Take a free practice interview

  • Practice answering questions and get real feedback to improve
  • Get job-specific questions at the company you want
  • 95% say this improved their performance

How to Discuss Sales Achievements in Job Interviews

This common interview question allows hiring managers to evaluate your sales abilities, problem-solving skills, and resilience. Learn how to structure your answer and impress the hiring manager.

What is the hiring manager looking for?

Hiring managers ask this question to assess your sales skills, problem-solving abilities, and resilience in the face of challenges. They want to know how you handle obstacles, adapt to changing circumstances, and ultimately close deals.

How to structure your answer

To answer this question effectively, follow this structure:
1. Situation: Briefly describe the challenging sales situation you faced. Set the context and provide enough detail for the hiring manager to understand the complexity of the challenge.
2. Actions: Explain the specific actions you took to overcome the challenges. Highlight your problem-solving skills, creative thinking, and persistence.
3. Results: Share the positive outcomes of your efforts. Quantify your achievements, such as increased sales, improved customer satisfaction, or successful contract negotiations.
4. Reflection: Conclude by reflecting on what you learned from the experience. Emphasize how it helped you grow as a sales professional and prepared you for future challenges.

Tips to answer this interview question


Tips:
– Practice your answer beforehand to ensure it’s concise, clear, and engaging.
– Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your answer effectively.
– Be honest and authentic. Don’t exaggerate or fabricate stories.
– Focus on the lessons you learned and how they have helped you become a better salesperson.

Things to Avoid:
– Don’t ramble or go off-topic. Keep your answer focused on the specific sales challenge and your role in overcoming it.
– Avoid blaming others or making excuses for your failures.
– Don’t dwell on the negative aspects of the experience. Instead, emphasize the positive outcomes and what you learned from it.

Example interview answers to this question


Example 1:
“In my previous role, I faced the challenge of selling a complex software solution to a large corporation. The decision-making process involved multiple stakeholders with conflicting needs. To overcome this, I conducted thorough research to understand each stakeholder’s priorities and concerns. I also collaborated closely with my team to develop a customized proposal that addressed their specific requirements. Through effective communication and negotiation, I was able to secure the deal, exceeding the sales target by 20%.”

This answer is strong because it:
– Clearly outlines the challenging sales situation, including the complexity of the software solution and the involvement of multiple stakeholders.
– Highlights the candidate’s problem-solving skills, research abilities, and collaboration efforts.
– Quantifies the positive outcome by exceeding the sales target by 20%.
– Concludes with a reflection on the lessons learned and personal growth as a salesperson.

Example 2:
“During my time as a sales representative, I encountered a situation where a key client threatened to cancel their contract due to dissatisfaction with our product. To address this challenge, I actively listened to their concerns and conducted a thorough analysis of their pain points. I then worked closely with our product development team to implement improvements that met their specific needs. As a result, I not only retained the client but also increased their order volume by 15%.”

This answer is strong because it:
– Clearly describes the challenging sales situation, emphasizing the threat of losing a key client.
– Demonstrates the candidate’s customer-centric approach, active listening skills, and problem-solving abilities.
– Quantifies the positive outcome by increasing the client’s order volume by 15%.
– Concludes with a reflection on the importance of understanding customer needs and going the extra mile to retain clients.
Example 3:
“In my previous role, I faced the challenge of selling a high-priced product to a budget-conscious client. To overcome this, I conducted extensive research to gather competitive intelligence and identify potential areas of value for the client. I also tailored my sales pitch to highlight the product’s long-term benefits and potential return on investment. Through effective negotiation, I was able to secure the deal at a price that satisfied both parties.”

This answer is strong because it:
– Clearly describes the challenging sales situation, emphasizing the need to sell a high-priced product to a budget-conscious client.
– Demonstrates the candidate’s research skills, competitive analysis abilities, and negotiation skills.
– Quantifies the positive outcome by securing the deal at a satisfactory price for both parties.
– Concludes with a reflection on the importance of understanding the client’s needs and finding creative solutions to overcome objections.

Like a phone call interview – with your own AI interview coach.

Enter job title and company

Practice effectively for your dream job.

Get asked job-specific questions

Your AI interview coach will speak and ask you questions.

Speak back and view private feedback

Your coach will listen to you speak and reply with follow-up questions and private feedback.

Interview Feedback

Improve from real feedback

Frustrated by never hearing feedback from your interviews? We get it. Interview Smile is your way to get real feedback on how you did and to help you answer questions better. Come into your next job interview empowered with superhuman interview readiness.

Go from nervous to confident

Practice with your AI coach as much as you want to calm your interview nerves. Hone your pitch and boost your confidence with Interview Smile.

Interview Practice