How to Answer “Why Sales?” in an Interview (For instance)
When you apply for jobs in sales, you’ll probably be asked something like, “Why do you want to work in sales?” Open-ended questions, like “Why sales?” help employers figure out what kind of person you are, what skills you have, and how well you would fit in with their team. Even though there is no right answer to this question, interviewers want to know about you and why you want to work in sales.
In this article, we’ll explain why interviewers ask this classic sales question, as well as show you how to answer it and give you some answers as examples.
“Why sales?” your boss might ask.
Employers will ask you this to find out what gets you going. Employers want to hire people who can work on their own and don’t need extra help to do their jobs.
They don’t want a single right answer. Instead, they want to know how much you care about the job and what makes you want to do your best. You can’t just say that you want to go into sales because it pays well; they want to see more solid reasons why you want to do that.
Your answer is also an opportunity to show how good you are at selling. Use it to show why you’re the best person for the job by talking about your sales strengths and what you love about sales.
You can also find out what the company’s values are and use that in your answer to show how well you fit the role. They’ll appreciate you taking the time to learn more about them.
How to answer the question “Why do you want to work in sales?”
Here are some steps to help you answer this common question at a sales interview:
1. Consider yourself
You should know why you want to work in sales when you apply for jobs in this field. Prepare by asking yourself, “Why do I want to work in sales?” and giving an honest answer.
This answer will depend on your personal passions, interests, or career goals. Think about what you like about sales and what makes you happy to go to work each day.
You could also talk about the skills or experiences you have that made you want to go into sales. Your interview is your chance to sell yourself as a candidate, so always show that you have the skills to do the job.
For example, you might like working in sales because it lets you set and reach goals. You can talk about a time when you hit a big sales goal and then explain why that experience keeps you going in your career.
2. See what you can do.
Try to answer questions in a way that works for each company. This shows that you looked into the company and thought about why you would fit in well.
For this question, try to find ways in which the company fits with your interest in sales. For example, you might like selling things that help people, which is what this company does.
You can also look at the job description to see if the duties are what you want. For instance, you might like sales because it lets you meet new people. For this job, you would have to go out and meet customers. In your answer, use details like these to show how the job helps you reach your goals.
3. Plan out how you will answer.
You can put it all together once you know why you want to go into sales and how to connect those reasons to the jobs you are applying for. Think of an answer that you can say in three minutes or less.
You could write a draft to help you prepare for the interview, but you don’t have to memorize it. Focus on the most important things, like what motivates or interests you and how this job fits into that.
Once you have an answer, you can try it out by yourself or with a friend. If you practice on your own before the real interview, you might feel more comfortable and ready. You can find out how well you do in real interviews by having a friend do a “mock interview” for you.
They can tell you if your answer is interesting enough to make them want to learn more about you. This person can also check your tone of voice and other nonverbal cues to make sure you look professional and sure of yourself.
4. Tell the truth
There is no right answer to this question, so being honest is the most important thing. When you believe in what you are saying, your passion and excitement come through, which is what potential employers want to see.
As a salesperson, you may have slow times, which is why you need to show that you can keep going. Employers want to hire people who want to do well on their own and don’t have to be pushed.
Talking about the exact moment that got you interested in sales is one way to make your answer more personal. Having a unique and interesting career story can help you stand out from other candidates. It also shows that you gave this question some thought and that you really want the job.
Answers to the question “Why do you want to work in sales?”
You can talk about why you want to work in sales in response to this question. Here are some answers that will help you prepare:
Example 1
“When I was seven, I had my first lemonade stand. I made my lemonade, set up my table, and even thought of a way to get people interested. I made $60 that day, but it put me on a path I’ve been on ever since. I liked seeing the results of my hard work even when I was a child.
“Since then, I worked as a salesperson all through high school and college to keep getting better at selling. Last year, my boss told me I was the best salesperson of the year. Now that I’m out of college, I’m looking for opportunities like yours to grow professionally and keep beating the sales goals I’ve set for myself.”
Example 2:
“I went into sales because I’ve always liked meeting new people and getting to know them. Since I’ve been in business for more than five years, I know how important these relationships are to my sales goals.
The biggest sales I’ve ever made were to long-time customers who trusted me.
When I gave them a better deal, they knew it was mostly for them and not for me. I saw that your company’s goal is to put the customer first, and I want to do the same.”
Example 3:
“I like the challenges that come with being a salesperson. I feel good about myself when I get a new client or make a sale. Figuring out how to make a sales pitch or change it to fit the needs of my customers is like solving a fun puzzle for me.
I heard that your company is about to release a new product, and I’d love to use my enthusiasm to work with your team and help come up with sales pitches that make an impression on customers.
