How to answer interview questions concerning specific sales behaviours or sales roles
The trend towards behavioural-based interviewing means that employers are asking candidates about past behaviours and situations to predict how they may perform under similar conditions or circumstances.

Q: How do you become successful at job interviews? Also, what qualities do you need to have to be involved in sales/customer service advisor?

A: There are lots of general resources available, both print and online, on how to handle the first interview with an employer. However, if the position you have applied for is in a sales/customer service advisory area, you may want to look at job descriptions for these types of sales roles and read closely for what the employer is looking for in a candidate.

Communication and interpersonal skills are critical skills that a candidate must possess if he/she is to succeed in this type of role and the employer will be looking candidates who demonstrate strengths in these areas. Be prepared to answer questions such as:

• What is your definition of a customer service professional?
• What do you like most about servicing your customers? Why? Can you give me an example?
• What do you like least about servicing your customers? Why? Can you give me an example?
• Can you describe to me a time when you have performed above and beyond the call of duty to meet the needs of a customer or client?
• Tell me about a time when you had to call a client about an problem that did not involve you directly but a third party? What strategies do you find to be effective in encouraging customers to pay promptly?
• Tell me about your previous experiences working as part of a group or team. Who was involved? What role did you play? What were the results? How did you feel about the experience?
• In your last position, how often did you survey customers or conduct account reviews?