows:

I. Sales engineer interview questions and answers:

As sales engineer position, pls tell me about yourself?

This classic opening question should probably be put out to pasture but it’s still one of THE most common interview questions you’ll face and it still seems to trip up a ton of job seekers every year. (Plus I doubt it’s going anywhere soon, so you need to prepare for it.) You can check out our article on tell me about yourself for more in depth info.

DO:

•   Keep your answer succinct and to the point.
•   Be work specific and tell the hiring manager about where you are now professionally, what you have learned from your past work experiences and then talk about what makes you excited about this specific opportunity.
•    Do your company research and find out exactly what strengths and qualities this specific company is looking for and in your answer try and show the hiring manager you possess them (You can discover these strengths or qualities in the job description or on their website.)

DON’T:

•    Don’t dive into your life story.
•    The hiring manager doesn’t want to hear about you “growing up on 28th avenue down the road from the Trader Joe’s and how it was a coincidence because you had a brother named Joe! (etc…)”.
•     Don’t go on about experience you may have that isn’t related to the job you’re interviewing for.

As sales engineer, Do you prefer a long or short sales cycle?

Here are sample answers for the interview question “Do you prefer a long sales cycle resulting in the sale of a large ticket item, or a shorter cycle with more frequent sales? ”
Sample Answer: I think there are interesting points to both types of sales. I like a longer sales cycle, as it gives me time to get to know the customer, and spend time educating them about the benefits and uses of the product. Shorter cycles are more intense, since you typically don’t have the luxury of too much personal knowledge of the customer, or the time for lengthy explanations. You need to hit the high priority topics rather quickly.


Why should we hire you as sales engineer position?

This is another incredibly common question and it gives you a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd and really show the hiring manager how you can help the company.

The key thing to remember here is: be specific.

Leverage your company research and the job description to find exactly why the company is hiring someone for this position. What problem/pain points does the new hire have to solve? You need to show that you are the perfect candidate that can solve those problems/pain points.

We have written an in depth blog post on why should we hire you here.

DO:

•    Show the hiring manager that you are uniquely suited to filling this position. Be the candidate that solves their “problems“.
•    Show you know some significant details about the company and their general practices because you have researched the firm and are prepared.
•    Tell a “success story” that highlights how you have the ‘qualities’ needed to fill their specific needs.

DON’T:

•    Don’t get discouraged if the hiring manager mentions that “they have lots of very well qualified candidates…” before they lead into this question. (It’s a common “lead in”)
•    Don’t be too modest. This is your chance to shine. Make it count.
On the flip side don’t go too overboard and sound too arrogant.
•    Don’t be “wishy-washy” or too general with your answer.
•    Don’t answer with “why” you want the job. Answer with “why you are the perfect fit” for the job.

Do you want a word-for-word sample answer to this question? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve prepared a Job Questions and Answers PDF Cheat Sheet that will give you perfect sample answers to Why Should We Hire You as well as the other questions on this page.

As sales engineer, How did you land your most successful sale?

When you answer questions about your sales successes, be sure to give a tangible example of how and why you were successful. When applicants are interviewed for a sales job the interviewer is looking for quantifiable accomplishments i.e. closing the sale, 56% increase in revenue year over year, how you made the sale, etc.
Sample Answer: My most successful sale was one where I had taken over a customer from another salesperson who had to leave suddenly. I immediately contacted the person, and let them know the situation. I knew that my colleague was having a difficult time getting the client to commit to the purchase of a large motor home. Part of it was circumstantial, but when I was given the opportunity to take over the sale, I was able to give the customer some reflection time, and was ultimately able to close the sale.

As sales engineer, Why do you want to work with us?

More likely than not, the interviewer wishes to see how much you know about the company culture, and whether you can identify with the organization’s values and vision. Every organization has its strong points, and these are the ones that you should highlight in your answer. For example, if the company emphasizes on integrity with customers, then you mention that you would like to be in such a team because you yourself believe in integrity.

It doesn’t have to be a lie. In the case that your values are not in line with the ones by the company, ask yourself if you would be happy working there. If you have no issue with that, go ahead. But if you are aware of the company culture and realize that there is some dilemma you might be facing, you ought to think twice. The best policy is to be honest with yourself, and be honest with the interviewer with what is it in the company culture that motivates you.

As sales engineer, What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?

The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem.

As sales engineer, What do you find most rewarding about being in sales?

Here are sample answers for the interview question “What do you find most rewarding about being in sales?”
Sample Answers
• I really enjoy making contacts, and spending time talking with people. The most rewarding part of being in sales, for me, is the time spent with customers, helping them make the right decision about a product.
• I think the most rewarding thing about sales is providing customers with the best service possible. I pride myself on making sure that a customer knows about the product they are purchasing, and has the ability to use it to its fullest potential.

What is your greatest strength as sales engineer position?

This is a fairly straight forward question to handle. Talk about a “strength” that you know the company puts a lot of value in.

We have written an in depth blog post over at: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

DO:

•    Grab hold of the opportunity this question gives you. This question really lets you guide the interview where you want it to go. This your chance to relate your most impressive success story, so take advantage!
•    Highlight a strength that is crucial to the position. (As I mentioned earlier)
•    Find out from your company research and from the job description what strengths the company puts a lot of stock into.

DON’T:

•    Don’t make claims that you can’t illustrate with a brief example or fact.
•    Don’t be overly modest but don’t claim to be Superman or Superwoman either.
•    Don’t name a strength that is irrelevant to the job at hand.


As sales engineer, What do you think are the most important skills in succeeding in sales?

You could put a number on the skills to structure your answer around this. For example, “In my opinion, the three most important sales skills are…” Instead of referring to specific sales techniques, you should mention competencies and skills which a salesperson need to get success.
Below are some skills including:
• Adjust your approach to different people and situations.
• Ask a right question and how to listen.
• How to communicate and handle dissatisfaction and rejection of customers.
• Make plan and comply with it.
• Make influence on and persuade customers.
• To be good at negotiating for common agreement.

As sales engineer, What are your weaknesses?

The best “weaknesses” are disguised as strengths, such as “I dislike not being challenged at work”. Another good approach is to mention a weakness that is irrelevent for the job or one that can be overcome with training. Try to keep these to one weakness, explaining why you think it is a weakness and what you are doing to overcome the problem – a well thought out strategy you have developed to deal with the issue will turn this potentially tricky question into a positive.

One common variation on this question is to ask about any problems or failures you’ve encountered in previous positions. In describing problems, pick ones you’ve solved and describe how you overcame it. Show yourself to be a good team player by crediting co-workers for all their contributions. To distance yourself from failure, pick one that occurred earlier in your career when you were still learning. Don’t blame others – simply explain how you analysed your mistake and learned from it.

As sales engineer, What are the Most Important Sales Skills?

Not everyone can handle sales. You need to have the right attitude and abilities. At your job interview, the interviewer will be looking for your sales skills, and the aspects of the process that help close deals. An example of a good answer includes “The ability to recognize both verbal and non-verbal cues to adapt the sales strategies you implement to impress the prospective buyer.”

As sales engineer, How would you describe a typical day in your current job?

You are eager to look good but don’t make the common mistake of exaggerating your current position. Mentioning some of the routine tasks in your day adds realism to your description and show that you don’t neglect important details such as paperwork. Put yourself in the interviewer’s place as your answer. When you’ve been doing a job for years it becomes second nature to you, and you must be aware of all the tasks you undertake. You should spend a few days making notes of your activities at work to regain an outsider’s perspective. Try to show that you make good use of your time, that you plan before you begin your work and that you review your achievements at the end of it.


As sales engineer, What is your greatest accomplishment?

This is somewhat similar to the “what is your greatest strength?” question and can be handled along the same lines. You want to pick an accomplishment that shows you have the qualities that the company puts value in and that are desirable for the position you’re interviewing for.

The fact is you may have several accomplishments you could pick from. Pick one that will have the most impact.

DO:

•    Talk about an accomplishment that exhibits how you will be a perfect fit for the company and for the position you’re interviewing for.
•    Try and show some genuine passion when you’re talking about your accomplishment.

DON’T:

•    Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your accomplishment is “too small”. The fact is, relating a small accomplishment that is inline with “what the company values” can be more powerful than an unrelated accomplishment. (Remember: “It’s not about you, It’s about them.”)

As sales engineer, How do you respond to working under pressure?

The interviewer wants to see that you have composure, problem solving skills and can stay focused in difficult conditions. Give an example of a time when you were faced with a stressful situation (not caused by you) and how you handled it with poise. Describe the context, how you approached the situation, the actions you took and the positive outcome. Demonstrate how you remained calm, in control and got the job done.

As sales engineer, How Do You Move On From a Rejection?

Rejections are common within sales jobs, and one of the primary reasons that most personalities could not handle sales roles. Try to downplay how hard you take rejections, but feel free and be honest about a technique you use to handle rejection or answer with something like, “I simply move on to the next prospect, because a rejection is simply a sign that the individual was not yet ready for our solution.”

As sales engineer, Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question catches a lot of job seekers off guard because on the surface it seems simple enough but when you dig a little deeper you’ll see that there are a couple of traps you could fall into.

You DO want to show that you are an ambitious person BUT you need to show that you don’t have your “head in the clouds” and are focused on the job at hand. For more in depth info on this question check out our blog post: Where do you see yourself in 5 years.

DO:

•    Demonstrate when you answer the question your level of commitment to the position they are interviewing you for.
•    After you have demonstrated your commitment to the role you are interviewing for, outline a realistic growth strategy that is directly tied to the role you’re in and the needs and values of the company.
•    Stress your interest in a long-term career at the company

DON’T:

•    Don’t exhibit ambition to the point of seeming like this particular job is just a “brief stepping stone” for you. You need to show commitment.
•    Don’t say you want to be CEO of the company in 5 years.
•    Don’t say “Actually I want to be in YOUR seat within the next 5 years.” to the hiring manager.

As sales engineer, How will you introduce yourself to the customer s?

Customers are the backbone of an organization. As a sales person, you should know how to handle their queries in a proper way.

While introducing yourself to the customer, also introduce your company. For example, “My name is Meera. I am working with CareerRide Info. We are an online magazine and we help create awareness about various career options for our site visitors.”

Be gentle and try to pay attention to the needs of the customer rather than focusing on your skills.

As sales engineer, How do you maintain your relationship with your old customers?

Tell the interviewer about the qualities that you possess and which help you build a strong bond with the customers. The company would be interested to know the techniques or styles that you would apply to maintain good relations with your customers.

Maintaining relations with the new and the existing customers is not an easy task. You should never forget your old customers. They are the strength of your organization. Keeping good relations with your old customers would strengthen the organization.

As sales engineer, Tell us something about your creativity or methods to convince a customer for a big order?

Customers buy a product not only because of the product features that it possess but also for the benefits they gain. The more you explain to the customers about the benefits, the more you can sell a product.

You should be a solution provider. Tell them about your creativity skills or the techniques to convince a customer in your style. Explain how you would give the details about a product.

For example, if you buy a chocolate box, wherein the chocolates are stored in a bowl, convince the customer about having a bowl free. You should think out of the box.

As sales engineer, Explain the special skills and qualities you have which make you perfect for this job?

Every job requires people who have a special skills in that particular area. Having certain skills and qualities in your field will help you improve your performance.

Skills and qualities that make you perfect for this job are as follows :

- good communication skills
- art of convincing or persuading people
- having a high confidence level
- being straightforward
- maintaining a positive attitude
- possessing leadership qualities
- having a good patience level
- remaining loyal towards the team members and customers
- being passionate

As sales engineer, What sort of salary are you looking for?

When you’re talking about money, never describe your salary demands as what you actually need but rather as what the job is worth. Always give a range (e.g. £40,000 to £45,000). If you’re unsure of what the job should pay give your current salary and state “but money isn’t my motivation for changing jobs”. Since organisations use your current salary as a guide line as a basis of what to offer remember to include bonus, annual raises if you are about to receive one etc.

As sales engineer, What questions do you have for me?

The biggest mistake you can make with this question is to have no questions. It indicates a lack of curiosity and research.

The second biggest mistake you can make is asking superficial questions. This also indicates a lack of research, but perhaps worse, it doesn't exactly make you sound smart.

What's an example of a stupid question? For starters, anything you can find out on your own through a bit of research. These include information like basic company history, product or service suites, key hires, or company performance -- provided the company releases information publicly.

Unless you're in the final stage of the interview, it's also smart to steer clear of questions that are related to HR -- things like time off, salary, or benefits packages. If you're still in the stages of exploring whether there's a mutual fit, jumping to this end stage may advance the interview process too fast, and it could turn out unfavorably for you as a result.

Some better questions to ask are ones that are built off of the conversation you've had with the interviewer. Dig deeper into something you talked about that lends itself to more nuanced discussion. 

For example, if you've been interviewing for a writing position and the interviewer briefly mentioned that writers on the team dabble in design, you might ask some follow up questions, such as:

•  "You mentioned writers dabble in design. Were they already capable of design before they started here, or did they learn on the job? What resources did they use to learn?"

•   "You mentioned writers dabble in design -- do they also dabble in other secondary skills, like coding?"

•   "You mentioned writers dabble in design. How often do they do their own design work, versus working with the internal design team, freelancer, or agency?"

Another great topic for discussion is team structure, and how teams interact with one another. Getting context on how the team you're interviewing for is structured, and how they fit into to the larger organization, is not only a thoughtful question but also critical information for you to have. Without it, it'll be hard to know whether the position is right for you based on where you are in your career -- and where you want to be.

II. Sales engineer job interview tips:

1. Do your research

If you’re a good sales person, you should be able to sell yourself. Think about it from the company’s point of view – if you’re not able to sell yourself, how are you going to sell their product?
You need a good grasp of relevant retail data, trends and sales cycles. So look at the latest blogs, press articles, sector-specific magazines and official information to glean as much information as possible.

Most importantly, you need to thoroughly research the business you’re interviewing with. Gain an in-depth idea of the products they offer, what the market says about these and then – armed with this knowledge – think about how you’d sell their products.

2. Questions to prepare for

You should prepare for questions in a number of specific areas. In particular, you should be ready to be asked:

About key sales principles and practices (e.g. handling objections, qualifying potential clients, closing the sale etc.)
Your thoughts on customer service – crucial to success in sales
Competency-based questions exploring your adaptability, persuasion, negotiation and presentation skills

Specific questions you are likely to be asked include:

Have you always met your targets?
What has been your biggest career challenge to date? And how did you overcome it?
What sale are you most proud of and why?
What would you do if you were not getting a response from one of your clients?

3. Dress for Success

Plan out a wardrobe that fits the organization and its culture, striving for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under” and to wear clothing that fits and is clean and pressed. Keep accessories and jewelry to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview” and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.

4. Arrive on Time, Relaxed and Prepared for the Interview

There is no excuse ever for arriving late to an interview. Short of a disaster, strive to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled interview to complete additional paperwork and allow yourself time to get settled. Arriving a bit early is also a chance to observe the dynamics of the workplace.

The day before the interview, pack up extra copies of your resume or CV and reference list. If you have a portfolio or samples of your work, bring those along too. Finally, remember to pack several pens and a pad of paper to jot notes. Finally, as you get to the offices, shut off your cell phone. (And if you were chewing gum, get rid of it.)

5. Take evidence of your achievements

Any sales person who’s interviewed will wax lyrical about their career achievements. But not everyone will take evidence of this to the interview. Although you’ll want to be careful not to take any information along that is confidential to your existing or previous employers (as this implies carelessness), you could take along sales league tables, references, P60s or payslips if they’re appropriate.

6. Would you buy it?

Prior to interviewing for a sales job, always ask yourself if you would buy the product or service. In sales just as in life, you can't sell something that you don't believe in. Also, never take a sales job if you don't believe in the marketing department (if applicable) or the current marketing structure. A poorly written, poorly programmed website makes for a hard sale… especially if your competitors have new ones.

7. Make Good First Impressions

A cardinal rule of interviewing is to be polite and offer warm greetings to everyone you meet” from the parking attendant to the receptionist to the hiring manager. Employers often are curious how job applicants treat staff members” and your job offer could easily be derailed if you’re rude or arrogant to any of the staff. When it’s time for the interview, keep in mind that first impressions” the impression interviewers get in the first few seconds of meeting you” can make or break an interview. Make a strong first impression by dressing well (see #3), arriving early (see #4), and when greeting your interviewer, stand, smile, make eye contact, and offer a firm“ but not bone-crushing“ handshake. Remember that having a positive attitude and expressing enthusiasm for the job and employer are vital in the initial stages of the interview; studies show that hiring managers make critical decisions about job applicants in the first 20 minutes of the interview.

8. Be prepared for rejection 

Understand that in sales, just like in job searching there is going to be rejection. This point is especially aimed at the younger employment seeker who is thinking about a career in sales. If you want to do sales, do it. Once you get past your first few rejections and your first few botched cold-calls, it becomes second nature.

When younger, I was exceedingly sensitive and would often get down on myself when I made an ill-fated sales call. Don’t let shyness or fear of rejection stop you from entering the field. It’s an amazing way to begin your career.

9. Take your contact book


A book of contacts is crucial to success in sales. This proves your ability to build long-term relationships with clients that can generate revenue. The ability to bring these with you to a new job is a huge advantage.

10. Have a list of questions ready

When the interview is coming to a close and you’re asked if you have any questions, don’t just say “no”. Thoughtful questions indicate to the interviewer two things: 1) your interest in the company and the role and 2) your ability to listen to what you’ve been told during the interview (they’re not going to want to hire a sales person who only talks about the product they’re selling and doesn’t listen to what they’re being told).

To avoid getting stuck, it’s safe to go in with a list of questions that you can pull out on request. Some examples include:

What qualities do the most successful sales people at your company possess?
What percentage of your sales force hit their targets?
How much flexibility do sales people have to negotiate deals?
What are the main barriers to success for your sales team?
How big is your sales team and how is it structured?
What’s the best thing about working in sales at the business?


11. Remember the Importance of Body Language

While the content of your interview responses is paramount, poor body language can be a distraction at best” or a reason not to hire you at worst. Effective forms of body language include smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, and nodding. Detrimental forms of body language include slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with a pen, fidgeting in a chair, brushing back your hair, touching your face, chewing gum, or mumbling. Read more about perfecting your body language in our article, The Unspoken Secrets of Job Interviewing: How Your Nonverbal Presentation and Behaviors Impact the Impression You Make.

12. The employer is your partner

Salary negotiation is the #1 most difficult aspect of the job search for many applicants in the sales and marketing arena. If you are not trained at negotiation, use what I refer to as the "work with" method. This means having the mentality that the employer is your partner, not your adversary and, together your job is to work towards a solution that will have you employed by the firm.

13. Always be closing

Remember that sales employers always want somebody who has what is most commonly referred to as a "consultative selling" approach. More or less, the term refers to a sales style that aims to uncover the client's needs as opposed to the infamous sales style portrayed in the film Glengarry Glen Ross which most famously known for the mentality that, regardless of what the client wants or is best for them, close the deal. To express this unethical sales methodology in both an entertaining and theatrical manner, playwright David Mamet scripted the infamous "A.B.C." or always be closing" line.

14. Thank Interviewer(s) in Person, by Email, or Postal Mail.

Common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; thus, the importance of thanking each person who interviews you should come as no surprise. Start the process while at the interview, thanking each person who interviewed you before you leave. Writing thank-you emails and notes shortly after the interview will not get you the job offer, but doing so will certainly give you an edge over any of the other finalists who didn’t bother to send thank-you notes. For more tips on writing thank-you notes, read this article: 10 Tips for Writing a Job-Search Interview Thank-You Letter. You can also check out these job interview thank-you letter samples.

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25 sales engineer interview questions and answers pdf
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