This is a question I always ask every candidate during a sales job interview. This question is usually paired together with, why are you looking for another sales job, if you are currently employed and if currently unemployed due to a layoff, this question is very important to answer correctly if you want to gain the interests of the hiring sales manager during the sales job interview.
SALES JOB INTERVIEW QUESTION: WHY DO YOU WANT THIS SALES JOB?
Now more than ever, the sales talent pool is loaded with many well qualified candidates for any given sales job opportunities. Resumes get filtered through to make sure that qualifications match the job description but the important thing to remember is that you will be going up against multiple candidates with backgrounds directly related to the sales job opportunity and if you make it to the sales job interview, then put your best foot forward to give you the best chance to land a job offer.
During the sales job interview, when you are asked why you want this specific sales job, be sure to convey your focused interest on that job with purpose and choice versus giving the impression that you simply need a job, any job. This does not impress hiring sales manager well. I do understand that you need to be honest, but to give you a better chance of landing a job offer after the sales job interview, you have to do your homework and truly go for the jobs that really excite and interest you.
Be prepared to answer why you want the job during the sales job interview, and give specific examples as to why. I have interviewed sales candidates I commend them for being honest, but the only answer they provided was that their significant other relocated and they were looking for a job in that location. Save that response for later when asked why you are no longer with your previous sales job. Answer the question, as to why you want this particular job. If you were laid off, don’t come across as being desperate for any job.
This is why it is very important for you to have a strategic approach to your sales job interview and job search and to focus more on quality job submissions versus quantity. When you get a phone screen or sales job interview, you don’t want to have your progress stopped because you didn’t demonstrate that you are the best fit and a person with the proper motivation and reason for going for that job.
The worst sales job interview answers I have heard when sales candidates ask this question have been the ones where the candidate knows only the basics about the job and didn’t spend any time researching the position or sales job opportunity. These candidates go into the sales job interview with the hopes that by applying to many sales jobs, one will probably come through. You might find a sales job this way, but you will not find the best and highest paying one. You also want to do yourself a favor and find a sales job that truly interests you as well, because if you seek to find a sales job just to find a sales job, you might be searching for another sales job and going through the same sales job interview process all over again within a year, and the cycle then continues.
SALES JOB INTERVIEW: PREPARE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION!
Do yourself a favor and think about how to answer during your next sales job interview, “why do you want this sales job?”. Be honest, but also strategically answer it to let the hiring sales manager that you are a serious candidate. Don’t waste your time jumping from one sales job interview to the next. Make the most of your next sales job interview and if needed, ask for some time to prepare. Reach out to your network, look on forums, talk to current employees, anything to give you more insight into the position you are pursuing.
The competition is fierce and no longer can you just show up with a shiny and impressive resume and land a good sales job. Focus on quality and it might take more time, but it will pay off in the long run.