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IT Sales Manager Interview Questions

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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7 min read

An IT sales manager oversees, guides and motivates your sales team, sets sales goals and develops strategies to achieve these objectives. They possess top-notch leadership abilities, an extensive knowledge of IT products, a strong customer service focus, training skills and are able to foster a cohesive team.

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top IT Sales Manager interview questions and answers.

  1. Can you describe the sales process? See answer
  2. How do you motivate a sales team to work together to achieve goals? See answer
  3. What skills and traits do you look for when hiring IT sales representatives? See answer
  4. How do you leverage data to develop and assess sales plans? See answer
  5. How do you keep up to date on the latest IT products and industry trends? See answer
  6. How do you train and mentor your sales team? See answer
  7. What steps would you take to settle a conflict between two team members? See answer
  8. What steps would you take to address an underperforming team member? See answer
  9. Can you describe a time when you had to terminate an employee? See answer
  10. What sets our products apart from those of our competitors? See answer
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Hire your next IT Sales Manager today.

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Hire your next IT Sales Manager today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

10 IT Sales Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Can you describe the sales process?

This probes the candidate's sales knowledge, reveals their tools and techniques, and ensures that their process aligns with your company's values and strategies. What to look for in an answer:

  • thorough understanding of the sales process and what each step is designed to accomplish
  • sales and customer-oriented mindset and previous experience as a sales representative
  • response that aligns with your company's sales culture and methods
Example:

"I begin by identifying prospective customers, reaching out to them and using active listening to identify their needs. Next, I select the product that will best suit those needs and explain the benefits. I respond to any objections and adjust my recommendations as needed. I close the deal and follow up with the customer to ensure that they are happy with their purchase."

How do you motivate a sales team to work together to achieve goals?

Posing this question can reveal valuable information about their leadership abilities, inspirational skills and understanding of different motivating factors. What to look for in an answer:

  • past experience motivating employees and achieving goals
  • actionable strategies such as employee recognition or incentive programs
  • ability to communicate effectively
Example:

"I foster a motivated and cohesive team by ensuring that each member understands the important role they play in achieving team goals. I offer ongoing support and mentoring as needed. When milestones are met, I recognize individual and group efforts through recognition and rewards and ensure that each team member has the opportunity to grow through training or professional development. A positive attitude can go a long way in creating a tight-knit, happy team."

What skills and traits do you look for when hiring IT sales representatives?

Desirable candidates will focus on skills and qualities that are customer-focused and align with your company culture. What to look for in an answer:

  • ability to explain how these qualities relate to positive outcomes
  • skills that are not solely focused on sales, but also on teamwork, customer service and resilience
  • evidence of previous successful hires
Example:

"While I value candidates with strong sales abilities, it is important that they can also work as part of a team, helping to foster a positive environment. I also look for someone with a passion for our products and creating a satisfying customer experience, boosting both sales and customer loyalty. In my previous position, I hand-selected a team that consistently met sales targets, while elevating our customer satisfaction rates."

How do you leverage data to develop and assess sales plans?

This query will reveal how comfortable a candidate feels analyzing and using valuable data when engaging in decision-making. What to look for in an answer:

  • understanding of how to use data to identify market trends, set sales goals and measure performance
  • familiarity with sales data tools such as CRMs, AI, sales analytics and forecasting software, and more
  • willingness to adopt new tools and technologies as they arise
Example:

"When it comes to making effective decisions, data analysis is a valuable tool. It eliminates the guesswork, enabling me to set sales targets, develop sound strategies and accurately measure our progress. By focusing on data, I can adjust our plans and quickly adapt to changes in the marketplace. In the past, I have used CRMs and AI forecasting tools. I love learning new things and am very open to mastering other data analysis tools."

How do you keep up to date on the latest IT products and industry trends?

As an IT sales manager, the ideal candidate will value lifelong learning, seeking the latest information on both technology products and sales tools and methodologies. What to look for in an answer:

  • strong commitment to continuous learning and updating skill sets
  • actionable strategy for engaging in professional development
  • knowledge of industry publications, online forums and groups, and professional associations
Example:

"I love to learn new things and keep up with the latest products and industry trends. I have subscriptions to several tech publications, participate in many online forums, follow top technology developers on social media, and attend computer and technology trade shows. I also network with other sales professionals and regularly read industry newsletters."

How do you train and mentor your sales team?

A top candidate will be able to identify team member skills gaps, provide learning opportunities and actively participate in the professional development of their team. What to look for in an answer:

  • ability to assess team member strengths and areas for improvement
  • working knowledge of training and development methods such as online learning modules, job shadowing, peer mentoring and workshops
  • willingness to provide one-on-one coaching
Example:

"The key to effectively training my team is understanding each individual's strengths and weaknesses. I can then select the training methods that best suit their needs. Next, I monitor their progress and provide regular feedback and ongoing support. In my previous role, I designed job-shadowing and peer-mentoring programs that elevated my team's skill levels. I also provided individualized coaching to ensure that each team member was equipped to reach their maximum potential."

What steps would you take to settle a conflict between two team members?

Part of creating a cohesive team involves conflict management. This question invites the candidate to discuss their mediation, problem-solving, negotiation skills and level of emotional intelligence. What to look for in an answer:

  • ability to show empathy and understand each party's perspective.
  • creation of a mutually agreeable solution
  • conflict resolution methods that align with your company culture and treat each party with respect
Example:

"The first step is to get to the root of the problem by actively listening to each of their concerns. Together, we will identify possible solutions and weigh the pros and cons of each. Once an agreeable resolution is reached, we can implement it and follow up with each party. The key is being able to view the issue from each individual's perspective and address the issue with respect."

What steps would you take to address an underperforming team member?

Managing a team requires the ability to evaluate individual performance, develop an improvement plan, provide training and mentoring, and monitor progress. What to look for in an answer:

  • actionable strategy for improving an employee's performance, including detailed steps
  • willingness to collaborate with the employee, offer mentorship and provide ongoing support
  • creation of a solution that aligns with your company's values, culture and goals
Example:

"I would begin having a one-on-one discussion with the team member to discover the root cause of the underperformance. We would then collaboratively create an action plan that includes doable steps and achievable milestones to improve their performance. I would check in with them regularly, provide ongoing mentoring and encouragement and monitor their progress. If the employee doesn't improve or complete the necessary steps, I may need to reconsider their suitability for the role."

Can you describe a time when you had to terminate an employee?

This is a difficult, yet necessary part of a manager's role. An ideal candidate will describe their process, the reason for the dismissal and how they mitigated damage to their team. What to look for:

  • ability to make tough decisions for the good of the company
  • evidence that the situation was handled in a just and consistent way that aligns with your company's policies
  • concrete plan for reducing the negative impact on your sales team and replacing the team member
Example:

"Our cameras caught an employee stealing an expensive cell phone. This was grounds for immediate dismissal. I met with the team member, showed them the video and told them I had to let them go. I completed the necessary paperwork and followed our company's policies and procedures. This individual was a full-time employee. To reduce the impact on my team, I offered a part-time employee the full-time position and hired a new part-timer."

What sets our products apart from those of our competitors?

The ideal candidate will be familiar with your product line, how it compares to competitors' products and be able to discuss selling features. What to look for in an answer:

  • sincere enthusiasm for your products
  • understanding of how your product addresses a customer need more effectively than competitive products
  • knowledge of your company culture and brand image
Example:

"Your laptops have the highest resolution screens in the industry, providing a crisper image for gamers and video streamers. Boasting solid state drives, long battery life and a 19-mm keyboard pitch, your products are designed with the user in mind. The fact that your products come with a variety of screen sizes, memory capacities and processors enables the sales team to customize the product to the individual customer's needs. This company truly puts the customer first."

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