If you are looking for Sales Associate Interview Questions you have come to the right place.
We all know interviews are stressful and competition is intense.
However, with a small amount of preparation, you can ace the sales associate job interview.
Here we will discuss Sales Associate Interview Questions.
Please note these are practice interview questions and we cannot guarantee success or failure at the interview.
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Sales Associate Interview Questions and Answers
1. Can you tell me about yourself?
- It’s okay to discuss your hobbies and interests; but, keep it brief. Try to focus on relevant work experience. Remember that having relevant work experience will put you ahead of the competition.
2. Why do you want to be a sales associate?
Possible answers are:
- State you have a passion for the products the retailer offers and because of this, you would be proud to work for them.
- Mention you feel you have excellent communication skills which will help you work well with customers and other sales associates.
- Say you would like a job that challenges you and keeps you active.
3. Why should I hire you as a sales associate?
For this question, you will want to reread the job description, find key skills and experience they are looking for, and reassure the interviewer you meet those requirements.
Most sales associates have the following skills: teamwork, motivation, works well under pressure, and strong communication skills. In regards to experience state if you have worked in sales, used a point of sale, or managed inventory.
Sample Answer
“You should hire me because of my skill set and previous work experience. In my previous job, I was a sales associate at a large retailer. During this time, I gained valuable work experience in sales, learned how to use the point-of-sale system, and assisted with managing inventory. I was successful in this role because I was motivational, worked well under pressure, a team player, and a good communicator.”
4. What hours can you work?
- The more flexible you are with your hours, the better your chance of getting hired, so be flexible!
- Let the interviewer know if you can work on weekends and holidays.
5. How do you feel about standing for long periods?
- Most jobs in retail will require you to work on your feet for long periods. Tell the interviewer you do not have a problem with this. Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes with low heels, maintain good posture, and stay hydrated.
6. How did you find this job?
- Interviewers ask this question because they want to hire someone specific in their job hunt.
- Employers want to hire someone who knows what they want. Therefore, state you have been actively monitoring jobs on the company’s website and that you are happy to get the interview.
- Note you have to be honest when answering this question as they may already know how you applied for this position.
Customer Service Interview Questions
7. How would you define excellent customer service?
- The staff is friendly and always willing to help the customer find what he or she needs.
- Customers are not waiting in line for long periods at checkout.
- The store display is well-kept and presented with adequate inventory.
8. How would you deal with a difficult customer?
- Listen and let the customer vent.
- Show the customer you care.
- Don’t blame the customer or the company.
- Try to solve the problem or find someone who can.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Finally, it is important not to take it personally. If you get upset you will take it on future customers.
9. What would you do if someone asked for an item that was not in your department?
- State you would locate a sales associate in another department that could help the customer find the item they were looking for.
- If the item was sold out you would try and locate it on the retailer’s online store or find out when it would be in stock.
10. Why is customer service important?
Great customer service can
- Increase customer loyalty.
- Grow the amount of money each customer spends per visit.
- Increase how often a customer buys from you.
- Generate positive word-of-mouth about your business.
Behavioral Interview Questions
11. Can you tell us about a challenge that you overcame?
- Review your resume and think about a challenge you overcame. Try to find a challenge that relates to the role of a sales associate. If you don’t have prior work experience discuss any accomplishments you have overcome in school.
- For example, suppose you were a sales associate at a sports retailer. One of the challenges was continuously meeting and exceeding sales goals.
Sample Answer
“I used to work at a sports retailer and one of our goals as a sales associate was to meet and exceed sales expectations. The challenge I had was to exceed sales targets after the Christmas Season. I have always been a basketball fan but I never watched much hockey. Since hockey is a sport that is played throughout winter, I started paying more attention to hockey and learning more about equipment hockey players use. Because I started learning more about hockey, I was better able to understand the customer’s needs which led me to meet my sales objectives after the Christmas holidays.”
12. Can you tell us about a time when you displayed leadership?
- Think of a real example of when you showed leadership in your last job. Perhaps your boss was away sick and you were the manager for the day. Perhaps you showed leadership while at college or high school.
13. Have you ever been in a situation where you had a big workload and felt overwhelmed? How did you deal with that?
- Everyone gets overwhelmed from time to time. What is important is how you deal with being overwhelmed.
- Try and state an example of when you were overwhelmed at work and then state how you prioritize your tasks. If you could not finish your tasks state how you asked your colleagues or managers for help.
14. Can you tell us about a time you disagreed with a co-worker and what was the outcome?
- It is only natural to have conflict at work. What is important is how you and your colleague come up with a positive outcome.
Sample Answer
“In my last job, I worked in retail. I was presenting inventory in the store differently than the way my manager had told me as I felt my way was better for the customer. My manager told me that the head office requires all stores to display inventory in a specific way. I didn’t agree with him, however, he told me that a lot of studies are done to maximize sales. I understood my mistake and now follow the layout as required by the head office.”
Additional Interview Questions
15. What are your future endeavors?
- Interviewers ask this question because they want to see you have goals and ambitions. Interviewers also ask this question because they want to see if you are a good fit for the industry.
- If you don’t know what to say have a look at the retailer’s jobs online and find a position you can see yourself doing in five years.
- If you are a student and are only looking for work to help pay for school make sure the interviewer knows you are not a job hopper and are willing to stay for more than a few months.
16. If you could be one animal, what would it be?
Possible Answers are
- Dogs show loyalty.
- Ants are hard workers and team players.
- Dolphins are smart.
- Elephants are strong.
- Gorilla is gentle but powerful, a good parent, and a good leader.
17. What accomplishments are you proud of in life?
Possible answers are
- Work accomplishments that are related to sales
- Accomplishments in high school or university
- Athletic goals (hiring managers love hiring former athletes as they are usually highly motivated)
18. We have a lot of people applying for this position. What set you apart from other applicants?
- Review the job description and find the experiences and skills listed that you have.
- Motivation skills are very valuable so it will help if you tell the interviewer you are highly motivated.
19. What motivates you?
Possible answers are:
Do Say
- Meeting deadlines, targets, or goals
- Mentoring and coaching others
- Learning new things
- Coming up with creative ideas to improve something, or make something new
- Working well as part of a team
- Finding a way to solve a problem, or overcome a challenge
Don’t Say
- Money
- Employee Discounts
Top 5 Entry Level Sales Associate Interview Questions
- What is your availability like? Can you work weekends and holidays?
- How would you deal with an upset customer?
- How was your attendance in your last job?
- Why do you want to be a sales associate?
- Why should we hire you as our sales associate?
See Also
- 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions (affiliate)
- The Interview Checklist
- General Interview Q&A
- The Behavioral Interview
- Interview Tips
- Search for Jobs