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Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Give A Compelling Interview Presentation: Tips, Examples and Topic Ideas

How to Give A Compelling Interview Presentation: Tips, Examples and Topic Ideas

Interview presentations have now become the new norm for most industries. They are popular for sales, marketing, technology, and academic positions. If you have been asked to deliver one for your job interview presentation, prepare to build a strong case for yourself as a candidate.

Giving a general presentation is already daunting. But selling yourself is always the hardest. Spectacular credentials and stellar expertise don’t count much if you cannot present them clearly, which you are expected to do during your interview presentation.

So, let’s prime you up for the challenge. This post is action-packed with job interview PowerPoint presentation examples and will teach you the best way to do a presentation without stressing too much!

Table of Contents

What is an Interview Presentation?

What should an interview presentation look like, how to prepare for a job interview presentation: the basics, define your structure, what slides to include, how to come up with 15-minute interview presentation ideas, how to conclude your interview presentation, how to prepare for an interview: the final tips, what to do at the first interaction with the company elevator pitch for interview, presentation design tips, how to overcome presentation anxiety, tips on maintaining positive body language throughout the presentation, your final act.

An interview presentation, also known as a job interview presentation or interview portfolio, is a formal and structured way for candidates to showcase their skills, qualifications, and suitability for a specific job position during an interview. It goes beyond the typical Q&A format of interviews, allowing candidates to demonstrate their expertise through a prepared presentation. Employers commonly request interview presentations in various industries, such as sales, marketing, technology, academia, and management roles. These presentations serve several important purposes: assessing communication skills, evaluating cultural fit, measuring expertise, analyzing problem-solving skills, and observing presentation skills. While the specific format and requirements of interview presentations vary widely, candidates typically receive guidelines from the employer regarding the topic, duration, and any specific criteria to be addressed. In essence, an interview presentation is an opportunity for candidates to make a compelling case for their candidacy, showcasing their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the job. It requires careful preparation, effective communication, and the ability to engage and persuade the interview panel. A successful interview presentation can significantly enhance a candidate’s chances of securing the desired position.

Think of your interview presentation as a sales pitch.

Your goal is to convince the human resources team that you are the best candidate. The kick here is that you will present to a warm audience – you already impressed them enough with your resume to be called in for an interview. We recommend generating a strategy and presentation based on a 30 60 90 Day Plan .

Employers request interview presentations for a few simple reasons:

• To assess your communication and public speaking skills.
• To understand whether you are the right cultural fit for the company.
• To develop a better sense of how well-versed you are in the domain .

So, your first job is ensuring your presentation fits the criteria. Review the company’s job description again and jot down all the candidate requirements. Take the time to read about their company values and mission. Be proactive and ask precisely what you should cover during your presentation.

Most interview presentations will differ in content and style, but here’s a quick example to give you more context:

[ Use This Template ]

Before you get elbow-deep in designing that PowerPoint for a job interview presentation, do some scouting and reach out to the HR team with a few questions.

You want your presentation to be on-point and technically accurate, so ask your contact the following:

• How long should an interview presentation be? Fifteen minutes is the golden standard, though some employers may ask to cut it down to just 10 minutes or extend it to 20-25.
• Who exactly will be present? A conversational presentation would undoubtedly be welcomed by your peers and a team leader but may appear too casual for the senior managers or board of directors.
• Does the HR team have a particular agenda in mind? Ask some leading questions to understand what kind of skills/experience they want you to demonstrate. If needed, use a proper agenda slide to include your content.
• What’s the IT setup? Should you bring your laptop? Do you need an adapter to connect to their projector? What kind of presentation software have they installed – PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides?

Everyone appreciates clarity.

In fact, 89% of professionals state their ability to communicate with clarity directly impacts their career and income.

Your presentation should flow, not rumble. Make sure that your story is easy to follow and your key message is easy to digest, remember, and pass on. If you want people to retain your main points, opt for the following structure:

Source: this infographic was created with  3 Steps Editable 3D Ladder Infographic

Here’s an interview presentation example styled in this fashion.

What is: The company’s presence in the Middle East is low. Only 15% of revenues come from the top markets.

Why this matters: The UAE fashion market alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21% during the next five years.

What could be: I have helped my previous employer open a flagship store in Dubai, have a lot of industry contacts, and am familiar with the local legislature. Your brand can expect a 17% revenue growth within one year of opening.

You can find even more ideas for designing your presentations in this post .

The choice of slides will largely depend on whether you are asked to talk about yourself or present on some task that you will be required to do as part of your job (e.g., create marketing campaigns).

Most interview presentation templates feature the following slides:

• Opening Slide
• Quick Bio/Personal Summary
• Career Path
• Education timeline
• Key Skills and Expertise
• Case studies/examples of the problems you have solved at your past jobs
• Your vision for your future role.
• What exactly can you bring in as the candidate (we will come back to this one later on!)

Can’t figure out where to start? Check out our AI PowerPoint generator to create an entire interview slide deck in a couple of clicks, or just download a job interview template . Swipe down to learn from the either of the following job interview presentation samples.

Typically, a talent acquisition team will suggest broad interview presentation topics for you. For example, if you are applying for a sales position, they may ask you to develop a sales presentation for some product (real or imaginary).

Some employers will request a short presentation about you or your hobbies to understand whether you are a good “fit” for the team and share the company’s values. Remember this: your audience will be assessing your aptitude for the role, no matter which topic you were given.

In fact, the interviewers at this point don’t care that much about your experience and skills. They want to know how you can apply those to solve the company’s pressing problems – meet sales targets, improve ROI from social media marketing or help them earn more revenue.

Your job is to make an educated guess… predict the most wrenching problem, and pitch your “magic pill” during your interview presentation.

I know what you are thinking – but how do I find the right opportunity/problem to tackle?

Businesses across different industries pretty much struggle with the same generic challenges related to either of the following:

Your topic should clearly address one of these areas and offer a potential roadmap for solving some specific problem within it.

Let’s say that you are applying for a sales role. Clearly, you will want to tackle the “customer audience” set of problems. To refine your idea, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you think of a new customer segment the company should target? Who are they, what do they want, and how you can help the company reach them?
• Do you have a network or experience to identify and pitch new clients?
• Can you think of new collaboration opportunities the company could use to attract a whole new niche of customers?

So a sample job interview presentation about yourself should include a series of Problem & Solution Slides , showing exactly how you will address that issue if the company hires you.

Here’s another PowerPoint presentation about yourself for job interview example worth using – incorporate a case study slide, showing how you have successfully solved a similar problem for your past employer.

Wrap up your presentation by laying out the key steps the company needs to take. Give an estimate of how much time it will take to tackle the problem, and what changes/investments should be made.

Your conclusion should tell this: “Hire me and I will solve this problem for you in no time!”.

Source: StockSnap

Dial-Up Your Power

Take a deep breath and strike a “power pose” before you enter the room.

According to her research, power posers performed better during interviews and were more likely to get hired. Another study also proved this theory: unaware judges gave major preference to the power-primed applicants. So yes, pep talks do work!

The first 30 Seconds Count The Most

What you do and say in the first 30 seconds will make the most impact. Psychological  research  shows that listeners form opinions about your personality and intelligence in the first 30 seconds of the interview. So be sure to start with a compelling opening, framing exactly how you want to be perceived.

Try To Appear Similar to the Interviewer

Lauren Rivera, a professor from Kellogg School,  came to the conclusion that interviewers tend to hire “people like them” .

Even the top human resource management folks fall for this bias and tend to base their evaluations on how similar a candidate is to them, instead of trying to decide whether the person’s skill set is ideal for the position. So to be liked, you will have to act relatable.

Back up your statements with facts

To deliver a presentation with a bang, you can make use of pre-analyzed facts to support your hypothesis. Make sure to do your homework, study the company and its competitive landscape, and do the professional work you would have done as a member of the company crew. At some point in your interview presentation, you go “off the script”, and pull out a bunch of documents, supporting your statements.

For example, you can give away a quick plan indicating a number of things the employer could do today to save money, even if they don’t hire you. Make sure to be meticulous; your work will speak for you. But giving away this work will show the employer your commitment, skills, and focus.

And that’s exactly how to make your job interview presentation stand out. Most candidates just ramble about their skills and past career moves. You bring specificity and proof to the platter, showing exactly what makes you a great hire fair and square.

Within a selection process, there are many interactions (interviews and dynamics) that you must successfully complete in order to be the next selected candidate. One of your objectives in this first interaction should be to generate a great first impression in the company. For this, we recommend using the Elevator Pitch for Interview technique.

The Elevator Pitch for Interview will allow you to present yourself in a solid and professional way in less than 60 seconds, in order to generate an outstanding first impression.

What is an Elevator Pitch for an Interview?

The Elevator Pitch is a condensed speech about yourself that aims to generate engagement in no more than 60 seconds. Entrepreneurs widely use this type of speech to persuade investors and job seekers in job interviews. Your Elevator Pitch for the Interview will generate a great first impression to the employer and be better positioned than other candidates. If your goal is to make a convincing presentation in a job interview, your Elevator Pitch needs to be well crafted.

How to Make an Elevator Pitch for an Interview

There are many ways and tips to make an excellent Elevator Pitch for a job interview. This section provides you with essential advice to make your interview more convincing.

Identify your target

You need to know to whom you are presenting yourself. Is it a recruiter? or an executive?. Your Elevator Pitch will change depending on the receiver.

Comprehend the needs of the hiring company

Make an advanced study about the search requirements for the job position. Identify your strengths. Highlight them. Demonstrate your experience. Identify your weaknesses. Show that you have a profile that seeks constant improvement

Create a clear, concise, and truthful Elevator Pitch

This point is critical. Your Elevator Pitch must be clear, concise, genuine, and impactful. Go from less to more. Generate a real hook in your audience. Try not to go off-topic or talk too much, and be brief in everything you want to say.

Speak naturally and confidently

If you can speak fluently and naturally, you can show a confident profile. Show you know what you are talking about and what you want.

Elevator Pitch Example for Job Seekers

This section illustrates an Elevator Pitch Example targeted to Recruiters. It will help you put together your own.

“My name is [NAME]. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, I have spent the last five years accumulating professional experience as a Project Assistant and Project Manager. I have successfully managed intangible products’ planning, strategy, and launch these past few years. I was excited to learn about this opportunity in Big Data – I’ve always been passionate about how technology and the use of information can greatly improve the way we live. I would love the opportunity to bring my project management and leadership skills to this position.”

Ways to avoid common mistakes in your Elevator Pitch

Keep in mind the following points to avoid making mistakes in your Elevator Pitch for an Interview.

Don’t hurry to make your Elevator Pitch

The Elevator Pitch lasts approximately 60 seconds. Do it on your own time and naturally, as long as you make it clear and concise.

Do not always use the same Elevator Pitch for all cases

One recommendation is not to repeat the same Elevator Pitch in all your interviews. Make changes. Try new options and ways of saying the information. Try different versions and check with your experience which generates more engagement and persuasion.

Make it easy to understand

Articulate your pitch as a story. Think that the person in front of you does not know you and is interested in learning more about your profile. Don’t make your Elevator Pitch challenging to appear more sophisticated. Simply generate a clear and easy-to-understand narrative, where all the data you tell is factual and verifiable.

Don’t forget to practice it

Practice is the key to success. Your Elevator Pitch for Interview will become more professional, convincing, and natural with practice.

How to End an Elevator Pitch?

An essential aspect of ending an Elevator Pitch for an Interview is demonstrating interest and passion for the position. You have already presented yourself and established that you have the necessary background for the job. Closing with phrases revealing passion and attitude will help reinforce your pitch.

We recommend you use expressions such as:

“I have always been interested and curious about the area in which the company operates, and it would be a great challenge for me to be able to perform in this position.”

“I have been interested in moving into your company for a while, and I love what your team is doing in IT.”

“I would like to advance my career with an employer with the same values. I know that thanks to my profile and experience, I can make excellent contributions to your company.”

Keep It Visual: Use visuals like images, graphs, and charts to convey your points effectively. Visuals can make complex information more accessible and engaging. Consistency Matters: Maintain a consistent design throughout your presentation. Use the same fonts, color schemes, and formatting to create a cohesive look. Practice Timing: Be mindful of the allotted time for your presentation. Practice to ensure you can comfortably cover your content within the time limit. Engage the Audience: Incorporate elements that engage the audience, such as questions, anecdotes, or real-world examples. Interaction keeps the interview panel interested. Use White Space: Avoid cluttered slides. Use white space to create a clean and uncluttered design that enhances readability.

Presenting during a job interview can be nerve-wracking. Here are some strategies to overcome presentation anxiety:

• Practice: Practice your presentation multiple times, ideally in front of a friend or mentor. The more you rehearse, the more confident you’ll become.
• Visualization: Visualize yourself by giving a successful presentation. Imagine yourself speaking confidently and engaging the audience.
• Breathing Techniques: Deep breathing can help calm nerves. Take slow, deep breaths before and during your presentation to reduce anxiety.
• Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind yourself of your qualifications and the value you bring to the role.
• Focus on the Message: Concentrate on delivering your message rather than dwelling on your anxiety. Remember that the interviewers want to learn about your skills and experiences.
• Arrive Early: Arrive at the interview location early. This gives you time to get comfortable with the environment and set up any technical equipment you use.

Maintain Good Posture: Stand or sit up straight with your shoulders back. Good posture conveys confidence and attentiveness. Make Eye Contact: Establish and maintain eye contact with your audience to show confidence and engagement. Use Open Gestures: Employ open gestures, like open palms and expansive arm movements, to convey enthusiasm and openness. Smile and Show Enthusiasm: Genuine smiles and enthusiastic facial expressions demonstrate passion and eagerness. Control Nervous Habits: Be mindful of nervous habits like tapping or fidgeting, which can distract your audience and convey anxiety.

Stop fretting and start prepping for your interview presentation. You now have all the nitty-gritty presentation tips to ace that interview. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the design part, browse our extensive gallery of PowerPoint templates and cherry-pick specific elements ( diagrams , shapes , and data charts ) to give your interview presentation the top visual appeal.

Here you can see some 100% editable templates available on SlideModel that could be useful for preparing an interview presentation.

1. Versatile Self-Introduction PowerPoint Template

Use This Template

2. Professional Curriculum Vitae PowerPoint Template

This a sample of PowerPoint presentation template that you can use to present a curriculum and prepare for a job interview presentation. The PPT template is compatible with PowerPoint but also with Google Slides.

3. Modern 1-Page Resume Template for PowerPoint

4. Multi-Slide Resume PowerPoint Template

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Sales Manager Interview Presentation Template

Sales Manager Interview

Transcript: Industries Customers Products/Services Corporate **** Jennifer Background Corporate Culture Kyle Moll Worked in hospitality since High School Studied Restaurant Management at Texas Tech 14 Years at the Radisson Hotel in Austin Director of Revenue, Sales Manager, Reservations, Reservations Supervisor Bachelor of Engineering Technology Major of Computer Technology University of South Florida Currently resides in Saint Petersburg, Florida Vice President of Sales at AxisPoint Health 1.5 years but in sales industry for 30 years Worked in hospitality since High School Studied Restaurant Management at Texas Tech 14 Years at the Radisson Hotel in Austin Director of Revenue, Sales Manager, Reservations, Reservations Supervisor Chance's Person Sales Manager Interview with Jennifer Spradling, Kyle Moll,

Sales Manager Presentation

Transcript: Social Media Centre's of Influence Universities Company presentation days Investment Clubs Target specific Qualifications Month to month themed competitions - Activity Based Competitions Every month has a different theme EG, Life, Medical Aid, Investments, Short-term and Corporate Winners for each month will be ones with the highest activity count and bonus points given to the adviser who encompasses the theme and sells within that range. Visual aspect of the competition. Putting up a whiteboard in order for the advisers to visualize what they are achieving Spontaneous Competitions Friday competitions, whomever secures 30 appointments first gets to go home Team Building Drill down and Isolate Once isolated: MOTIVATION Product or Technical Problem Practice, Practice, Practice Performance Review Apply Pressure Feeding off Successful colleagues Driving Sales Targets Outcomes based team building Understand not all people are in to physical team building sessions Blindfold competition Only one person is allowed to speak and direct the other in doing a specific task whilst blindfolded. This emphasizes good communication and trust Charity projects out of office activity and builds relationships within the team on a more personal level Egg Drop Game Emphasizes strategic thinking and prioritizing. Excellent for Advisers who need to strategise for their clients Managing Activities Honesty, Integrity, openness, TCF and Professionalism General The rules will be specific Activity count = 20 Activities is the goal, Minimum 15 activities to Qualify Prizes for monthly winners ranging from gift vouchers, hampers, trophies and certificates Overall prize = awards ceremony, monetary reward These competitions will enable me to identify where my teams strengths and weaknesses are as well as give my team the ability to identify an area where they feel most comfortable, whilst at the same time taking them out of their comfort zone to see who excels. Competitions Saturday - Sunday = Joint Calls when required Competitions THANK YOU DISCOVERY DFA Bi Weekly Activity Meetings Monday = Game Plan and Training Friday = Weekly review and team member session Monday - Friday = Joint calls, diary checks, office checks Team ABC - ALWAYS BE CLOSING Knowledge Building Recruitment Align Competition themes and training Different training sessions EG Unit Trusts or Retirement Annuities Industry or product experts to train Advisers Interactive Training Sessions Question and Answer Debates Role Plays Presentations - Every second Friday 2 advisers will present on a certain topic for 5 minutes. Practical ways of learning encouraged Provides good practice for presenting to clients Encourage Formalised Qualifications Provide industry news Dealing with Non-Performers Emotional or personal Problem Try to understand why Do not be confrontational Company Psychologist Time off Work Dealing with negativity Coaching and Mentoring Building and Maintaining Relationships Person specific Autonomy Recognition Encouragement Doing the right thing Implementation of a team target Award to the highest achieving adviser Team Target

Transcript: Megan Robinson Sales Manager -Revolucion De Cuba SWOT Analysis SWOT Analysis Strengths Hit P6 target last year - achieving £117,176 Conversion rate for bookings is consistently around 70% Friday and Saturday PBR is consistent Weaknesses In the past two periods haven't hit targets - P11 & P12 Sun-Thurs past four periods have not target Mystery Calls Opportunities Social Media Audits Sun to Thurs PBR Push for more corporate bookings Threats Not getting a plus 2k booking from the previous year In the last two periods the consistency of call handling doesn't necessarily relate to the financials Sales ideas Sales ideas to drive corporate PBR More networking events and cold calling Corporate showcase Departmental Incentives Aim to attend 4 networking events per period Cold calling and Networking 200 cold calls throughout the week - 100 of these to be businesses I've researched From the cold calls I'll aim to get 5 golden lunches every 2 weeks Invite the clients down for payday Fridays to boost people in the venue and to show what we offer 90 Day plan 90 day plan First four weeks Get to know the team - introduce myself. Find out about them Shadow a Saturday shift to see how Saturdays are run from an OPS background Find out about each area - minimum spends etc. Set challenges to gage where they are at and what they are comfortable with Set incentives - make them feel involved Assess where we are for coming months - looking into the future Sit down with management to set targets and standards Reintroduce myself to big contacts - invite them down to meet and introduce myself Review working week 8 weeks Ensuring every inquiry is responded to within 2 hours Ensure we are remaining ahead of Christmas Vs last year Review score card to see is there's any positive changes Social Media Calendar created to improve social media score Have a review with team - should see some positive results coming in 12 weeks Sales team meal out as a Thank you and to give them recognition for hard work Have an MCP with coordinators Heavily Christmas focused - should be at majority of target Meeting with Kitchen and management teams to let them know where we are at with P6 Ensure a solid OPS plan is in place to ensure P6 goes smoothly Any Questions? Any Questions?

Transcript: Lead By Example - do all these things Challenges:- The business is trying to fill 4 new SM roles from existing quota retiring heads – without the numbers dipping……………I feel a dual role will be essential in the short to medium term Actions:- Succession planning is vital to avoid a dip in PubSec number Challenges:- Accurate Reporting – SLX,WIP, Back Order Actions:- Relationship with Samuel key as ramp up in ability to report on team essential Challenges:- Cannot miss £133M (earned revenue / billed / recognised) – as per Neil’s all hands call. Current revenue is £93M with 2.5months to go. We need to find £40M from Pipeline, WIP and back order book - Pipe shows £77M potential weighted to £28.3M Actions:- Drive concentration on quick wins, utilising all avenues of purchasing/discounts/promotions (leaving nothing on the table), checking back order books regularly, proactive management of stock at UPS – leaving no stone unturned. This is a minimum so stretch mentality is essential - we have to over achieve SM 90 day plan How you will deal with personality issues in your new role and managing old peers 30-60 Days *Review AM / BDM successes/failures – where are we against goals? Action as neccessary *Continue dialog with Head of Sales for performace feedback *Drive performance and good practice. WIP/BackOrder/SLX *Ensure all plans for first 30 days are completed. *Report on progress for this 30 day period Developed key relationships within larger MOD customers which has led to us becoming involved in two significant opportunities and a commitment from them of significant orders over the next 2 years 2nd Best Performing AM on Revenue • £7.3m equates to 8% of company revenue Sales Manager - Public Sector 3rd Best performing AM on SOV • £7.7m also equates to 8% of the company overall SOV Neil Hunt - Public Sector Sales Manager Key 12 month Achievments How you will deal with Change Control iNet currently faces Your view on the role and key areas to improve Neil Hunt - Public Sector Sales Manager Proactively assisted with the development of the new quote tool • Involved in the training of the sales team • Quote tool Guru! First 30 Days *Meet and discuss with upper management to prioritise what is expected of me, within a specified time frame. *121 with direct report to examine pipeline of individual team members, at granular level, and sanatize. *Organise joint meetings/face to face discussions with successful SM’s to gain their insights (what works well, what to avoid,what they did in their 1st 30/60/90 days.) *Liaise closely with my team:- Discuss successes Discuss challenges (i.e. competitive threats etc.) Discuss expectations of me Discuss my processes to ensure we "start on the same page". Discuss his/her goals. Discuss my goals Identify target accounts and together, establish a game plan to exceed goals. Identify key decision makers and any support needed from LMT etc *Investigate training available to me (internal/external) to improve my effectiveness. Study management guides. *Submit report on progress; by territory, and entire region. Stay professional A clear definition of my roles and responsibilities, delivered by my manager, will be essential – people know where they stand and what is expected of me and them. Better for someone else to spell out any new authority rather than doing it myself. Tell them honestly that in your new role, it puts you in an awkward position, since you were peers. Ask them to help you by working through the transition together. Meet with them all individually to discuss their goals and interests – how can these help contribute to team results - motivate them. Take charge when neccessary. Realise it is not you they have issues with but the message. Understand why they have this feeling. Explain why the decisions have been made (see the bigger picture.) Drive a change in mindset so they realise these changes are both vital and in their interests. Give up being liked by everyone all the time – eventually this will be replaced by respect. Establish a support network of strong mentors and coaches - successful managers who I admire and respect. Strengthen my position and be seen as a manager. Improved relationships with colleagues outside the sales team • Miles Roebuck, Sarah Carolan, Glyn Kennett, IT Support Taken on the responsibility of temporary sales manager and worked closely with other departments within organisation to improve CSAT scores, SLX housekeeping. Helped developed and assisted new staff into their roles • Stephen Pitcher, Matt Redman 60-90 Days *Begin to develop a network amongst fellow SMs / senior management. Tap into their experience and opinions and implement ideas and information that would make us more productive. *Evaluate successes / failures with AM. What is working well, things to avoid. Are we using our time wisely and is it focused. *New financial year – review what went well, what was less successful – do the same/differently in 2012/13 *Review first 90 days

Transcript: Interview Sales Manager of the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort International The Bue culinary School 2010 was a great year for us, and our results are much better in Revenue Per Available Room, Average Daily Rate and in occupancy than in the last year SMERF Ms. Maria Laura Skec E-commerce to reach World Wide Get to service new and existing accounts to ensure repeat business approximately 8.5% of the overall revenue Solicit group business for the hotel; those give us more revenues. Grand Cayman Island for your attention! That I get to travel Social Networking Our major revenue group - business people. Maximize the occupancy and the average daily rate of the hotel

Transcript: Sales Manager Interview Mohammed Al Hnish Sara Al-Ward Sales Manager FAHAD DAFAA Sales Manager Interview Findings Interview Findings CUSTOMERS Customers Who are your customers? Most important customers Managing customers Managing Salespeople How do you organize your sales team Targets for salespeople El Dora Team SIZE OF SALES TEAM for Arabic speaking customers for English speaking customers Recruitment & Motivation Who is considered a demotivated salesperson? How do you increase motivation? Recruitment What do you look for when hiring? Motivation What do you like most & least about managing salespeople? Conclusion "What I like to see is that we make our customers happy over here and knowing that as a manager I did my best to satisfy our customers needs and wants and there is nothing I do like about it" Any advice for those interested in a sales management career? "My advice is as a sales manager is that you have to enjoy what you are doing and you have to appreciate making the customer happy as well, knowing that you have done your best and that’s my sort of advice that keeps me positive at all times"

Transcript: ACTION PLAN First meetings with local agencies Meetings with each agency Showing a new image focused on a better customer service relationship with our clients. Displaying that both Vicente and myself are going to be more involved, attentive and helpful. New Sales Manager Introduce myself to the agencies Daphne Overview of the boat Itineraries Deck Plan Cabins Grand Queen Beatriz Overview of the boat Showing new images of the new cruise Deck Plan Cabin information Itineraries Information about when we offer last minutes Presenting our products Strengths: What we are doing right Which tools they use the most Weaknesses: Where we are failing Why our products are not been sold Which tools they think we need What are our competitors doing that we are not Answer questions Promise that we will start working with their feedback to improve Listening to our clients What our clients think of us Unbranded websites Last Minute availability Updated pictures and videos Show the tools that we have at the moment for our clients Showing all our tools to make working with us easier Using Google, Tripadvisor, Facebook and direct information from our clients, to look for new business opportunities and get more market presence. New partners, we can work with Identifying new business opportunities Assessment of the feedback given by all stakeholders (local agencies, employees, suppliers, investors) Implementing changes from stakeholders feedback What changes can be made Implementing new tools Notifying our stakeholders about implemented changes 2nd contact with our clients to identify according to them our main competitors and get figures on Peak vs competitors. Compare our company and assess our position in the market Benchmarking Compare websites of competitors Mystery shopper to analyze competitors How our products are presented vs competitors Content Marketing Audit our clients to confirm that they have the right information from us in their websites Provide high quality videos and pictures and make sure that they use it Help to write articles about our cruises to promote in agencies blogs 5th Step Content Marketing

Sales Manager-Presentation

Transcript: Sales Manager Education Bachelor's degree Field experience as a sales representative two to three years of telesales experience Portfolio of sales goals and quota's Work Activities setting sales goals analyze data develop training programs work indoors monitor customer preferences plan advertising campaigns, and represent prepare budgets, and approve spending State median: 98,560 National median: 101,640 Skills and Abilities by: Lucia Serrano Interesting Facts presentations spending time with clients develop new goals distribute products resolve customer complaints 92% of all customer interactions happen on the phone. Over 50% of sales managers are too busy to train ,and develop their sales teams. Wages Preparation fghfjjgf

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8 Steps to Ace Your Sales Interview Presentation

You’ve gone through the first formal interview and nailed it. However, now you’ve just received a call from the hiring manager that they want you to complete a sales interview presentation before you receive a job offer. As if the interview wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, you’re now asked to push yourself even further to achieve your dream job.

However, it’s pretty standard for roles to require an interview presentation because it tests the skills of their potential employees, so they know they’re investing in their ideal candidate.

Plus, depending on the role you’re applying for, this skill might be absolutely essential. Especially since 70% of all jobs involve some form of public speaking. Employers want to make sure that you’re able to perform the same way you interview.

In this article, we’ll deep dive into what an interview presentation is, how you can prepare and deliver a killer presentation, and the steps to take after the presentation.

What Is a Sales Interview Presentation?

A sales interview presentation is an opportunity for you to show your skills through a live demonstration. Whether this is a sales pitch or product, employers want to see how competent and confident you are speaking in front of others while presenting the information.

The sales interview presentation is a salesperson’s chance to prove themselves and their selling skills since that’s what they’ll have to do within their job duties. 

Asking the right questions, providing the best answers, and delivering an engaging sales pitch can all lead to success in this crucial part of the sales process. So if you want to get that job offer, here are eight steps that will help you ace your next sales interview presentation out of the park!

1. Understand What’s Expected from The Presentation

When you’re told that you’ll need to present a sales interview presentation, you’ll want to take the time to ask the hiring manager for some more information. 

• What are the sales goals? 
• What type of product will you be presenting? 
• How long should your sales presentation last? 
• Will you be able to use a digital display, or is this an informal speaking presentation? 

Make sure that you understand the audience for the presentation. This way you know the expertise level and knowledge they will have about the topic you’re presenting on. From there, you’ll be able to put together a presentation that fits your potential companies needs.

2. Add Visual Aids to Your Presentation

Visual aids can genuinely make the sales interview presentation come to life! Employers want to see how well you can communicate. Using visuals will only enhance your presentation and the amount of engagement on your proposal. However, it’s essential to know your audience and what type of content will hold their attention. For example, you don’t want to show funny images to a serious crowd.

Use a PowerPoint or  Keynote  with images that complement your message, data tables highlighting numbers and statistics, or even a funny meme. Anything visual should go on slides during your sales pitch, so employers get an idea of who you are as a sales professional. The more interactive your presentation is, the better it’s going to drive home what you’re saying at any given moment in time.

3. Make A List Of Go-To Questions

Presentations usually end with questions, so make sure you’re prepared to answer any inquires on your content. If you’re not confident in your sales skills, now is the time to brush up on some sales questions that might come up.

Here are a few examples of sales-specific questions you may be asked after your presentation: 

• What’s the key benefit or feature? 
• How does this product compare with our competitors? 
• When will it be available for purchase? 
• If someone buys one today, how much more could they save by making a larger order over a more extended period?

Being prepared with extra information will show that you can handle objections and questions without a problem.

4. Dress The Part

Wearing appropriate attire is crucial if you plan on getting through this part of the sales process unscathed. Of course, business attire is the best option, but it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Dressing well will also help you feel more confident and professional, making a sales presentation even easier to deliver confidently. Plus, if you’re interviewing for a sales position, then this should come as second nature anyways!

5. Practice Your Presentation Out Loud To Yourself

Especially when it comes down to public speaking, practice really does make perfect. So practice your sales pitch out loud, either in front of a mirror or preferably someone else who can provide feedback on your delivery skills and pointers that you may have missed during preparation. If something doesn’t seem to flow, change the wording or content to make it more exciting for your audience!

Ensure all of these elements are covered when you’re practicing: introduction, product information (including features/benefits), closing questions, and a call to action. You’ll want to give it your all to show how you can become a valuable asset to your future company, and being prepared helps you to do just that!

6. Prepare Your Notes

When you’re presenting a sales interview presentation, it’s essential to have your notes in front of you as well so that the information is fresh and easy to remember. In addition, this will make for a more straightforward sales pitch because there are fewer worries about forgetting key points or getting lost during the presentation.

The easiest way to prepare your notes may include writing them at the bottom of your digital slides, keeping content on your slides as a reminder, or writing on notecards.

7. Stay On Topic

When you’re creating your presentation, you want to ensure that you’re staying on topic and that you’re keeping your presentation as brief as possible. In addition, ensure that you’ve covered all of the sales points and have reinforced your main point at the end.

It’s essential to be concise because it will help keep your audience’s attention. They won’t get bored by a lengthy sales pitch or presentation, but if too much information is given, there may not be enough time for them to soak in what you’re saying, leading to frustration on both ends.

Consider the 80/20 Rule

You’ll want to ensure that 80% of your slides are informative and insightful, while 20% of your slides are challenging and thought-provoking. This will ensure that your sales pitch is appealing to most people who are listening while still challenging them to think about what you’re saying.

It’s important not to give away too much information or oversell anything. You want employers asking for more instead of falling asleep or tuning out your presentation. 

Delivering Your Presentation 

On the day of, you’ll want to make sure to arrive early to the sales presentation. This will give you time to check in, set up your PowerPoint or Keynote, and use the restroom if necessary before it’s time for your sales interview.

The  first few minutes of a sales pitch are crucial – they’ll help set the tone for everything that follows, so make sure you’re prepared mentally and emotionally as well as physically before walking into your presentation.

Make eye contact, speak clearly, and don’t be afraid to use your sales skills- they’re what got you this far! Some other tips you should remember during the day of your presentation:

• Stand up straight and tall with your arms at your sides, not crossed
• Keep a firm handshake
• Smile often! This will put the interviewer in a good mood.
• Don’t forget to ask questions to keep your audience engaged with your content.

If It Doesn’t Go Well: Don’t Panic! 

No matter what happens during sales presentations, don’t panic. If something unexpected happens or mess up, don’t worry- sales are full of surprises! Instead, take a deep breath, restart where you left off, and continue with your presentation.

Making a mistake doesn’t mean that you won’t get the job. Instead, it’s more important how you move forward from messing up. Don’t be afraid to apologize if you need to. You can even ask for feedback on how you can do a better sales presentation in the future from your interviewer.

What To Do After the Presentation 

After the sales interview presentation, it’s essential to follow up. Follow-up may include thanking them for their time and asking if they have any additional questions before you leave. They may even schedule a second sales demo with someone else in the company who makes the final hiring decision.

This is also an opportunity to ask about the next steps so that you know how long this process will take at the other end (and whether there are any potential issues). Following up can show initiative on your part as well, which might make all of the difference when it comes down to getting hired!

Get Your Dream Job by Shining During Your Presentation

If it’s not already evident by now- public speaking is no easy task. Especially when it’s to impress your future boss and co-workers. But, thankfully, there are plenty of ways that sales professionals and sales managers alike can make their sales pitch more effective. 

A few key points include:

• Practicing out loud.
• Preparing notes beforehand.
• Staying focused and concise during presentations (though not too much).
• Being professional during all phases of the job interview process and following up after any sales presentation opportunity.

Get Your Dream Job Today with Sales Recruiters Dallas Inc

If you’ve been searching for the right sales job for a while, you might not know where to find the perfect match. From searching for the right companies to creating resumes and answering the right interview questions, it can be hard to ensure you get your dream job. Thankfully at  Sales Recruiters Dallas , we’ve got you covered!

A sales recruiter can be your best sales ally for landing your next dream job. We dedicate ourselves to sales, so we know what sales jobs are available and the process involved in securing that sales position. With our deep industry knowledge of sales, we can help you with your resume or cover letter.

If you’re looking for your next career move, contact us today at Sales Recruiters Dallas , or  browse through open jobs  to find the position of your dreams!

Sales Presentation for Interview: The Dos and Don’ts

• July 31, 2022

When I was first starting out in sales, I remember being so nervous about giving a sales presentation for interview. I would practice over and over again, but as soon as I got in front of the room, all my carefully rehearsed words would fly out of my head.

If you’re feeling similar nerves about an upcoming sales presentation for interview, don’t worry – you’re not alone. With a little bit of preparation though, you can deliver a killer presentation that will impress your interviewer and land you the job.

Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when preparing for your big day.

What is a Sales Presentation for Interview?

A sales pitch is a chance for you to demonstrate your selling skills.

A sales interview presentation is a great way to show employers your confidence and competence in speaking about a product or service. By preparing and delivering a well-organized presentation, you can demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and engage with an audience.

A sales interview presentation is an opportunity for a salesperson to demonstrate their selling skills. This is important because selling is a key part of the job.

A sales interview presentation is a key part of the sales process. It allows you to ask the right questions, provide the best answers, and deliver an engaging sales pitch . By preparing for this important step, you can increase your chances of success.

If you want to ace your next sales interview presentation, here are a few steps that will help you get the job offer!

Personality and Professional Image

A huge part of making a successful sales presentation is how you conduct yourself. Building rapport with your prospect, engaging them, and exuding confidence are all important.

When you’re dressing for an interview, it’s important to look professional and put together. Business formal or business casual attire is typically expected, and wearing a hat or lounge clothes can be deal-breakers.

When participating in a video call with potential employers, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and what will be visible on camera. If possible, situate yourself in a professional setting or have your background blurred to avoid any distractions.

Designing The Presentation

Build your own presentation. Don’t be one of the 25% of businesses that use outdated presentation templates.

When you’re creating your presentation, keep in mind that your audience will appreciate a shorter, more concise presentation. The average attention span has decreased from 12 minutes to just 5 minutes over the past decade, so it’s important to make your point quickly and effectively.

Business managers have limited time and may not have the attention span to sit through another presentation or report.

Citing facts is a great way to get someone’s attention, but you need to make sure they’re from a reliable source. While Wikipedia articles can be useful, they can often be edited, so it’s best to use another website.

Visuals are an effective way to convey your message as they are processed by the human brain 6,000 times faster, and are 6 times more memorable than words.

A helpful tip is to limit the information on each slide to three key points. This will make it easier for your audience to understand and remember the points you are trying to make. Introducing each point one at a time will also help with this.

Avoid using many slide decks as this can be a distraction.

After you have completed writing your presentation, it is time to practice. Get colleagues, friends, and family to listen to your presentation after you have memorized the script. This will help catch any errors you may have missed .

They might find mistakes that you missed.

After your practice sessions, ask your audience to quiz you. They should ask tough, probing questions.

This will help you be prepared for anything that is thrown your way during the presentation so that you can stay confident and on track.

Steve Jobs was a master at giving presentations. His audiences would often give him standing ovations at the end of his talks.

Although he was a master of presenting, Steve Jobs would still practice his script for an average of two full days before going on stage. It can be difficult to put that much effort into practicing, but if you can manage to practice for a few hours, you will see significant improvements in your performance.

Preparing for Your Mock Presentation

A great way to prepare for a mock interview is by sending a pre-interview email to the interviewer that confirms the time of the meeting, the topics of discussion, and the goals of the conversation.

Before you begin your presentation, it is essential that you have done your research. Familiarity with the company’s culture and the content of your presentation will help to ensure that you are choosing a relevant company and buyer persona.

Your presentation is what your interviewer is going to be watching. These are some pointers to keep in mind when making your presentation look clean and polished:

• 5-10 slides maximum
• Consistent company theme: logo, color palette, imagery
• Have a clear agenda
• Minimal wording

The most important step before a mock interview is to prepare. Know everything about your upcoming presentation and be able to answer any question that the interviewer throws at you.

After you feel that you’ve rehearsed enough, continue to rehearse. This will allow you to smoothly and naturally flow through your pitch.

Delivering a Great Sales Presentation for Interview

On the big day, make sure to arrive 15 minutes early. This should give you enough time to check in, set up your presentation, use the washroom, and do anything else before it’s time to meet with your interviewer.

The first minutes of a sales presentation are extremely important. Make sure you prepare both mentally and physically before walking in.

Remember to keep making direct eye contact, and speak in a clear, confident voice. Your sales skills are what have gotten you to this point, so use them to your advantage!

Stand up straight with your arms at your sides , give a firm handshake, smile often, and ask questions to keep your audience engaged .

Discovery Questions During Sales Presentation for Interview

Start your meeting with a few discovery questions that help to uncover a prospect’s needs.

Questions you can ask include:

• What problem are you trying to solve ?
• What are your goals?
• When do you need to achieve these goals?
• What is your budget?
• Who is involved in the decision ?
• Are you exploring other options?
• When are you planning to make this decision?
• How can I help make this easy?

Making Your Sales Presentation for Interview

During the pitch, make sure you demonstrate the knowledge you have of the products, the company, and the competitive environment. Be prepared with high-level information on what differentiates you from the competition.

When educating customers, it is important to be focused and succinct in your presentation in order to avoid lingering on one topic .

Use the answers you discovered during your research to incorporate into your presentation. Also, be prepared to address any objections to your proposal.

If you are unable to answer a question, do not try to fake it. Simply refer them to someone more knowledgeable or offer to send a reply in a follow-up email.

If It Doesn’t Go Well: Don’t Panic!

No matter how your sales pitch goes, never fear – there’s always something unpredictable in sales!

If it doesn’t go well, don’t panic! Take a deep breath and restart where you left off . You can do this!

Just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean you won’t close a sale. What’s important is how you recover from it.

You can always apologize if you need to and ask for feedback on how you can do a better sales presentation in the future .

Close The Meeting

End your presentation by summarizing your key points and discussing the next steps. Schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss them.

Don’t just leave without a plan for your next interaction with that prospect.

Post-Presentation Feedback

After your pitch, be prepared to receive feedback from your prospect. Be open to their suggestions, and thank them for their input.

If you’re asked for feedback from someone, be as honest as possible. Don’t overpraise yourself, but don’t undersell yourself either.

Send a thank-you email to the prospect that summarizes the conversation you had with them.

When conducting sales demos, you don’t need to have a deep understanding of the product or solutions. Instead, the focus should be on how you demonstrate, how you engage, and your commitment to the interview.

So, don’t worry about not having an in-depth knowledge of the product or service. Just be enthusiastic, and let your natural personality shine.

Conclusion: Sales Presentation for Interview

When it comes to giving a sales presentation for interview, there are some dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind. By following these tips, you can deliver a killer presentation that will impress your audience.

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35 Sales Manager Job Interview Questions

Published: March 09, 2023

Most sales managers begin their careers as individual sales representatives, but a sales manager’s job differs dramatically from that of a rep.

When hiring, it’s essential to have the right sales manager interview questions to help identify candidates who are ready to take on new responsibilities and begin managing a team.

Hiring a sales manager can be challenging, but we’re here to help. Read on for a list of sales manager interview questions to help you discover reps who shine with managerial potential.

Table of Contents

General Sales Manager Interview Questions

• Questions About Sales Experience

In-Depth and Behavioral Interview Questions for Sales Managers

• Tell me about yourself.
• What do you think are the necessary skills and qualifications for success here?
• Why do you want to be a sales manager?
• Why do you want to work in sales?
• How would the top performer on your sales team describe you?
• How important is money to you?
• How comfortable are you with data analysis?
• What do you think it takes to be a good leader?
• What does a good manager need to do within this organization?
• How do you approach setting goals?
• How would you explain what [company name] does to a person unfamiliar with what we do?
• What qualities make you a good manager?
• How comfortable are you with technology?
• What do you like and dislike about the sales process? How comfortable are you with upholding it?

Free Sales Interview Kit

Find, interview, and hire exceptional salespeople who will exceed quota every month.

• Sales Interview Questions
• Job Description Templates
• Candidate Scorecards

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

1. Tell me about yourself.

This is a vanilla question. But the answer can be illuminating. Dan Tyre , a 30-year sales veteran and HubSpot director of sales, says, "If they spend the whole 25 minutes talking about their experience or complaining about past teams, that tells you everything you need to know."

Pro tip: Look for concise, positive answers that touch on their experience and what led them to apply for this position.

Example Answer

"I am a results-driven sales professional with over 10 years of experience in the industry. Throughout my career, I have consistently exceeded my sales targets and was recognized by my team for my ability to build strong relationships with customers.

Outside work, I enjoy staying active and volunteering at a local animal shelter in my free time."

2. What do you think are the necessary skills and qualifications for success here?

This straightforward question should reveal your candidate's understanding of the skills and mindset required to handle the job.

Pro tip: You want to ensure their answer aligns with your organization's culture and goals, but generally, a sales manager will need excellent communication skills, leadership prowess, and a penchant for data analysis.

"I believe that the necessary skills and qualifications for success in this role include strong leadership skills, excellent communication, interpersonal abilities, the ability to analyze and interpret data, and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.

In addition, it is important to deeply understand the company's products or services and the industry in which it operates."

3. Why do you want to be a sales manager?

Every candidate should expect to field this type of question in an interview. You should look for an honest answer that shows the interviewee has done their homework on your organization and shows genuine interest in the position and your company.

Pro tip: This is a great time for candidates to bring up a real-life example showing their leadership prowess and their desire to become a sales manager.

“I’m excited about your company's product, and the company culture is also a huge draw. In my previous position, I found the most fulfillment in working within a sales team and understanding team members' personalities, strengths, and weaknesses to create a cohesive unit.

Accordingly, I’d love to apply my leadership experience at your organization to help empower sales teams.”

4. Why do you want to work in sales?

What is it about sales that motivates and excites the candidate?

You should look for candidates who provide an example or real-life story about where their interest in sales began. Did they start as a first-time rep and create a long track record of success? Or was there a pivotal moment when they discovered their passion for sales?

Best for: Discovering your candidate's motivation. Look for answers that go deeper than just “I enjoy working in sales.”

"I want to work in sales because I enjoy the challenge of identifying and meeting the needs of customers, and I thrive in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.

My first job in high school was as a sales rep at a pool supply store, and I’ve been passionate about learning and growing in my career and honing my sales skills ever since."

5. How would the top performer on your sales team describe you?

If your candidate immediately responds that they are the top performer, then you may be looking at someone with hubristic tendencies.

This question will reveal a candidate's skills within a team context. For a sales manager, you want to look for someone who shows valuable interpersonal and team-building skills.

“Sarah was the top sales rep at my old organization. She described me as a dependable team player who was always available to help other reps. Whenever she was dealing with a difficult lead, she always came to me for encouragement or another perspective.”

6. How important is money to you?

Money is important to everyone, but sales managers need to be motivated by more than just dollar signs, especially because they could be taking a pay cut compared to individual reps who can earn more on commission.

Look for a potential sales manager motivated by lifting her team and steering them to success.

Best for: Uncovering candidates who are passionate about team building and fulfillment.

“Money is significant to me, of course. However, what motivates me about this position is the idea of forging a high-performing sales team with effective communication, coaching, and data-driven strategy.”

7. How comfortable are you with data analysis?

Reps generally only care about one number: their quota. However, when a rep is promoted to management, they must produce forecasts and reports that analyze various metrics across their team.

Pro tip: Sales managers don’t need to be data analysis pros, but they should be comfortable with metrics and how they pertain to their team's health. Steer clear of candidates who react with disgust to the topic of data.

“I am comfortable with data analysis and very aware of how crucial data analysis is to managing a sales team. In my previous role, I took it upon myself to build a custom dashboard to measure our team's metrics, which resulted in improved strategy and increased sales.”

Sales Interview Kit

Fill out the form to access 5 sales hiring resources., 8. what do you think it takes to be a good leader.

The job title might be "sales manager," but that doesn't mean leadership skills fall by the wayside. On the contrary, sales managers need to be able to lead through example and drive others to action.

Great leaders treat their teams respectfully and inspire them to work hard and achieve goals.

Pro tip: Look for answers that show your candidate understands that a great leader needs honest, open communication skills and the ability to connect with their team.

“I believe a great leader is someone who brings out the best in their team through communication, respect, and playing to the strengths and weaknesses of team members to create something greater than the sum of its parts”

9. What does a good manager need to do within this organization?

The goal of this question is twofold. First, you want to determine their management style and goals for their employees. They should touch on metrics for success, staff development, and executive communication.

You also want to understand how much research they’ve done about your company and the sales organization.

For example, suppose they make sweeping statements about attracting more enterprise business when your website clearly states your mission is to help SMBs grow. In that case, it’s probably a sign this candidate hasn’t done their homework.

“A good manager needs to inspire their team and achieve performance metrics first and foremost. They should also be transparent with executives and ensure that their team's data is clear and concise for executive reporting.

I know this organization focuses on selling to SMBs, so a manager here should drive her team to solve for SMB customers and provide solutions to help them grow.”

10. How do you approach setting goals?

Setting goals is a big part of a sales manager's role, but setting goals is more than just stating what needs to be done. This question will illuminate how a potential sales manager will delegate tasks and make goals clear and achievable for their team.

Pro tip: We love SMART goals here at HubSpot (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely). If your candidate doesn’t know that acronym, you can let it slide, but their answer should demonstrate a repeatable process for setting realistic and achievable goals.

“When setting goals, I find it best to break it up into parts. First, I’ll narrow down the metric that correlates to our goal and make sure what I’m asking for is attainable based on my team's previous output.

I also communicate to the team why our goal is important, so everyone is on the same page, and delegate tasks based on my team member’s strengths and weaknesses.”

11. How would you explain what [company name] does to a person unfamiliar with what we do?

Can this candidate distill complex ideas into simple, easy-to-understand messages? That's what this question will find out.

Pro tip: Look for candidates with concise and clear answers. This question leaves an opening for potential sales managers to gush about all the details of what your company does, but brevity and clarity are of the essence here.

“[Company name] provides a software solution that helps small businesses manage their inventory and keep track of sales, allowing them to save time and focus energy on growing their business.”

12. What qualities make you a good manager?

The qualities that make a good manager are endless: knowledge, experience, leadership skill, communication skill, time management, and many others.

Of course, it’s rare to find a candidate who embodies every trait you might find in an article on leadership, but their answer should make it clear that they have the confidence and skills to lead a team.

Pro tip: Many different management styles can be effective in different contexts. You should understand the type of management that would be best seated at the helm of your team and search for that with this sales manager interview question.

“My greatest asset is my ability to conceive of a vision for my team and lead us toward achieving it with confidence and determination. I am also an effective communicator and can level with team members based on their personalities and preferred communication styles.”

13. How comfortable are you with technology?

Sales managers also act as CRM sheriffs, ensuring all reps use the system properly. CRM aside, sales managers are also involved in vetting, selecting, and deploying new sales tools.

While sales manager candidates don't need to be computer whizzes, some technological savvy is necessary.

Pro tip: Look for candidates who can prove their technology prowess with specific examples.

“I’m very comfortable with technology. In my last role, I was responsible for managing our CRM and ensuring all the data was clean with no duplicates. ”

14. What do you like and dislike about the sales process? How comfortable are you with upholding it?

Every rep has an opinion about the sales process, and some ignore it entirely. It's the manager's responsibility to uphold the sales process in the name of organizational consistency and forecasting accuracy.

Ensure the candidate is comfortable with taking on the role of sales process police and ask about their strategies for making reps adhere to the regimen.

What to look for: A sales manager must regularly translate executive directives and news to their sales staff in straightforward, digestible ways. Ensure they can do this concisely and without a condescending tone before moving forward.

“In my previous role, I liked how we took a consultative approach toward working leads. However, I wasn’t always a fan of cold calling. Regardless, I always upheld the process as I understand how important it is for consistency and meeting metrics.”

Now that we’ve reviewed some general sales manager interview questions, let’s review some questions about sales experience. Most sales managers start as reps, and it is essential to understand their experience and how it will translate into their role as sales managers.

Questions about Sales Experience

• Give me an example of a time you had to implement an unpopular or difficult change for your team.
• Describe an example of a high-stress situation and how you overcame it
• Tell me about your greatest success in sales, how did you achieve it?
• Describe the most awkward or challenging sales call you have ever had. Why was it so difficult? How did you manage it?
• Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself and achieved it. What did you do to ensure you reached your goal?
• Describe a time when you had to use analytical skills to solve a problem
• Tell me about a time conflict arose among a team you managed. How did you handle the situation?
• Can you describe a time you were working under a lot of pressure to meet a quota or a tight deadline? How did you navigate this?
• What part of sales challenged you the most, and how did you overcome it?
• Can you describe a past incentive that motivated you?
• What made you successful as a sales rep? How will your processes inform how you manage your team?

15. Give me an example of a time you had to implement an unpopular or difficult change for your team.

Sales managers are often tasked with serving as change agents for their teams. Effective sales managers must lead a team through change management, whether implementing a new system or process or facilitating an organizational change.

In their response, listen for mentions of how they communicate changes to a team and ask how they would handle pushback to a change they were tasked with implementing.

Hiring a sales manager is a big step for any company. Don't rush the process. Be clear about the role and attributes of the right hire. Don’t settle until that person walks in the door and blows you away.

Pro tip: This question might not make sense if you are interviewing a potential first-time manager coming up from an individual rep role.

“At my last company, we were forced to downsize our workforce by 10% due to pandemic-related hardships. This was very unpopular amongst my team, as some individuals needed to be let go.

Regardless, I sat down with each team member and explained the situation, allowing them time and space to reflect and give pushback. Of course, those who had to be let go were not pleased, but I handled the situation with as much respect and empathy as possible.”

16. Describe an example of a high-stress situation and how you overcame it.

Everyone will encounter a stressful scenario at work from time to time, but what’s important is how you react to it. Therefore, you want to look for sales manager candidates who don’t crack under pressure and maintain productivity through difficult experiences.

“While working as a sales rep in my last role, I accidentally gave a customer a 90% discount on their purchase instead of 10%. I had to explain my mistake to my manager and then return to the customer to let them know they weren’t getting as big a discount as they thought.

This was a stressful situation as I had let down my team and the customer, but I remained calm and used my communication skills to calm the customer and reset expectations.”

What we like about this answer: The candidate admitted when they were wrong. Everyone makes mistakes, and if your candidate demonstrates that they can own their mistakes and handle consequences maturely, then you may have yourself a winner.

17. Tell me about your greatest success in sales, how did you achieve it?

This question is a layup for candidates to show off their great qualities and accomplishments, but you want to look for someone confident about their accolades but not boastful.

Pro tip: an excellent answer is more than just a jaw-dropping number. Look for answers that describe the candidate's process to achieve that white whale of a sale.

“My greatest success was landing the Microsoft account at my last job. This was, of course, a large sale, but I’m most proud of the determination and skill that went into landing the client.

To win them over, I used a consultative approach when discussing the benefits of our product and how it could meet their goals, and I never gave up even when I met resistance from decision-makers at the company.”

18. Describe the most awkward or challenging sales call you have ever had. Why was it so difficult? How did you manage it?

No matter how seasoned a sales pro someone is, we have all had those calls or conversations that have thrown us for a loop. Successful sales managers know how to navigate tricky situations and land on their feet and can coach their reps on how to do the same.

Listen for responses that indicate the candidate’s ability to think quickly on their feet while representing their company well.

“As a junior rep at my last company, I had to deal with an angry potential customer who was screaming and making threats at me following a bad experience with our product during a trial. I kept calm and made sure to empathize with all their concerns.

After ensuring them that I understood the frustration, I turned it around and made the sale by walking them through the steps of using our product and acting as a consultant and not just a salesperson.”

What we like about this answer: It shows a candidate's ability to manage a difficult situation. Of course, not every challenging call can result in a sale, but empathy and respect are essential in situations like this.

19. Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself and achieved it. What did you do to ensure you reached your goal?

You want your new sales manager to demonstrate the ability to set a goal and follow through with it. Therefore, when seeking a candidate to fill a sales manager role, you’ll want someone who has successfully set and reached goals.

Pro tip: As you listen to their response, note their approach to reaching their goal. This will give you a feel for how they will lead their team to achieve their goals.

“As a junior rep, I made it a goal for myself to increase my NPS (net promoter score). To achieve this goal, I enrolled in empathy and communication courses at my organization and focused on getting to know my leads and understanding their pain points. After I made that change, my NPS increased by 20%.”

What we like about this answer: The candidate in this answer clearly states their goal, the actions they took to achieve it, and the metric that proves their success. A great sales manager should embody these traits and apply them on the scale of a whole team.

20. Describe a time when you had to use analytical skills to solve a problem.

A great sales manager should be able to gather data, develop a process, and use that information to think through and discover a solution.

“In my last role, sales were down from the previous quarter, and I was tasked with finding out why. I analyzed rep activity data in our CRM and discovered that reps were not following up with leads frequently enough.

As a result, we implemented a new policy to increase follow-ups and saw a 10% increase in sales in the next quarter.”

What we like about this answer: The candidates clearly state a problem, the analysis they performed, and the positive impact of their solution.

21. Tell me about a time conflict that arose among a team you managed. How did you handle the situation?

Although not ideal, conflict among team members happens. When it does, managers are often tasked with helping diffuse the situation. This question is designed to help you understand the candidate’s conflict resolution style.

Though the nuts and bolts of conflict resolution can vary depending on the situation, ideally, you want a candidate who is willing to hear both sides of a problem and can facilitate a fair solution.

“A sales representative at my previous organization was struggling to meet his quota, which was causing conflict within the team as we measured not only individual quota but total team revenue.

Instead of reprimanding him immediately, we sat down to discuss why his performance was suffering. After listening closely, I discovered he was experiencing some burnout, so we scheduled him for in-house counseling and time off, and the next month he doubled his quota.”

22. Can you describe a time you were working under a lot of pressure to meet a quota or a tight deadline? How did you navigate this?

A great sales manager needs to keep a cool head on her shoulders when facing high-pressure situations and tight deadlines. A composed manager will help keep the entire crew on track when the seas get rocky.

Pro tip: Look for candidates who understand the importance of staying calm, managing time, and going the extra mile when necessary.

“As a junior representative, I was significantly under quota as the end of the month approached. Instead of panicking or giving up, I sat down with my manager and created a game plan for how many deals I needed to close and how I would approach the challenge.

I stayed late a few nights that week to meet my goal, but staying calm, managing my time, and seeking assistance when needed were necessary for success in this high-pressure scenario.”

23. What part of sales challenged you the most, and how did you overcome it?

Sales is a challenging field that requires persistence, determination, and skill. A sales manager should understand the challenges her reps face and be able to offer assistance and motivation from a place of experience.

Pro tip: Look for candidates who could overcome challenges with repeatable processes that they can pass down to the sales team.

“I found the most challenging part of sales to be dealing with rejection from prospects. At first, it was very discouraging when potential leads would tell me no or ignore my messages. Still, I overcame this with persistence, and eventually, it became easier.

I created a schedule for consistently following up with leads and experimented with following up at different times and with different people in the same organization. Eventually, I experienced fewer rejections, and when I did hear ‘no,’ it didn’t affect my motivation or self-worth at all. ”

24. Can you describe a past incentive that motivated you?

Money is an obvious incentive for everyone, but when it comes to motivating a team, a good sales manager knows that there’s more to it than just dollar signs.

“As a rep, I was, of course, motivated by earning extra money from commissions. However, beyond that, my manager at the time motivated me with her respectful and supportive attitude toward the team and me.

Working under my manager, I felt like a crucial team member and wanted to return the respect I was given by working hard and exceeding my quota. ”

25. What made you successful as a sales rep? How will your processes inform how you manage your team?

Just as successful sales managers understand that every rep is motivated by something different, they also know that every rep has unique strengths they use to achieve their goals. Therefore, the "right" way for one salesperson will not likely suit the entire team.

Be wary of candidates who hint that they plan to force their methods on their direct reports.

Pro tip: Look for candidates who want to identify and develop the specific talents of each team member.

“While some of my teammates were gifted in communication and rapport with prospects, my secret to success was my persistence and determination. I never slacked off when it came to following up with leads, even when the rejection became difficult, and in the end, it paid off.”

Now, let's review some in-depth and behavioral questions to understand better how the candidate may perform on the job.

• Pretend I'm a sales rep who has missed quota three months in a row. What would you say?
• Can you describe a time your team was working under a lot of pressure to meet a quota or a tight deadline? How did you keep morale up?
• What training method is most effective for new reps?
• What do you think makes for a successful rep coaching session?
• What do you think motivates reps the most?
• What do you think you should look for in sales rep new hires?
• How would you handle managing former colleagues?
• How would you recognize your team’s performance?
• How will you manage different personalities on your team?
• Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

26. Pretend I'm a sales rep who has missed quota three months in a row and I'm here for a one-on-one. What would you say during the meeting?

Sales managers have to have uncomfortable conversations with their direct reports. But, especially if the candidate is a rep on the team that they might be promoted to lead, sales directors must ensure they can maneuver challenging situations and deliver bad news in a positive manner.

Pro tip: A candidate who's overly harsh on their hypothetical stumbling rep is just as bad as one who's too soft. Look for an innate coaching sensibility and a motivational flair.

“Hey [rep name], I noticed you have missed quota three months in a row now, and I’d like to talk with you to figure out how we can improve your performance. I’d also like to shadow your next few calls so we can work on how to improve your communication style and outreach messaging.

I know the economy is down, which has been slowing progress for all our reps, but I know you can improve your numbers if we can work together to figure out how to optimize your workflow.”

27. Can you describe a time your team was working under a lot of pressure to meet a quota or a tight deadline? How did you keep morale up?

Experiencing burnout while working in sales is very common. Between shooting for ambitious quotas and working under tight deadlines, sales teams are often under a lot of pressure to perform.

This question is designed to understand how the candidate would support their team during a stressful or demanding time. While, ultimately, their job is to ensure the company meets its sales goals, the well-being of employees should be a top priority.

Look for: A candidate who advocates for their reps and ensures they have what they need to succeed when the pressure is on.

“Last year, our whole team was behind on quotas due to economic stagnation and some fierce competition. Instead of motivating the team with fear, I supported them through this tough patch. I made sure to foster a strong team mentality through weekly group meetings, and I always stayed late with my reps, so they knew I was in the trenches with them.

Even when the executive team got anxious about our performance nearing the end of the month, I advocated for my team and assured them they were putting in maximum effort. Ultimately, we pulled through and met quota during one of the most difficult months on record.”

28. What training method is most effective for new reps?

It would be nice if a sales manager could do ride-alongs and listen in on every call a new rep makes, but this model is impractical at scale.

Ensure the candidate acknowledges the importance of a repeatable training process that doesn't center around an informal passing down of knowledge.

“I think a hybrid, personalized approach toward new rep training is most effective. I advocated for shadowing and mock call scenarios so new reps feel comfortable in the field and a mentor/mentee system so reps can learn from more experienced teammates.

I also like to know my reps' strengths and weaknesses, so we can personalize their training and push them toward a sales style they can excel with.”

29. What do you think makes for a successful rep coaching session?

The candidate doesn't have to give a sample agenda of what their one-on-ones would look like. However, their conception of a coaching session must include actual coaching — not just a dry discussion of the numbers.

Pro tip : Listen for responses that include mentions of career development, goals, skill building, and problem-solving in addition to data review.

“A successful rep coaching session requires both the coach and the coachee to be engaged. If we can walk away from the session with clear goals to work toward and a process for achieving them, then that is a success in my book.”

30. What do you think motivates reps the most?

This is a trick question, but it's an important one. The best sales managers know that motivation is personal. While money might drive one rep to go the extra mile, another might be inspired by a development opportunity or creative contest.

The candidate who can navigate the trick and get the correct answer — in this case, "it depends on the rep" — possesses the motivational ability to lead a sales team to success.

“Each rep’s motivation is different, and part of a sales manager’s role is understanding his team and how to lead each member, and therefore the whole team, to success. Of course, money is motivating for everyone.

Beyond that, some reps are motivated by the positive reinforcement they receive from management and teammates when they succeed, while others are driven by competition to beat out other reps.”

31. What do you think you should look for in sales rep new hires?

A sales manager will be involved in interviewing new reps and likely will be the final decision maker on who gets hired.

Pro tip: Look for someone who understands that the right attitude and mentality are essential in new hires.

“New hires are a blank slate, so the most important thing is that they are teachable and eager to learn in their new role. I look for new reps who are quick on their feet, curious, calm under pressure, and have shown a track record for persistence, even if it is outside of sales.”

32. How would you handle managing former colleagues?

If you plan to promote an existing sales rep to a sales manager, that person will manage their former peers.

This can be an awkward situation for a new sales manager if they don’t handle their relationships tactfully, so look for a candidate who understands the maturity required to step into the role and manage former colleagues.

“I would make sure to establish clear boundaries and open communication from the very beginning. I would start by holding regular team meetings and one-on-ones to explain expectations and gradually modify the nature of past friendships.

I would never show favoritism and work hard to earn respect with results.”

33. How would you recognize your team’s performance?

Sales managers motivate their team’s success and recognize high-level performance. Of course, monetary and travel bonuses are always welcome. Still, a sales manager should understand the power of recognizing success and telling the story of hero reps.

Pro tip: Pizza parties on the last Friday of the month won’t quite cut it here.

“Every month that we exceed our quota, I would take my team out for a big celebration dinner, and top performers would be eligible for bonuses.

Beyond that, I think it’s important to tell the story of successful reps by sharing their success with the rest of the team and speaking in meetings and new hire training on their path to top performance.”

34. How will you manage different personalities on your team?

A sales manager must be able to engage with various personality types on their team by asking questions and getting to know their reps as individuals to support them best.

Pro tip: look for candidates who display a flexible communication style and can respect all personalities and differences.

“The key to managing different personalities is to know each rep. I will prioritize one-on-ones to understand everyones’ personalities and tailor my communication style to the individual I am working with. ”

35. Do you have any questions for us?

We had to save the best for last. Opening the floor for the candidate to ask questions can sometimes be more illuminating than their answers.

Based on the types of questions a candidate asks, you can determine their curiosity, priorities, and what makes them tick.

Pro tip: Look for candidates who have done their homework on your organization and are eager to make a positive impact based on their questioning.

Example Answers

“What has been your team’s greatest challenge in the past year?”

“How would you describe the culture at this company and the sales team?”

“What distinguishes a good performer from a top performer in this organization?”

Preparing for Your Interview

Whether you’re the candidate or the person asking the questions, take time to prepare before the interview. Reviewing the list above is a great place to start.

From there, jot down some notes to prepare for your answers. Choose an appropriate outfit. Get a good night’s sleep, and be sure to bring your A game.

Don't forget to share this post!

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In this section

Second Interview Presentations

It is the norm to be asked to prepare a presentation at the second stage for a sales vacancy. Often a topic is already requested but more often than not the topic is ‘Why are you right for the job?’

I would go so far as to say that a good discipline is to prepare a second interview presentation along these lines, even if you haven’t been asked to prepare one. The effort in putting together a presentation that matches your quality, skills and experience against the job requirements will give you the edge on the day and will really make you think that you are making the right decision in joining this organisation.

It shouldn’t take any more than two hours to put together and will be there to turn to if the meeting really isn’t going in the direction that you had planned.

If you've gotten ahead of yourself and perhaps need advice on first interviews, you can have a look at all our advice on 'how to WOW at a first interview' .

GOLDEN RULE: However, an absolute DON’T is to use your presentation as a ‘safety blanket’ when you haven’t been asked to prepare one, i.e. Interviewer: ‘How do you expect to penetrate into the following markets....?’ You (tucking into your briefcase) ‘well I have a presentation here, that.....’ ONLY use the presentation during the meeting as a last resort.

What the presentation should be short (no more than ten minutes if you have to deliver it) and no more than ten sheets or slides). It should contain:

Why you want to work for the company – key facts, direction, etc.

Why you want this particular job – the opportunity, etc.

What benefits you can bring to the company – experience, strengths, values, etc.

Your training and development requirements to succeed

Why you are the right person for the role

You may also want to include how you would plan, your approach, how you would structure your working day/week/month/quarter.

How you would impose key performance indicators upon yourself to attain and exceed targets.

GOLDEN RULE 2: The employer knows their business better than you. Keep it general, don’t quote specific accounts that you could bring to the company, the account values, etc.

GOLDEN RULE 3: Always take at least three printed copies of your presentation to the meeting and hand them out at the end. The adage of remembering just 25% of what you’ve heard after 24 hours is true and most hiring decisions are made after a period of deliberation that is typically 24-48 hours. Your presentation document just might have the memory trigging tags to make the decision swing your way!

Obscure second interview questions

You may be asked to prepare a presentation with a title such as ‘The features and benefits of a ping pong ball’ or ‘Nature or Nurture, what is more important?’ or ‘You work for a paperclip manufacturer and you have to sell the features and benefits of a paperclip’ (all of the three detailed here are factual cases!)

Why do employers do this? It may appear churlish but it’s a demonstration of lateral thinking, willingness to go the extra mile, creative thinking, negotiation, commercial flair and above all salesmanship. It's also a test of commitment to the job - how much effort will you put in to 'land the deal', are you prepared to ‘jump through the hoops’! 

If you fancy a list of common interview questions, we've assembled a list of the most common interview questions here .

Obscure Presentation Example: The Paperclip Presentation

As an example I’m going to use ‘You work for a paperclip manufacturer and you have to sell the features and benefits of a paperclip’ (which incidentally, is the standard second interview presentation for a major household FMCG brand).

Many treat the presentation as a game and present it as a game and make it fun and light hearted - they invariably don't get offered the job. Others put together a jazzy presentation on paper clips, their variety of uses and pitch accordingly. Where they fail is that unless you understand the need you can't sell anything – the adage of ‘diagnosing the illness before prescribing the medicine!’

A perfect way of executing this exercise is as follows and please tune it accordingly to the ‘obscure presentation’ that you may have been asked to prepare!

First off. Enter the meeting. 'Thank you very much for inviting me here today to discuss your urgent paperclip requirements. I understand from our discussions last week that today you are looking to agree a preferred supplier of paperclips and I understand that Ben, you are the Group Purchasing Director and Fred you are the, Group Finance Director. I also understand that you are looking to make a decision on a supplier today – is that correct?’ (by doing this they cannot use the objection of - we're not the right person, we're not in a position to make a decision today, etc'.)

Start the presentation with an overview of ‘Paperclips 'R' Us’ (or whatever) - history, services - holding stock, 3 day delivery, ability to supply volume, quality of product, ability to bespoke to need, etc.

It's imperative that YOU ask THEM early on 'what is your budget' - then you might find that you can easily sell to them on price.

Collect a handful of different types of paper clips (shapes, styles, colours), etc.

Ask them to touch the product (you can’t beat a kinaesthetic sale!)

Paint a couple, put tippex on a couple, wrap some coloured tape around some – whatever – I know it sounds somewhat strange but going this extra mile will make the difference!

Then probe to understand their needs - prepare 15 or so questions around the type of paperclip that they require, the volume, added value services, etc.

Prepare a slide per type of paperclip so that you can go into the detail of their preferred clip and skip past the ones that aren't right for their need and explain why

If asked price answer something like - 'I know that price is important to both of us but can we park this just for a moment until I fully understand your needs. I am confident that I will be able to propose a price that is both attractive and works for both of us'

Then pitch the product - the features, examples, benefits of the paperclip that is the solution to their need (have a brainstorm with yourself about exactly what benefits there could be – the amount of paper it can hold, flexibility, uniqueness of the colour, etc. think of every imaginable feature and benefit!)

Then ‘semi close’ - Do you agree that this is the right paperclip for you? Are there any further features that they would like you me to detail? What do we have to do to make the deal today?

Prepare bartering chips other than price - stock holding, delivery time, volumes, payment terms, etc - if you negotiate down on price ensure you give nothing away and always get something in return. Remember, negotiation is where both parties leave happy and it’s a win-win - not where one is battered on price, that’s called discounting!

If you are getting nothing but positives then close it down

Get agreement to product, volume, additional required services, total cost, etc.

Go one step further and pre-prepare an order form - get it out of your briefcase and get them to sign it on the spot!

If they don't agree to this as a minimum get agreement to the next meeting and an agenda for what you will propose - i.e. you'll go back to your R&D department to bespoke accordingly, you'll look at cheaper raw materials to get the price down, etc.

Pre-prepare a price list so that when you get their signature on the dotted line you can detail how well you negotiated to secure the deal!

Remember never give anything away for nothing - everything is tradable and barter accordingly to secure a price and service that is right for both parties!

Go the ‘extra mile and a half’ by creating a logo for the paperclip business, an order form, business card, price list - it'll only take an hour or two but could really make the difference between you and the other interviewees.

Thank them for their time (and their business); close the meeting and job done!

As you can see we have now taken a somewhat trite and childish presentation title into a 'full on' business pitch. This approach will demonstrate how you will succeed in their organisation by questioning, understanding needs, pitching product, negotiating, closing, etc.

Good luck with putting together your second interview questions and we hope that you found this useful!

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How To Close At Second Interview

• How to WOW at Second Interview
• Researching for Second Interviews
• Second Interviews - How to Negotiate Salary Package
• How to Close at Second Interview
• Great Tips for Second Interviews
• Second Interview Presentations Video
• How to Follow Up on an Interview
• How to Wow at Second Interview - Video and Transcript

Date published: 28th February 2024

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Simon Bonner

With over 25 years in B2B sales and recruitment, Simon is an English Graduate from UEA and specialises in recruiting commercial and FMCG sales positions. Simon joined the sales recruitment industry in 1998 before progressing into field sales and returning to recruitment in 2015. As an Associate Director, Simon is well placed to understand the needs of clients and candidates' needs, having spent ten years selling electronic security and managing National Accounts within OEM manufacturers and distribution channels. An avid Luton Town football fan, Simon dotes on his two daughters and enjoys keeping fit, socialising, food and wine.

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Rob was really helpful when I was putting together a presentation for the second stage interview. Overall their communication was great and kept me updated of any progress

J. McGrattan, Candidate

The Recruitment agent I used, Simon, was extremely helpful and really went the extra mile to ensure all of my questions were answered, and that I felt as comfortable and prepared as possible. Very professional company and would definitely recommend to others. Thank you Aaron Wallis!

A. Callaby, Candidate

I have to say using Aaron Wallis Recruitment has been nothing but an absolute pleasure. I've used many agencies over the years as the client and the candidate and its not always been a pleasurable experience!

L. Knowles, Candidate

Fantastic service, helped me find my ideal job quickly and smoothly. Would highly recommend them.

C. Caine, Candidate

Wanted to say a huge thank you to Simon Bonner who has just helped me secure my new role. He was one of the most professional recruiters I have ever worked with.

J. Marcinkiewicz, Candidate

For anyone looking for work, I can't recommend Aaron Wallis highly enough.

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Friendly, proactive, communicative. Overall a really positive experience.

R. Houston, Candidate

Aaron Wallis (and in particular Rob Scott) have been fantastic throughout the recruitment process, and even a few months down the line, still continues to care. Rob clearly cares about each individual and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise, which shows in the work he does. Each candidate is not just a number, and the support received from Aaron Wallis has helped me get a career which I truly enjoy.

M. White, Candidate 

When talking with Simon you felt relaxed cared to help you find a position that suited your needs

D. Pinder, Candidate

George Humphries was a complete professional at every point, from our first phone conversation to his “good luck tomorrow” text on Sunday before I started in my new role.

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I can honestly say that the time and expertise you gave me was way beyond any other recruitment consultant I dealt with. You are a rarity in your industry.

S. Akers, Candidate

Darren at Aaron Wallis was really encouraging and helpful. He was very responsive and regularly made phone calls to explain the job opportunities available, and guided me through the application process.

A. Brown, Candidate

Wanted to say a huge thank you to Simon Bonner who has just helped me secure my new role. He was one of the most professional recruiters I have ever worked with he was supportive really quick at replying and really put me at ease.

I had a great experience. Helped me every step of the way to get my new job. Sophie was very polite, kind and helpful!

J. Parnham, Candidate

Aaron Wallis is an outstanding recruitment agency specialising in high calibre sales positions. I was working directly with Darren Dewrance who went above and beyond my expectations in sourcing me my perfect role. I was kept in regular communication with Darren and he worked extremely hard to secure my dream job. Highly recommended and Thanks Darren for all your expertise and hard work.

R. Sealy, Candidate

The most professional recruitment agency I've ever worked with. Robert Scott was extremely proactive and send me a detailed briefing before each interview, ensuring I was well prepared.

D. Bermant, Candidate

The staff at Aaron Wallis were fantastic. Throughout the process, they maintained excellent communication and I always knew where I stood.

M. Owusu, Candidate

Sophie has been fantastic and always so attentive, highly recommend.

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Simon was knowledgeable on his clients history, background and what their requirements were and he worked around time zones, holidays and a pandemic to get the right result.

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Excellent service, very professional and friendly, would and have, recommended Aaron Wallis.

E. Heley, Candidate

George above and beyond to make sure I had everything I need to secure my new role. Outstanding Professional.

A. Kirkland, Candidate

Managed to get me placed within a week! Really friendly and easy to deal with. Always available for a call and my biggest challenge was I was in work at the time I was looking for my next opportunity (which is stressful) but Sam made that easy.

P. Fitzsimons, Candidate

Sam was by far the most professional and helpful of any individual I've ever dealt with through a recruitment agency. He was supportive and thorough throughout the process. He definitely goes the extra mile for you. A pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend him. An asset to Aaron Wallis

M. Wyer, Candidate

Less than two weeks after joining Aaron Wallis I was offered my new job. I got a £10,000 rise in my basic salary, car allowance, a laptop and many other perks, which will help to further my career. I definitely would not have found my dream job without the help of Aaron Wallis.

C. Hoy, Candidate

George is a fantastic recruitment agent and provides a great service. It was a pleasure I thoroughly recommend George to anyone.

C. Beaugie, Candidate

The detail put into the preparation for interviews and the detail of the job description was first class. Rob and Simon in particular are amongst the best I've ever dealt with.

K. Peacock, Candidate

Perfect from start to finish. Simon deserves a shout out. Best recruiter there is. If you need a job, this guy will get you one. He's like the super man of recruiters. Top man, can't recommend him enough.

M. Crisp, Candidate

A great recruitment company to work with. Excellent experience with Aaron Wallis through the entire recruitment process. The team was really professional and extremely helpful. Darren was a pleasure to work with. He was friendly, supportive and gave me great advice. Thank you very much!

A. Bauchet, Candidate

I have to say coming across and having dealings with Aaron Wallis proved to be very successful. Being highly experienced did not seem to count for much during my job search bit a conversation with Robert Scott gave me a real confidence boost and enabled to get a position at the age of 63. Great service!!!

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Fantastic customer service, communication was brilliant, happy polite people to talk to, made everything a lot easier and smoother. Thank you for all your help getting me back in the work force, Keep up the good work :-)

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Very polite and friendly and was very helpful finding me my next new role.

K. Craggs, Candidate

I had a very good experience with Aaron Wallis. The company itself is offering great content for all things related to the hiring process. I definitely recommend.

J. Ostermeier, Candidate

Excellent experience. Knowledgeable staff and really went the extra mile. Found my ideal position and I couldn't be happier. Special shout out to Sam and George: who made the process smooth and easy for me. Highly recommend.

K. Pearce, Candidate

I had the absolute pleasure of working with George Humphries on finding a placement best suitable for me.

A. Van Der Mescht, Candidate

Sophie helped me secure a new role I have been searching for. She took her time to explain clear and concisely all I needed to succeed at the interview stage. Thanks again Sophie!

O. Oladejo, Candidate

I would highly recommend Aaron Wallis Recruitment, Darren was extremely helpful and provided me with plenty of advice and support throughout the whole process.

D. Bretherton, Candidate

Very good advice and support was given during the course of the interviewing process. Potential job seekers would be well advised to use this company whilst looking for their new career.

R. Speakman, Candidate

Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment are a very friendly and professional recruitment organisation who listen to your needs, work with you and act on your behalf which sets them apart from many of their competitors who in my experience are willing to throw anything at you. We discussed my history, my preferences and my wishes - one opportunity was introduced. It was perfect. I start at the end of June.

R. Buckley, Candidate

The service provided by Aaron Wallis has been just great. I was constantly informed about what was going on with the process interview and the agent has always been supportive and kind to me.

L. Colagrossi, Candidate

Sophie contacted me about a role explained the details clearly and made sure I was ready for the interview. She kept in touch every step of the way till I started the job. Thank you Sophie for a great experience.

S. Powell, Candidate

How to prep for a mock sales pitch interview + creative ways to stand out

You can include all the fancy words and accolades you want on your resume. What interviewers actually want to see is your sales skills in action.

If you’re gunning for a sales job , it’s almost guaranteed you’ll be asked to do a mock sales pitch for your interview. Nail this pitch, and you’ll have a much better shot at that job you want.

So, how can you set yourself up for success at your next sales interview? Let’s talk about:

What is a mock sales pitch in an interview & why do you have to do one?

How to prep for the mock sales pitch interview, 3 sales pitch examples for your interview: learn how to pitch yourself, creative mock sales pitch ideas for an interview.

By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to walk into that office (or log into that Zoom meeting) with full confidence in your mock sales pitch skills.

Your resume and cover letter explain who you are and what you’ve done, and the questions you answer during your sales interview will tell the interviewer more about your personality and whether you’ll fit with the team.

But the best way to get a sense of whether or not you can cut it as a salesperson is to watch you pitch.

That’s why—nerve-wracking as it may be—most interviewers will have you run through a mock sales pitch during your interview.

Want to ace your sales interview? Here's how to prepare a winning mock sales pitch.

Wondering what to do before your sales interview? Here are 5 tips to help you prepare successfully and woo your interviewer:

1. Have a clear understanding of the company and the product

If the hiring manager asks you to do a mock sales pitch in your interview, you should know what you’re going to be selling. In most cases, this means getting to know the product that this company sells.

Of course, the interviewer doesn’t expect you to have expert knowledge of the product, but you should know enough to sell it properly.

So, research the company and the product. Get to know their style and personality through the sales copy on their website. Watch any videos or demos they have that talk about the product. Read what customers say about them. If it’s a SaaS product, start a free trial and get to know it from the inside.

While doing research about the product, questions might come up. Ask them—shows you’re interested and taking this process seriously. In fact, here’s what Scott Schwartz, VP of Sales at HHAeXchange says about this :

I love when candidates send me questions before the presentation and collaborate with me… it shows me they’re paying attention.

The more you know about the product and industry, the better. So, why not ask someone who really knows?

2. Know the prospects you’ll be selling to

Your interviewer wants to know that you have the skills to adapt to their key audience and speak with prospective customers effectively.

So, as you learn about the company, dig into their customer base and get a sense for their ideal customer profile . What kind of companies work with them? Are their customers all in a certain industry? Is the main target market a particular department inside a company, or even a specific role?

When you walk into a mock sales pitch with a clear understanding of who the company’s main customer is, you are already setting yourself apart from other candidates. Prove to the interviewer that you can speak easily with prospective customers. Take some time to pick up on the lingo, or understand their main concerns.

Again, if you have questions about the company’s customer base, reach out before the interview and ask. This will show that you’re willing to put in the extra effort and that you really want to reach the customers, not just get the job.

3. Remember to showcase your sales strengths, not your knowledge of the product

Like we said above, no one expects you to be an expert on a product you’ve never sold. Instead, focus on this: what makes you stand out as a sales rep?

Throughout your sales career , however long or short, you’ve honed your skills and developed your unique selling style. This is what you want to showcase in a mock sales presentation during your interview.

For example, are you adept at discovering needs? Do you have a unique way of turning objections into benefits ? Are your questions always spot-on? Think of the mock sales pitch as your opportunity to put your best skills on display, and prepare accordingly.

4. Think about how you’ll answer common sales interview questions

While you can never be 100% sure what you’ll be asked during a sales interview, there are a few sales interview questions you will most likely hear in some form or another.

Here are some guidelines on how to answer some of the more common sales interview questions:

Why are you interested in sales?

You want to have a clear reason why you're in sales, and have a strong narrative around it. One of my main questions, when I interview people, is to ask why.

For some people, the reason will just be that they want to make a lot of money. For others, it will be because they have a lot of experience and insight into the particular industry, because they like to communicate with people, or many other reasons. There are no good or bad reasons—but they should be your honest reasons why, and you should have clarity around this.

Why do you want to sell this product? Why do you want to work with this company?

Believing in a product is a good motivation to sell it, which is why most interviewers will ask some variation of this question. Know something about the product and the target market, and you’ll prove you took the time to develop an interest in this sales job with this company (not just any sales job with any company).

When was the last time you missed quota?

If you tell an interviewer that you’ve never missed quota, they’ll assume you’re lying. Because let’s face it, all salespeople miss quota at some point. The point of this question is to poke at your vulnerable spots and see how you handle the pressure. So, talk about missing quota, why you missed it, what you learned from the experience, and how you’ve improved since then.

What was the most difficult/most significant deal you’ve closed?

This is your opportunity to impress, so make sure you prepare beforehand by choosing the right sales story to share. Frame the story well, think about the skills you used to overcome challenges, and give real figures of the deal if possible.

5. Come into the interview with a plan of action

Hiring managers love proactive workers. So, what are your plans starting Day 1 of your new job? How do you plan to start learning the systems and products you’ll be selling? What’s your process for getting to know the unique sales process of this company? How will you get to know the customers and the competitors?

True, most companies will have specific onboarding processes that answer these questions for you. But when you come into the interview prepared with a plan of action to get yourself started, you prove you’re ready to hit the ground running and that you’re the type of worker that takes initiative.

I generally look for people who focus initially on learning—if someone tells me they'd like to start out in the new company by talking to different people on the team, to gain internal knowledge, that's always a good thing.

These guidelines are your starting point to prepare for the interview and mock sales pitch.

At some point, the interviewer will probably ask: “So, tell me about yourself.”

This is probably one of the most common (and often most dreaded) interview questions. In a sales interview, though, this isn’t just a friendly opener. It’s an opportunity to give a pitch that sells yourself.

So, how can you develop a sales pitch that proves you’re the right hire for the position? Here are three sales pitch examples for an interview that will sell yourself as a sales professional:

1. Use common industry problems to capture their interest

How can you help solve the problems that this company is facing?

You know the common struggles and challenges facing sales teams because that’s your world. So, use that knowledge to sell yourself as the solution.

Here’s an example of this from Zety :

Photo credit: Zety

This example pulls at a common industry problem and shows how this salesperson created a solution to that problem.

2. Build a narrative with your experience

It’s no secret that stories are memorable and help get your point across better.

But that’s not an excuse to respond with your life story when asked to tell the interviewer about you.

Instead, frame your career story with a narrative that sells your skills and expertise:

3. Build a pitch based on questions

Creating a sales pitch for an interview is the same as building a pitch to hook new prospects: you need to know their needs before you can present a solution.

So, what are the needs of the company you’re interviewing with? What are they looking for in a sales rep?

Here are some questions you can ask the interviewer to better frame your responses to their needs:

• Is this a new or existing position?
• What did you like about the last person who filled this position?
• What was missing from the last person who filled this position?
• What are your goals for a new [role] in relation to the company?
• How do you hope to benefit from filling this position?
• How is the success of this position measured?

When you ask these kinds of questions, you can connect the benefits of hiring you to the needs they’ve expressed.

You’ve gone through the basic steps of preparing for an interview that includes a mock sales pitch.

But how can you take your mock sales pitch to the next level?

Set the stage where you can

Sometimes you may lack some context during your mock sales pitch. Roleplay can feel a bit stiff and awkward, so embrace that and roll with it. Where you lack context, create it.

For example, start the mock pitch with something like this: “I’m going into this pitch assuming you were an inbound lead and that we’ve established basic product fit on an initial phone call.”

Where you can take some control of the situation, do so. This will allow you to pitch in a more natural way since you’ve been able to set the scene and everywhere knows where they’re coming from.

Focus on qualification

Qualification is a huge part of the sales process, and the hiring manager will want to be clear that you know how to ask the right questions and weave those answers into your pitch.

So, become really good at qualifying your sales leads . Don’t fall into the trap of giving a monologue simply because the situation is a bit awkward. Focus on understanding the prospect's needs and delivering a solution that fits those needs.

And yes, this can even work for the dreaded, “Sell me this pen.” Find out why the prospect needs a pen, and what they want from a pen, then you’ll know how to sell it to them effectively .

Let your personality shine through

You are a unique soul whose style and personality shine through every day as you hit the phones. That should not change simply because you’re doing a mock sales pitch.

The pitch may be fake, but the results are just as real.

So, let your true personality shine through . Be as natural as possible, and make a conscious effort to relax before you begin. Talk to your interviewer like you talk to your prospects every single day. Treat this as a real sales pitch that you’re giving to a real customer, and you’ll feel more like yourself as you pitch.

Remember to close

While it may seem a bit obvious, you should think in advance about how you want to close this deal .

In a real-life sales environment, you would have a specific call to action prepared to move this prospect along in the sales process . Since you’re working with an imaginary sales process, set an imaginary call to action for your mock sales pitch, and push for that next step at the end.

This is part of the pitch that you would never skip or minimize in real life, so treat it the same in your mock pitch.

Show how well you take and use feedback

Many sales interviewers will provide feedback and then ask you to do a second mock sales pitch in your interview.

How you respond to this feedback tells interviewers two important things:

• Whether you’re humble enough to accept criticism from your boss or from peers
• How well you listen to and apply feedback

Basically, the hiring manager wants to know if you’re coachable. A salesperson who accepts and applies feedback will be quick to adjust their strategies and processes to best fit the customers, not cling to old strategies simply because they’re comfortable with them.

Coachability is an important quality for a salesperson, so use this opportunity to demonstrate that you know how to use feedback in a practical way.

Even if the interviewer doesn’t give you feedback, you can proactively ask for their opinion once your mock sales pitch is finished.

Nail your next sales interview and mock sales pitch

Any kind of job interview can be terrifying, but a sales interview with a mock pitch is even worse.

That said, when you’re well-prepared, you can go into that interview with confidence.

Preparation for a sales interview is more than just researching the company and getting to know the product (although that’s important). You need to be ready with the right attitude to sell yourself to the interviewer.

Think of the entire sales interview as just another pitch, and you’ll come at it with the same amount of energy and finesse that you have as you sell every single day.

But there’s always room for improvement.

Want to take your sales pitches to the next level? Take a deep dive into the Ultimate Sales Pitch Guide , with 8 chapters of expert advice on developing, scripting, delivering, and following up on a high-performing sales pitch .

One of the most important skills to master for any sales rep is the follow-up. Whenever I interview a sales rep and I see that they have great follow-up skills, that's a big plus. I've written an entire book on the subject, and you can get it free today:

DOWNLOAD THE FOLLOW-UP FORMULA →

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7 Amazing Sales Presentation Examples (And How to Make Them Your Own)

7 Types of Slides to Include In Your Sales Presentation

Inside the mind of your prospect: change is hard, before-after-bridge: the only formula you need to create a persuasive sales presentation, facebook — how smiles and simplicity make you more memorable, contently — how to build a strong bridge, brick by brick, yesware — how to go above and beyond with your benefits, uber — how to cater your content for readers quick to scan, dealtap — how to use leading questions to your advantage, zuora — how to win over your prospects by feeding them dots, linkedin sales navigator — how to create excitement with color, how to make a sales pitch in 4 straightforward steps, 7 embarrassing pitfalls to avoid in your presentation, over to you.

A brilliant sales presentation has a number of things going for it.

Being product-centered isn’t one of them. Or simply focusing on your sales pitch won’t do the trick.

So what can you do to make your offer compelling?

From different types of slides to persuasive techniques and visuals, we’ve got you covered.

Below, we look at data-backed strategies, examples, and easy steps to build your own sales presentations in minutes.

• Title slide: Company name, topic, tagline
• The “Before” picture: No more than three slides with relevant statistics and graphics.
• The “After” picture: How life looks with your product. Use happy faces.
• Company introduction: Who you are and what you do (as it applies to them).
• The “Bridge” slide: Short outcome statements with icons in circles.
• Social proof slides: Customer logos with the mission statement on one slide. Pull quote on another.
• “We’re here for you” slide: Include a call-to-action and contact information.

Many sales presentations fall flat because they ignore this universal psychological bias: People overvalue the benefits of what they have over what they’re missing.

Harvard Business School professor John T. Gourville calls this the “ 9x Effect .” Left unchecked, it can be disastrous for your business.

According to Gourville, “It’s not enough for a new product simply to be better. Unless the gains far outweigh the losses, customers will not adopt it.”

The good news: You can influence how prospects perceive these gains and losses. One of the best ways to prove value is to contrast life before and after your product.

Luckily, there’s a three-step formula for that.

• Before → Here’s your world…
• After → Imagine what it would be like if…
• Bridge → Here’s how to get there.

Start with a vivid description of the pain, present an enviable world where that problem doesn’t exist, then explain how to get there using your tool.

It’s super simple, and it works for cold emails , drip campaigns , and sales discovery decks. Basically anywhere you need to get people excited about what you have to say.

In fact, a lot of companies are already using this formula to great success. The methods used in the sales presentation examples below will help you do the same.

We’re all drawn to happiness. A study at Harvard tells us that emotion is contagious .

You’ll notice that the “Before” (pre-Digital Age) pictures in Facebook’s slides all display neutral faces. But the cover slide that introduces Facebook and the “After” slides have smiling faces on them.

This is important. The placement of those graphics is an intentional persuasion technique.

Studies by psychologists show that we register smiles faster than any other expression. All it takes is 500 milliseconds (1/20th of a second). And when participants in a study were asked to recall expressions, they consistently remembered happy faces over neutral ones.

What to do about it : Add a happy stock photo to your intro and “After” slides, and keep people in “Before” slides to neutral expressions.

Here are some further techniques used during the sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Use Simple Graphics

Use simple graphics to convey meaning without text.

Example: Slide 2 is a picture of a consumer’s hand holding an iPhone — something we can all relate to.

Why It Works: Pictures are more effective than words — it’s called  Picture Superiority . In presentations, pictures help you create connections with your audience. Instead of spoon-feeding them everything word for word, you let them interpret. This builds trust.

Tactic #2: Use Icons

Use icons to show statistics you’re comparing instead of listing them out.

Example: Slide 18 uses people icons to emphasize how small 38 out of 100 people is compared to 89 out of 100.

Why It Works:  We process visuals 60,000 times faster than text.

Tactic #3: Include Statistics

Include statistics that tie real success to the benefits you mention.

Example: “71% lift driving visits to retailer title pages” (Slide 26).

Why It Works:  Precise details prove that you are telling the truth.

Just like how you can’t drive from Marin County to San Francisco without the Golden Gate, you can’t connect a “Before” to an “After” without a bridge.

Add the mission statement of your company — something Contently does from Slide 1 of their deck. Having a logo-filled Customers slide isn’t unusual for sales presentations, but Contently goes one step further by showing you exactly what they do for these companies.

They then drive home the Before-After-Bridge Formula further with case studies:

Before : Customer’s needs when they came on

After: What your company accomplished for them

Bridge : How they got there (specific actions and outcomes)

Here are some other tactics we pulled from the sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Use Graphics/Diagrams

Use graphics, Venn diagrams, and/or equations to drive home your “Before” picture.

Why It Works:  According to a Cornell study , graphs and equations have persuasive power. They “signal a scientific basis for claims, which grants them greater credibility.”

Tactic #2: Keep Slides That Have Bullets to a Minimum

Keep slides that have bullets to a minimum. No more than one in every five slides.

Why It Works:  According to an experiment by the International Journal of Business Communication , “Subjects exposed to a graphic representation paid significantly more attention to , agreed more with, and better recalled the strategy than did subjects who saw a (textually identical) bulleted list.”

Tactic #3: Use Visual Examples

Follow up your descriptions with visual examples.

Example: After stating “15000+ vetted, ready to work journalists searchable by location, topical experience, and social media influence” on Slide 8, Contently shows what this looks like firsthand on slides 9 and 10.

Why It Works:  The same reason why prospects clamor for demos and car buyers ask for test drives. You’re never truly convinced until you see something for yourself.

Which is more effective for you?

This statement — “On average, Yesware customers save ten hours per week” — or this image:

The graphic shows you what that 10 hours looks like for prospects vs. customers. It also calls out a pain that the product removes: data entry.

Visuals are more effective every time. They fuel retention of a presentation from 10% to 65% .

But it’s not as easy as just including a graphic. You need to keep the design clean.

Can you feel it?

Clutter provokes anxiety and stress because it bombards our minds with excessive visual stimuli, causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t important.

Here’s a tip from Yesware’s Graphic Designer, Ginelle DeAntonis:

“Customer logos won’t all necessarily have the same dimensions, but keep them the same size visually so that they all have the same importance. You should also disperse colors throughout, so that you don’t for example end up with a bunch of blue logos next to each other. Organize them in a way that’s easy for the eye, because in the end it’s a lot of information at once.”

Here are more tactics to inspire sales presentation ideas:

Tactic #1: Personalize Your Final Slide

Personalize your final slide with your contact information and a headline that drives emotion.

Example: Our Mid-Market Team Lead Kyle includes his phone number and email address with “We’re Here For You”

Why It Works: These small details show your audience that:

• This is about giving them the end picture, not making a sale
• The end of the presentation doesn’t mean the end of the conversation
• Questions are welcomed

Tactic #2: Pair Outcome Statements With Icons in Circles

Example: Slide 4 does this with seven different “After” outcomes.

Why It Works:  We already know why pictures work, but circles have power , too. They imply completeness, infiniteness, and harmony.

Tactic #3: Include Specific Success Metrics

Don’t just list who you work with; include specific success metrics that hit home what you’ve done for them.

Example: 35% New Business Growth for Boomtrain; 30% Higher Reply Rates for Dyn.

Why It Works:  Social proof drives action. It’s why we wait in lines at restaurants and put ourselves on waitlists for sold-out items.

People can only focus for eight seconds at a time. (Sadly, goldfish have one second on us.)

This means you need to cut to the chase fast.

Uber’s headlines in Slides 2-9 tailor the “After” picture to specific pain points. As a result, there’s no need to explicitly state a “Before.”

Slides 11-13 then continue touching on “Before” problems tangentially with customer quotes:

So instead of self-touting benefits, the brand steps aside to let consumers hear from their peers — something that sways 92% of consumers .

Leading questions may be banned from the courtroom, but they aren’t in the boardroom.

DealTap’s slides ask viewers to choose between two scenarios over and over. Each has an obvious winner:

Ever heard of the Focusing Effect?

It’s part of what makes us tick as humans and what makes this design move effective. We focus on one thing and then ignore the rest. Here, DealTap puts the magnifying glass on paperwork vs. automated transactions.

Easy choice.

Sure, DealTap’s platform might have complexities that rival paperwork, but we don’t think about that. We’re looking at the pile of work one the left and the simpler, single interface on the right.

Here are some other tactics to use in your own sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Tell a Story

Tell a story that flows from one slide to the next.

Example: Here’s the story DealTap tells from slides 4 to 8: “Transactions are complicated” → “Expectations on all sides” → “Too many disconnected tools” → “Slow and error prone process” → “However, there’s an opportunity.

Why It Works:   Storytelling in sales with a clear beginning and end (or in this case, a “Before” and “After”) trigger a trust hormone called Oxytocin.

Tactic #2: This vs. That

If it’s hard to separate out one “Before” and “After” vision with your product or service because you offer many dissimilar benefits, consider a “This vs. That” theme for each.

Why It Works:  It breaks up your points into simple decisions and sets you up to win emotional reactions from your audience with stock photos.

Remember how satisfying it was to play connect the dots? Forming a bigger picture out of disconnected circles.

That’s what you need to make your audience do.

Zuora tells a story by:

• Laying out the reality (the “Before” part of the Before-After-Bridge formula).
• Asking you a question that you want to answer (the “After”)
• Giving you hints to help you connect the dots
• Showing you the common thread (the “Bridge”)

You can achieve this by founding your sales presentation on your audience’s intuitions. Set them up with the closely-set “dots,” then let them make the connection.

Here are more tactical sales presentation ideas to steal for your own use:

Tactic #1: Use Logos and Testimonials

Use logos and  testimonial pull-quotes for your highest-profile customers to strengthen your sales presentation.

Example: Slides 21 to 23 include customer quotes from Schneider Electric, Financial Times, and Box.

Why It Works: It’s called  social proof . Prospects value other people’s opinions and trust reputable sources more than you.

Tactic #2: Include White Space

Pad your images with white space.

Example: Slide 17 includes two simple graphics on a white background to drive home an important concept.

Why It Works:  White space creates separation, balance, and attracts the audience’s eyes to the main focus: your image.

Tactic #3: Incorporate Hard Data

Incorporate hard data with a memorable background to make your data stand out.

Example: Slide 5 includes statistics with a backdrop that stands out. The number and exciting title (‘A Global Phenomenon’) are the main focuses of the slide.

Why It Works:  Vivid backdrops are proven to be memorable and help your audience take away important numbers or data.

Psychology tells us that seeing colors can set our mood .

The color red is proven to increase the pulse and heart rate. Beyond that, it’s associated with being active, aggressive, and outspoken. LinkedIn Sales Navigator uses red on slides to draw attention to main points:

You can use hues in your own slides to guide your audience’s emotions. Green gives peace; grey adds a sense of calm; blue breeds trust. See more here .

Tip: You can grab free photos from Creative Commons and then set them to black & white and add a colored filter on top using a (also free) tool like Canva . Here’s the sizing for your image:

Caveat: Check with your marketing team first to see if you have a specific color palette or brand guidelines to follow.

Here are some other takeaways from LinkedIn’s sales presentation:

Tactic #1: Include a CTA on Final Slide

Include one clear call-to-action on your final slide.

Example: Slide 9 has a “Learn More” CTA button.

Why It Works:  According to the Paradox of Choice , the more options you give, the less likely they are to act.

Step One : Ask marketing for your company’s style guide (color, logo, and font style).

Step Two: Answer these questions to outline the “Before → After → Bridge” formula for your sales pitch :

• What are your ICP’s pain points?
• What end picture resonates with them?
• How does your company come into play?

Step Three: Ask account management/marketing which customers you can mention in your slides (plus where to access any case studies for pull quotes).

Step Four:  Download photos from Creative Commons . Remember: Graphics > Text. Use Canva to edit on your own — free and fast.

What are the sales presentation strategies that work best for your industry and customers? Tweet us:  @Yesware .

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Slideshow for Sales Interview

Slideshow for sales interview presentation, premium google slides theme and powerpoint template.

You can get different uses out of this creative template! This slideshow with golden touches and black and white images will allow you to orient the presentation to what you need in relation to the world of sales. You can use this design to prepare for an interview with a new salesman of your product or you can be the one who has to do the interview and the slides will allow you to collect the most relevant information for your interviewers to know about your education or experience. Can you think of more uses? Download the template and show everyone what you are capable of editing!

Features of this template

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