Being able to offer a friendly, effective service to customers is a highly valuable skill, and all kinds of companies are on a constant lookout for individuals who are gifted in this regard. Sales assistants can work anywhere, from high-street shops, through to businesses offering IT solutions to other businesses, meaning sales assistant careers can be challenging, interesting and varied. This article will help those applying for sales assistant jobs to prepare for a successful interview. If you haven't yet got an interview, read this guide on preparing a sales assistant CV.
General tips for a sales assistant interview.
The best sales assistants (e.g. assistant managers) are able to instantly make a positive impression on people, and consistently demonstrate a positive attitude in their approach to life and work. They also recognise the importance of every single customer interaction, and the fact that the company's entire reputation can be tarnished, in the eyes of a customer, in a matter of seconds if they do not.
This means candidates should make an extra effort to generate a positive first impression of themselves on arrival, attending the interview with plenty of time to spare, and dressed smartly.
Interviewers will be looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, and who have excellent communication skills. Try to speak clearly during the interview, maintain good eye contact, and show a high level of passion towards the position. Smiling can also help to create a connection.
Working with a sales recruitment agency, ahead of the interview, is a good idea, as these organisations can provide resources and training to help individuals succeed at the interview stage.
Our recruiters in the sales, marketing and customer services sectors outline their top interview prep tip in the video below:
Information for sales assistant jobs.
Good sales assistants can quickly establish rapport with anyone, so do not be afraid to let your personality shine through during the interview and, if appropriate, treat it as a two-way conversation, rather than an interrogation. Being honest and open with your interviewers is likely to create a positive impression.
If you have any previous experience of working to sales targets, it is often a good idea to mention this fact, as employers need to know they are not taking a gamble by employing someone who can talk a good game, but will ultimately fail to deliver results.
Depending on the position, previous experience in sales may not be required. Those who do not have any direct experience should focus on transferable skills from other lines of work. For example, individuals who have previously worked as waiters will have good inter-personal and pressure handling abilities. We have produced a list of common interview questions to help guide those applying for sales assistant jobs through the interview process.
Sales assistant interview questions.
- Why are you interested in a sales assistant position?
- Have you any previous experience in a similar role?
- How would you deal with a difficult customer?
- How does closing a sale make you feel?
- Do you enjoy working closely with people?
- How do you respond to the pressures attached to target-based work?
- Why is providing good service to customers so important?
- How would you approach selling an add-on product to a customer?
- Do you think competition in the sales team is a healthy or unhealthy thing?
General interview questions.
- What is your greatest career achievement to date?
- Give us three strengths and weaknesses.
- Who is your greatest inspiration?
- Why do you want to work for us?
- What do you know about our company?
