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Inside Sales Representative Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Inside Sales Representative interview questions and answers.

  1. As an inside sales representative, what skills and personality traits do you have for this role? See answer
  2. How would you describe our product or service as our inside sales representative? See answer
  3. How do you handle customer objections? See answer
  4. How do you decide when to stop trying to sell a product or service to a potential customer? See answer
  5. What was your most successful sale as an inside sales representative? See answer
  6. How do you research the target audience of products or services? See answer
  7. What data entry tool do you use to track sales? See answer
  8. Are you comfortable making cold calls? See answer
  9. Imagine you met a potential customer at a coffee shop. How would you talk to this person about our product or service? See answer
  10. How important is customer retention to you? See answer
  11. How do you think our company can improve our sales strategy? See answer
  12. Why do you want to work here as an inside sales representative? See answer
  13. Describe a situation when you didn’t meet your sales target. How did you handle it?
  14. What’s your opinion about using social media to sell a product or service?
  15. Imagine a customer asked you to not follow up with them after making a sales pitch. What would you do?
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Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Inside Sales Representative Interview Questions and Answers

As an inside sales representative, what skills and personality traits do you have for this role?

An inside sales representative needs excellent interpersonal and communication skills to sell products or services. This question helps you assess a candidate's strengths. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of key skills for an inside sales representative
  • Confidence in their ability to sell or upsell products or services
  • Interest in professional development

Example:

"I believe communication skills are important for any inside sales representative, and I'm a great communicator. I also have excellent customer service skills, which I use to build relationships with customers and make sales. I'm good at researching a target audience and using computer systems to prepare contracts, write memos, and track my progress."

How would you describe our product or service as our inside sales representative?

An excellent inside sales representative must know how to describe a product or service in simple terms. This question tests whether a candidate researched your company and finds out how they relate to potential customers. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of your organisation's product
  • Understanding of your target audience
  • Communication skills

Example:

"I'd highlight the product's benefits and what sets them apart from your competitors. For example, your shoes have an excellent reputation for their comfort. I'd also describe the colour varieties and suggest some outfits that suit the style. When I'm working to make a sale, I focus more on the product's value instead of its cost."

How do you handle customer objections?

Active listening is an essential skill for inside sales representatives. By asking this question, you can assess a candidate's sales skills and ability to respond to customer objections. An excellent candidate acknowledges those concerns and addresses them appropriately. What to look for in an answer:

  • Strong negotiation and persuasion skills
  • Ability to listen actively and build trusting relationships with customers
  • Understanding of the importance of product knowledge

Example:

"I'd first listen actively and try to understand their concerns about the product or service. If there were misconceptions, I'd clarify them. I'd also explain the product's or service's features and benefits. Whenever possible, I'd look for common ground that suits your company and the prospective client."

How do you decide when to stop trying to sell a product or service to a potential customer?

Knowing when to stop sales pitching is crucial. This question reveals whether a candidate can strike a balance between being persuasive and respecting a customer's boundaries. What to look for in an answer:

  • Persuasiveness and optimism
  • Active listening skills
  • Customer service skills

Example:

"I often start with a strong sales pitch to persuade potential customers with my first attempt to sell a product or service. However, I stop trying to sell when they make it clear they have no intentions of buying or changing their minds. As a persuasive inside sales representative, I also understand the importance of respecting people's decisions."

What was your most successful sale as an inside sales representative?

This question gives you insights into a candidate's experience as an inside sales representative. It also evaluates their sales strategies. What to look for in an answer:

  • Confidence in their sales strategies
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Relevant work experience

Example:

"Five years ago, I recorded my most successful sale to a construction company. I met the company's representative at a conference, and while explaining my reason for attending, I made an effective sales pitch. By listening to the representative, I realised my product could solve the company's issues. I applied my communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills and made a profit of $15,000 for my employers."

How do you research the target audience of products or services?

Understanding a product's target audience is an important aspect of an inside sales representative's job. This question tests a candidate's commitment to researching the information that convinces potential customers to buy your product or service. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to conduct customer research
  • Knowledge of the target market
  • Analytical skills to apply research to sales tactics

Example:

"I subscribe to various newsletters that give me weekly updates on the trends of my products' target audience. I also connect with them on social media and network with inside sales representatives to share ideas. I have keen research skills and am always looking for ways to improve my targeted sales strategies."

What data entry tool do you use to track sales?

Although soft skills are vital for any inside sales representative, some technical skills are also necessary. This question assesses a candidate's ability to use technology and other tools to monitor sales in your company. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience using data entry tools
  • Ability to keep up with advances in technology and relevant software
  • organisation skills

Example:

"I use Microsoft Excel to track my sales. The software makes it easy to organise data, search for previous records, and edit entries. I'm open to learning other tools your company uses to track sales, too."

Are you comfortable making cold calls?

Cold calls are a great way to approach prospective customers and are a key part of an inside sales representative's role. This question assesses a candidate's ability to reach out to customers effectively to sell products or services. What to look for in an answer:

  • Confidence in their ability to convert cold calls into sales
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to research target audience

Example:

"Yes, I'm comfortable making cold calls and starting conversations. In my experience, a cold call can be an effective strategy for selling to customers. Researching the company also improves the likelihood of having a successful conversation. At my former workplace, I used this strategy, and found it to be very successful."

Describe a situation when you didn't meet your sales target. How did you handle it?

Meeting targets is a key performance indicator (KPI) for inside sales representatives. By asking this question, you can find out how a candidate manages a dip in their performance. It can also reveal what motivates them to succeed in their role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Motivation and ambition to meet and exceed targets
  • Goal-oriented

Example:

"At my last job, I didn't meet my sales target for the first quarter of the year. I took some time to reassess the market trends and determine what I could improve before outlining a clear plan to follow. I noticed our target audience read blogs and Twitter posts more than physical publications. I used that knowledge and focused my efforts on reaching customers through social media. It helped me exceed my targets the following quarter."

Imagine you met a potential customer at a coffee shop. How would you talk to this person about our product or service?

Sales representatives must know how to initiate effective sales conversations. This question tests the candidate's marketing skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to adapt sales strategies to unique situations
  • Persuasiveness and negotiation skills

Example:

"Having an outgoing personality helps me connect with customers and build trust quickly. In my five years of experience, I've met several clients at random places. The first thing I'd do is comment on something we have in common or about the coffee shop. Depending on the customer's demeanour, I'd try to make small talk and tell them about the product's or service's features and benefits. I'd give them my contact information and arrange for a meeting where I could share more details or offer a demonstration and close a sale."

What's your opinion about using social media to sell a product or service?

This question finds out whether an inside sales representative is comfortable using social media to sell a product or service. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of how to use social media
  • Creative methods of connecting with a target audience
  • Modern sales strategies

Example:

"I think social media is a useful channel to connect with a target audience. Considering your organisation's potential customers, I believe Twitter and Instagram are great platforms to focus your marketing strategies and attract customers. I enjoy having productive conversations with teenagers and I'm comfortable building relationships with them on social media."

How important is customer retention to you?

Although an inside sales representative's focus is typically on selling products or services, maintaining good relationships with existing customers is key. This question assesses how seriously a candidate takes customer retention. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to build trust and lasting relationships with customers
  • Understanding of the importance of customer retention
  • Proven customer retention strategies

Example:

"Successfully selling products to new clients is key, but I think retaining existing customers is even more important. I do this by following up with customers regularly and informing them of discounts or new products. Maintaining a good relationship with existing customers is an excellent way to increase sales through word-of-mouth. In my last position, existing customers made up more than 60% of my monthly sales target."

How do you think our company can improve our sales strategy?

Inside sales representatives must know how to evaluate a company's strategies and offer ideas for its improvement. This question tests a candidate's observation and critical thinking skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Research and knowledge of your company's sales strategies
  • Innovation and creative thinking

Example:

"From what I learned during my research, your current strategies are effective. I particularly like your consistency in including ads in newspapers and other publications. However, I noticed your online presence is not a strong as your competitor's. I believe improving your social media following and engagement would enhance sales."

Imagine a customer asked you not to follow up with them after making a sales pitch. What would you do? 

While inside sales representatives typically look for ways to connect with customers, it's important they respect boundaries. This question reveals whether a customer would respect your target audience's choices. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Understanding of when to stop making sales pitches

Example:

"If a customer asked me not to follow up with them after making a sales pitch, I'd agree not to reach out again. I'd also politely ask why they want to stop receiving product information. From their response, I'd know what aspects to improve on as an inside sales representative. I understand the importance of respecting people's boundaries, and would focus my attention on other customers."

Why do you want to work here as an inside sales representative?

The goal of this question is to understand what attracted a candidate to your job opening. It can also reveal whether they prepared for the interview. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in personal and professional development
  • Long-term career goals
  • Enthusiasm for the role, the product or service, and the organisation

Example:

"As a customer, I think your product is one of the most effective for treating skin conditions, and I want to help you reach more customers. My skills and experience are well-suited for this position, and I believe they'd be valuable to you. I'm excited about working here as an inside sales representative, and I'd love to learn from your experienced marketers."

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