i need interview tips for a sales manager position, im currently a customer service manager .?
Asked by italianconcepts
i have worked in retail for 10 years and i am looking for a career change, common question asked a such interview? is the focus on the customer count in sales? thanks

Best Answer:
In answer to your question, the focus is on how much revenue you can sell, or get your team to sell, not the customer count, that follows after the sale. If you're talking about being a sales manager, managing other people within a team, then the focus will be on how you can give in house training and how you would keep your team energized and motivated to believe in themselves and achieve more. If you're talking about a sales manager, sales executive role then depending whether the sales in out on the field or telephone canvassing. In both they want to know what motivates you, what keeps you going, what your best/worst qualities are, what you hope to achieve and why you want a career change. Remember - sales is the only profession you can control the amount of money you earn - good luck.

INTERVIEW TIPS• Listen carefully, and feel free to ask for clarification before answering a question. • Take a moment to formulate your answers before you speak. • Project energy and enthusiasm. • Be honest while focusing on communicating your professional achievements. • Bring extra resumes, a notepad, and a pen. • Be polite to everyone you meet at the interview. • Do not chew gum, swear, or use slang.• Thank the interviewer for their time. Within a day, send a written thank you note via e-mail or regular mail. • If the interview is face-to-face:  Look your professional best.  Be conservative in your use of fragrance, cosmetics, and jewelry. Make eye contact with the interviewer.  Be aware of the interviewer’s body language and other non-verbal cues. ------------------------------------------------ PREPARATION TIPSWhat’s the best way to stay relaxed and calm during an interview? Be prepared. Here are some tips: • Research the business unit or department.  Become familiar with the products, services, structure, competitors, reputation, and any recent significant changes. Review the job description to understand the skills required. • Do “research” on yourself as well.  Know why you want the job.  Review your resume.  Identify transferable skills, key accomplishments, work style, and personal and professional strengths. Remind yourself of specific experiences that exemplify these skills and strengths. Be able to express the unique marketable skills you have to offer. • Prepare a list of four or five questions about the department or position. • Get a good nights’ rest. • Know the exact place and time of the meeting.• Allow plenty of time to get to the interview and plan to arrive early. ------------------------------------------------------ SOME USEFUL QUESTIONS *Tell me about your work history. *what is your special job strength *what did you like most about your sales leader job *what did you like the least about your sales leader job *explain your job duties in your last job *as a sales leader, how did you go about recruiting your sales staff *what sort of induction/ orientation did you use can you describe *how did you handle the training recruitments of your sales staff *did you employ performance appraisal systems to evaluate your staff how did you conduct it *what did you do with the findings *what criteria did you use to evaluate the people *did you set up sales targets for sales staff *did you conduct sales coaching for weak staff how did you do it *did you counsel your staff on job *how did you handle customer complaints *did you set up incentives for your staff *how would you describe your sales management style *how did you handle employee problems--job problem --personal problem *how did you handle staff discipline -------------------------------- Hope this helps u. For more ,go here http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:QpyMhmiaHCAJ:www.asisvcs.com/bellsouth/pdf/710064.pdf+interview+tips+sales+manager&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=in
Answered by rickey p

Many interviewers pull their questions from the same old lists. This is also very true with sales jobs. Here's a great list I had of questions and type of responses that work. Many of these I've been asked in interviews before: Question: When was the last time you created a marketing innovation, which energized you, and why did it do so? Answer: Applicant should display good judgment in creating new marketing techniques and enjoy the process and the rewards that result from the innovation. Question: Apart from financial considerations, what is challenging about marketing? Answer: Applicant should understand the risks and challenges of new market developments. Question: What steps do you take when you have an idea to improve either a company service or product? Answer: Applicant should understand why they need to go to their direct superior first. They should have a commitment to improving products and services which increases positive customer relations. They should want to create a feeling of loyalty and build trust with co-workers and customers. Question: What steps to you take to promote a business idea to your manager? Answer: Applicant should have the motivation to inspire others with innovative ideas. Question: Is your objective to sell the company or the product when target marketing a customer directly? Answer: Applicant should understand the interaction between company, product quality, and reputation. Question: Market strategy is constantly changing, what steps have you taken in the last three months to keep up with of current trends? Answer: Answer should indicate that applicant knows how to keep up with changing trends and they should be able to recognizes the necessity of staying ahead in a constantly changing market. Question: Sell me this pen? Answer: Applicant should have the ability to pick out key features and benefits of a product and then ”‘sell” them effectively under pressure. Question: How would you rate yourself as a salesperson on a scale from 1 to 10? Answer: A very low rating suggests poor self-belief. Too high of a rating may suggest a level of arrogance that may be resistant to suggestions of improvement. However, if they can explain why they deserve a high rating then they may just be confident and aware of their selling skills. Question: What is your psychology of selling? Answer: Candidate should be well-versed and concise in describing his/her view of the entire structure of selling from qualifying a prospect, to handling objections, to closing. Good luck on your interview!
Answered by Boo Too