Now Revealing Best Answers To Sales & Marketing Interview Questions For A Beginner

The job opportunities in the sales and marketing field are numerous in Kenya.
Getting hold of these opportunities for you as a beginner may seem like an uphill task with no real job experience to show for.
It is important to ensure that you are to able sell yourself to the interviewer as a suitable candidate because that it is the ultimate way you will able to show you have what it takes to sell their goods or services.
ALSO SEE >>> Sales & Marketing Job Interview Question & Answers
Did you just finish campus and you are wondering how you are going to stand out in that interview despite being shortlisted among other candidates who have long been in the industry?
Let’s have  a look at these  best answers that you can give in a sales and marketing interview:
1. Why do you want to work in the sales & marketing field and what is your experience?
This question is designed to gauge your passion, interest  and level of experience inline with the position at hand, the answer you give should show precisely that.
For example:
“ My interest in marketing started back in campus when I started my first business venture which involved selling branded t-shirts. I had to find a way to promote my business so as to achieve my desired sales. So I had to create my posters to pin on the boards, start my own social media page and also by word of mouth- told others about my venture. It was awesome being able to drive my own sales  and promote a product I believe in thus I feel really passionate about working in the sales and marketing industry.”
Talk about any marketing experience you have had in your internship, at school or even a personal business venture it still counts.
2. What challenges do you expect in this role and how will you handle them?
Here the interviewer wants to gauge your level of preparedness, if you fully understand the role and how you resolve conflicts that may arise in the workplace.
Try this…
“As a sales and marketing professional, coming across challenges is inevitable. For instance, I am likely to come across an agitated customer who feels like something more should be done to cater for their special needs. I experienced this when I was running my business one customer came to me claiming he wanted a better quality t-shirt but was not willing to pay for the extra cost. I resolved this by trying to calm him down and reason with him. This is one of the challenges I expect to face here too. My approach will be to remain calm, listen to their grievances and try to assist them if I can as the customer needs always come first.”
3. Have you ever organized an event before?
In your mind, probably when this question is posed you think about a red carpet event with the who is who and come to the conclusion that you have never organized one.
Holding an event is one of the key ways of marketing a product or service as it gives the customer a chance to interact with the product or the expert.
As a sales and marketing person planning an event and sometimes looking for sponsors is majorly some of the activities you are tasked with.
Did you ever organize an event on campus where you had to look for guest speakers, design the decor and even organize refreshments? You can talk about this.
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
When asked this question some people go way overboard talking about working with big institutions like the UN, NGOs and the government.
Remember your answer should always be tied up with the position and the organization you are interviewing at.
For instance:
“ Five years down the line I would like to have a better understanding of the sales and marketing field to the point of becoming an expert. I would like to be at a managerial level in the sales department of this company, where I can use my skills to not only achieve career growth but to also contribute to the company’s growth.”
QUICKLY SEE >>> Realistically, where do you see yourself in five years?
Please note,
These are some of the common interview questions that you are likely to encounter.
Do not feel inadequate because you lack years and years of experience. The key is to tailor your answers well to ensure that you clearly bring out your customer relations skills, communication skills, critical thinking skills and most important of all persuasion skills.
Roseann Ngáng’a is a Communication Assistant at Corporate Staffing Services Ltd – a leading HR firm that offers recruitment and FREE CV registration. For more information visit their website on www.corporatestaffing.co.ke.