How to Pass a high paying Sales Job Interview In 2025
I’ve been in sales training and recruiting for over 18 years, coaching organizations and salespeople worldwide. If you're preparing for a sales job interview, you need to be ready for key questions and know how to position yourself as the best candidate.
1. Tell Me About Yourself
As someone who recruits salespeople, I know that when interviewers ask this question, they’re not asking for your family history. They want to know:
Your Skills – What sales skills do you have? CRM? AI tools like ChatGPT? Content creation? Communication?
Your Experience – Have you worked independently or with a team? Have you sold to high-net-worth individuals? Have you traveled for sales?
Your Achievements – What sales results have you delivered? How many deals have you closed? What revenue have you generated?
I always tell my coaching clients: document your achievements. I recently asked a salesperson I coach how many calls she made last week—she said 100. Out of those, 30 people picked up, and she converted a percentage of them. That’s the kind of data you need to have ready.
2. Dress the Part
First impressions matter. People buy into you before they buy your product.
If it’s a virtual interview, ensure your background is clean and professional. If it's a corporate role, wear a white shirt with a simple blue tie. Arrive at least five minutes early to create a good impression.
3. Why Do You Want to Work in Sales?
You need a solid answer for this. Some key reasons include:
The freedom and financial potential sales provides.
The commission structure that allows you to earn more based on performance.
The opportunity to develop valuable business skills.
If you're looking for a job in sales, click the link in the show notes to submit your resume. If you're a CEO or founder looking for top sales talent, send me a brief, and we’ll help you recruit quality salespeople.
4. Tell Me About a Time You Persisted
This question tests your resilience.
Think about a client you followed up with for months before closing the deal. I once followed up with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) for a full year before securing my first training contract. That one deal opened doors to train other banks across Africa.
Prepare your story—recruiters want to see how committed you are to winning deals.
5. Practice Your Answers
If you really want the job, practice your responses. Do mock interviews with a friend or family member. Visualize yourself excelling in the interview.
6. How Much Do You Want to Earn?
When asked this question, be confident. State your expected salary based on:
Your experience
Your past sales performance
The proof of work you provide
Never give a vague answer—state your value with confidence.
7. Ask the Interviewer Questions
At the end of the interview, ask intelligent questions to show your interest and strategic thinking. Examples:
What’s the biggest challenge your sales team is currently facing?
Why are you hiring salespeople now? Is it for lead generation or conversion?
This positions you as someone who understands sales strategy, not just someone looking for a paycheck.
8. Show Proof of Work
If you’ve ever:
Run a podcast
Created YouTube content
Written LinkedIn articles
Mention these in your interview. Employers love candidates who take initiative.
One of my former employees got hired over PhD holders for a media sales role because he had a podcast. The hiring team checked online, saw his episodes, and gave him the job.
Document your achievements—a time of reckoning will come.
Final Thoughts
If you're a sales professional looking for a job, click the link in the show notes to submit your resume.
If you're a business owner looking to recruit salespeople, send us a brief—we’ll help you hire quality candidates:
Need one-on-one coaching for your business? Join my paid WhatsApp community, where I teach sales and marketing every single day.
Thank you for tuning in! Subscribe to the Paul Foh Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Follow me on social media, and let’s keep the conversation going.
Let’s make sales great again!
His company makes $1 Billion yearly. Here’s how they train and recruit staff: Watch and subscribe to the channel
