Territory Sales Officer Interview Preparation Guide
Download PDF

Territory Sales Officer based Frequently Asked Questions by expert members with experience as Territory Sales Officer (TSO). These questions and answers will help you strengthen your technical skills, prepare for the new job test and quickly revise the concepts

45 Territory Sales Officer (TSO) Questions and Answers:

Table of Contents

Territory Sales Officer (TSO) Interview Questions and Answers
Territory Sales Officer (TSO) Interview Questions and Answers

1 :: Tell me if hired, how do you intend on making a difference with our company?

By being myself. A loyal hardworking employee that works to get new customers and provided them with the best service possible and keep the existing customers by being a "sparring partner" and to help them to get the job and fulfill the job in the best possible wat.

2 :: Explain me about the sales process at your current position?

New (potential) costumers I will visit to find out who they really are, see there office, people that are working for that company. All to give me a good impression. In the meeting I would like to hear what they are looking for, what they are doing, why they have interest in our products. Get to know the customer and let the customer to know me and my company. I will give a presentation about the company and the products, the way we are organised etc. After that visit I will stay in contact by email and phone. First orders I wil discuss with the customer (if he/she wants ofcourse) to see if what they order is really what they want. After receiving the order, it will be confirmed by the after sales or sales support department with a confirmation. In the confirmation is mentioned the quantity and prices and expected delivery date. In case of prepayment there is also an pro forma invoice sent. (new customers first order is always prepayment) Existing customers I will visit regulary depend on how big of a customer they are, their potential, their demand/wishes and possibility. Ofcourse egular contact by phone will take place too. all orders are checked by me and I also check all confirmations.

3 :: Explain what do you know about our organization?

This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?

A good organization with perfect management. I heard that in this organization i can gain knowledge and good atmosphere.
If its for a good renowned company then its better to go through the company website and know what's the company profile and what's their achievements/successes and branches & other details.
According to me this is one of the best company. It has a good Environment, We feel good working in companies, which has good growth in the IT Industries. This Organization has all the qualities like good growth, good Environment, maintaining a best level in the IT Industries, etc.

4 :: Tell me do you enjoy working as part of a team, or are you more of a lone wolf?

To work in sales you have to be a team player. Say that when you are developing new sales strategies you do like the opportunity to work in peace and quiet, but the rest of the time you thrive in the team atmosphere that is common in sales.

5 :: Explain me what motivates you?

The biggest motivation is hitting new sales targets and being the best salesperson on the team. Say that selling is what drives you; it is your passion as well as your profession. You love the challenge of selling to new customers and thrive on team competition.

6 :: Tell us what attracts you to this industry?

It is a more solid industry with another kind of challanges. It is more professional as PV, more settled.

7 :: Tell us how well informed are you of the products we sell?

Never enough. I have done research on the internet (not only Snorkel website). So I know the range and different products, but have never smelled or touched a Snorkel AWP

8 :: Why should we hire you as Territory Sales Officer (TSO)?

I am somebody that is used to work for a home-office as a single employee in a country/market. I am not affraid to work long hours and my goal is to create long term relation with costumers. I want Snorkel to became one of the main brands in the Benelux.

9 :: Explain how do you present a new product for a client?

They will want to see your committed presentation in reality. You will have few suitable presentations if you have the experiences in sales. The parts in the industry that you are applying for should be highlighted. Interview is the right time for you to prove your experiences that you have ever had. It is not a serious problem if you do not have experience, your knowledge and your learning attitude can be replaced in this situation- it is sharp to search everything about the industry before you apply for this job.

10 :: Explain what has been the highlight of your sales career so far?

An honest answer is required here; if you are going for a sales manager role it is expected that you have an outstanding track record in sales. Mention a couple of highlights as this makes you appear even more experienced.

11 :: Tell me how would you attempt to sell an unpopular idea to an individual?

The best approach is to work on softening them up. Extend the small talk before talking about the product. Be subtle while always steering the conversation to the product and why the customer needs it. There always comes a time, however, when you have to admit defeat and move on.

12 :: Tell me what skills do you possess that will help you sell as a Territory Sales Manager?

I know how to build a trustful relationship with people at different levels. By creation such a relationship customers feel free to ask for information, knowledge, etc. I am not going to sit on the customers chair but I can imagine how it is to sit on his/her chair and advise him/her. This helps the customer making their discussion.

13 :: Explain one or two of the most difficult challenges and or rejections you have faced in the past and how you responded?

The biggest PV wholesaler wanted to change brand of inverters but at that time the range of inverters wasn't suitable for the market (residential). But I knew that in a year new products would come available. I let the opportunity go, knowing that the shifting brands in the market would happen often. But I had my contacts, they where aware of our brand and that we wanted to expand into the market. One year later they contacted me and wanted to sit together because they noticed that we were expanding rapidly, there customers started asking for our brand and our portfolio was in line with market demands. So by letting the first option go, continuing with the market penetration, keeping in contact I created a new opportunity with me in a much better position to negotiate. Second challanges was entering into the Danish market at the moment that the market slowed down to almost zero deu to new subsidy scheme. I invest in building personal relations with purchasers and company owners that kept active. Regular contacts by phone and mail. And made visits to there offices, knowing that it would be highly appreciated. As a result I managed to get some (small) sales as a new and unknown brand that wasn't cheaper, purely based upon good relationship management.

14 :: Tell me what have you done to improve territory sales manager knowledge in the last year?

Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
Employers look for applicants who are goal-oriented. Show a desire for continuous learning by listing hobbies non-work related. Regardless of what hobbies you choose to showcase, remember that the goal is to prove self-sufficiency, time management, and motivation. Answer samples
Every should learn from his mistake. I always try to consult my mistakes with my kith and kin especially with elderly and experienced person.
I enrolled myself into a course useful for the next version of our current project. I attended seminars on personal development and managerial skills improvement.

15 :: Tell me why do you enjoy sales?

You need a well-prepared answer for this. An interview is the ultimate sales test. Some interviewers believe that if you cannot sell yourself you cannot sell a product. Be very positive about sales; say it is your passion and that you love the challenge of closing deals.

16 :: Explain why do you think you'd be the best person to work in this territory?

Do some research and say that you understand the territory well and feel that it is a great opportunity to make an effective contribution to the business by operating in a new territory.

17 :: Can you please explain what is your greatest strength?

I have good analatic skills which helps me to find the real issue. Ask the right questions to find get to the point what it is all about.

18 :: Explain me about an accomplishment you are most proud of?

Make the brand SolarMax one of the great competitors for the biggest and most welknow brand in the Dutch PV market within two years. I succeeded this just by myself with a home-office and techical support from Switzerland where the competitor had a local sales staff of 4, marketing material in Dutch and Dutchspeaking technical supportteam.

19 :: Tell me what do you like and dislike about the sales process?

Use this question to know the candidate's self-awareness and motivation. Know your strengths in the sales process as these will translate into what you like. The interviewer will give priority to you when your "likes" and strengths fix the sales position. For example, if you are discussing your strengths with the interviewer, demonstrate and describe how you enjoy this aspect of sales and your pleasure at coming up with win-win solutions. You need to emphasize that this will be ensured to satisfy customers and increase sales for the company. You note that you should take careful when responding to the "dislikes". During negotiation on sales solutions, you should choose a characteristic of your current or precious company, for example you done poor delivery on the sales or lack of flexibility. It is positive manner to answer this question. You give your "dislikes" to get the solutions for the sort of problems. For example, there is obstruction in the delivery of company products and this makes customers unsatisfied. So you will discuss how set up a follow-up process to speed up the delivery of products.

20 :: Basic Territory Sales Officer (TSO) Job Interview Questions:

Presented here are some sample questions generally asked in a sales manager interview:

☛ What is your best strength at the job?
☛ What were you main duties in the previous job?
☛ What do you like the best about being a sales manager?
☛ How do you arrange your daily work?
☛ How many first sales appointments a week are considered as a successful week?
☛ Describe a typical sales process (or sales cycle) for big ticket items and for smaller ones.
☛ What are your selling techniques, how do you present/launch a new product? What presentation's skills require?
☛ What are your goals in term of professional development and advancement?
☛ How did you develop your best-selling techniques?
☛ Describe some success stories and some difficulties. How did you handle the difficulties?
☛ What have you found to be the most important skills in negotiating and succeeding in sales?
☛ How do you handle rejections?
☛ Describe sales-teamwork; how did you handle your team challenges?

21 :: Territory Sales Officer (TSO) Job Description:

The sales manager must manage the sales force of the company, in order to generate maximum sales.

1. Single point of contact: In fact, the sales manager is the single point of contact for all the salesmen when it comes to any questions and queries about the product or the company.

2. Team leader: The sales manager is the team leader for the sales team and should possess all the qualities that a team leader should have.

3. Team person: The sales manager should also be a team person, who understands any differences that crop in his or her team and work towards solving them in an amicable and quick manner.

4. Strong sales background: Other than these internal qualities, the sales manager should have a strong sales background and should be able to lead his or team from the front utilizing their unique sales expertise and talents.

5. Hiring new sales personnel: The sales manager is also expected to hire new sales personnel. Therefore, the sales manager should be experienced and knowledgeable enough to determine whether an applicant will succeed in sales or not. The manager must bear in mind that although some possess an inborn quality and have a salesman personality, successful salesmanship can be taught. A business administration degree can be very helpful as well, even for those people that just naturally have it in them to sell a product. As a sales manager, you should know how to bring out the best in each type, helping every salesperson excel in sales.

22 :: Territory Sales Officer (TSO) Approach to Sales Questions:

☛ What makes a successful sales person?
☛ How do you define a new customer's needs and expectations?
☛ What kind of problems do you have to solve as a salesperson?
☛ How do you get a reading of people upon first meeting them?
☛ How do you approach understanding your customer's needs?
☛ How do you establish rapport with a stranger on the telephone?
☛ What do you consider the most crucial part of your job?
☛ What kind of rewards are most satisfying to you?
☛ How much time do you spend on the different parts of your job?
☛ What have you learned from the different sales jobs you've had?
☛ How would you break in a new territory for an employer?
☛ How many accounts do you like to handle at one time?
☛ When do you find silence to be useful in selling?
☛ What are the skills needed to be successful on the telephone?
☛ How detailed are the sales reports you prepare?
☛ What do you feel are your personal limitations?
☛ How do you get people to work in cooperation with you?

24 :: Targets and Marketplace Territory Sales Officer Job Interview Questions:

☛ What is your sales target and how is it established?
☛ How much time do you spend developing new business?
☛ How do you target new accounts for prospecting?
☛ How do you acquire new sales leads?
☛ Who are your major competitors and why?
☛ What business trends do you see developing in the market?

25 :: Relationships Based Territory Sales Officer Job Interview Questions:

☛ Explain your role as a team member of a sales force.
☛ How do you deal with disagreements with others?
☛ How do you organise yourself for daily activities?
☛ What kind of people do you like to sell to?
☛ How do you turn a buyer into a regular customer?
☛ Why do people buy a product or service from you?
☛ Describe the best and worst manager you've ever had.
☛ How do you deal with angry and upset customers?