20 CDW Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviewing for a job at CDW, you can expect to be asked questions about your skills and experience in the IT field. The interviewer will also want to know how you would approach solving various IT problems. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers that you can use to practice your responses.

CDW Interview Process

The interview process at CDW is generally a three-stage process. The first stage is a screening interview with a recruiter, the second is a phone or Zoom interview with a hiring manager, and the third is an in-person interview with a panel of managers. For some positions, there may be additional rounds of interviews. Overall, the process is fairly straightforward and usually takes about two weeks to complete.

1. What do you think is the most important quality for an account manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and how your personality might fit in with their company culture. Account managers are often responsible for managing client relationships, so it’s important that they have strong interpersonal skills.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities an account manager can have is empathy. I’ve worked with many clients who were frustrated or confused about something related to their IT systems. Having the ability to listen carefully and understand what they’re saying can make all the difference between helping them solve their problem and making them feel more stressed out. I also believe it’s important to be organized and detail-oriented because there are so many different aspects to this job.”

2. How would you describe your selling philosophy and style?

This question helps the interviewer understand how you approach selling and what your goals are for clients. Your answer should include a description of your philosophy and style, as well as an example of how you helped a client achieve their goals.

Example: “I believe that my job is to help customers find solutions to their problems rather than just sell them products. I always try to learn more about my clients’ businesses so I can recommend IT solutions that will be most beneficial to them. For instance, when I was working with a small business owner who wanted to expand his online store, I learned about his target demographic and recommended a website builder that would allow him to create a site without needing any coding knowledge.”

3. Have you ever worked in a quota-driven environment?

A quota-driven environment is one in which employees are expected to meet a certain sales goal. This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working under pressure and how you handled it. In your answer, try to explain what motivated you to achieve the quota and highlight any skills or strategies that helped you succeed.

Example: “In my previous position as an IT consultant for a small business, I was required to sell at least five new services per week. While this may seem like a lot of work, I found that by building strong relationships with clients, I could easily exceed my quota each week. I would always make sure to thoroughly understand their needs before recommending solutions. By doing so, I was able to build trust with many of my clients and increase my sales.”

4. What is a challenge you faced recently, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your problem-solving skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.

Example: “I recently had a client who was having issues with their website. The client wanted to make some changes to the site but couldn’t because of the issue. I worked with my team to troubleshoot the issue and found that there were several problems with the website’s coding. We fixed all of these issues and then implemented the changes the client requested.”

5. Are you prepared to work at CDW’s Chicago headquarters or are you only interested in working remotely?

CDW has offices in Chicago, Illinois and Austin, Texas. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you’re willing to relocate for the job. If you are not prepared to move, be honest about your intentions and explain why. If you are ready to relocate, highlight your excitement for moving and how you plan to prepare for the transition.

Example: “I’m excited to work remotely as long as I have access to a reliable internet connection. However, I am also open to relocating to one of CDW’s two locations. I’ve always wanted to visit Chicago or Austin, so I would love the opportunity to do so.”

6. Describe how you build customer relationships.

This question helps the interviewer understand how you interact with clients and customers. It also shows them your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.

Example: “I believe that building customer relationships is an important part of my job as a salesperson. I make sure to listen carefully to what each client needs and provide solutions based on their unique requirements. I also try to build rapport by asking questions about their business and showing genuine interest in their answers. This helps me learn more about their company and find ways to help them achieve their goals.”

7. Would you be comfortable making cold calls?

Cold calling is a common practice in sales, and employers ask this question to see if you’re willing to do it. If you have experience making cold calls, explain how you did it. If you don’t have experience, tell the employer that you would be willing to learn.

Example: “I’ve made cold calls before, but I prefer warm leads. When I was working at my previous job, I had a list of companies who were looking for IT solutions. I called them up and asked if they wanted to upgrade their systems or add new features. Most of them said yes, so I scheduled appointments with them.”

8. Tell me about a time when you had to persuade someone who was not initially on board with your idea. How did you approach the situation?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenges and convince others to see your point of view. Use examples from previous work experiences or personal life that highlight your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and leadership qualities.

Example: “In my last position as a project manager for an IT company, I had to persuade our client to change their budget so we could hire more developers to complete the project on time. The client was hesitant about spending more money, but I explained why it would be beneficial in the long run. I also showed them some case studies where similar companies were able to save money by hiring additional staff.”

9. Why should we hire you?

This question is a great way to show your confidence and enthusiasm for the position. It also gives you an opportunity to highlight some of your most important skills, accomplishments or qualifications that make you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I am confident that I have the necessary skills and experience to succeed in this role because I’ve worked hard to develop my technical knowledge and customer service skills throughout my career. In my last job, I was promoted twice within three years due to my ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently while maintaining excellent client relationships.”

10. How much technical knowledge do you currently have? Are you comfortable learning new things?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are willing to learn and grow in this role. It’s important to be honest about the level of technical knowledge you have, but also highlight any skills or experience that may help you develop new ones.

Example: “I am comfortable learning new things, although I do not have much technical knowledge at all. However, I am eager to learn more about technology and how it can benefit businesses like CDW. In my previous position, I was responsible for managing social media accounts and creating content. This required me to learn some basic coding skills, which I found quite enjoyable.”

11. What type of companies would you like to sell to?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and its products. It also allows you to demonstrate how you can use your skills to help CDW grow as a business.

Example: “I would love to sell to small businesses, especially those that are just starting out. I have experience working with startups in my previous role, so I know what it takes to get them up and running on their IT solutions. I am also familiar with many of the software packages that CDW offers, which makes me an ideal candidate for this position.”

12. Tell us about a time that you were successful at getting a large gift and what your strategy was.

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and ability to work with clients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the client’s name and how you helped them achieve their goals.

Example: “I worked with a large company that was looking for new technology solutions. I met with the CEO of the company and discussed what they were currently using and what they wanted in terms of IT services. We came up with a plan together where we would upgrade all of their computers and servers while also implementing a cloud-based solution. The CEO was very happy with our service and signed on as a long-term client.”

13. Give an example of when you successfully managed multiple large accounts.

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to multitask and prioritize. It also allows you to highlight some of your skills, such as communication, organization and time management.

Example: “At my previous job, I managed multiple accounts with different clients and projects. One day, one of the larger clients called me because they were having issues with their network. I immediately went into problem-solving mode and asked questions about what was happening. After a few minutes, I determined that it was a simple issue with the router. I told them how to fix it and then moved on to other tasks.”

14. Do you have any experience managing a team of sales reps? If yes, tell us about it.

This question is a great way to see if you have any experience managing others. If you don’t, it’s okay to say so and explain what leadership roles you’ve held in the past.

Example: “I haven’t had much experience managing sales reps, but I do have some management experience. In my last position as an IT specialist for a small business, I was responsible for overseeing all of our computer systems and making sure they were running smoothly. This included hiring new employees, training existing ones and ensuring that we met all deadlines.”

15. When have you been able to convince your customers to make a purchase decision?

This question can help the interviewer understand your sales skills and how you interact with customers. Use examples from previous jobs to highlight your communication, persuasion and negotiation skills.

Example: “In my last role as a senior IT consultant for a large corporation, I was working with a client who had been using an outdated system that wasn’t compatible with their current software. They were hesitant to upgrade because of the cost, but I helped them see the benefits of upgrading by showing them how it would improve productivity and save money in the long run.”

16. We want our sales reps to be self-starters. Can you give an example of a time where you took initiative?

This question is an opportunity to show your potential employer that you are a self-starter and can take initiative when needed. It’s also an opportunity to highlight some of the skills you have that will help you succeed in this role, such as communication or problem solving.

Example: “I was working with a client who had multiple locations. They were looking for a new IT solution but didn’t want to spend too much money on it. I researched their current systems and found out they could upgrade one location at a time instead of all at once. This would save them money while still giving them access to better technology.”

17. We expect our account managers to be well organized and efficient. How do you stay organized?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your organizational skills and how you plan to use them in this role. Use examples from past experiences where you’ve used your organization skills to complete tasks or projects on time.

Example: “I am very organized, which is why I love working as an account manager for IT solutions. In my last position, I was responsible for managing multiple clients at once while also ensuring that all employees had access to the technology they needed. To stay organized, I created a spreadsheet with each client’s information, including their contact person, budget, project details and due dates. This helped me keep track of everything going on within the company.”

18. Provide an example of when you identified a potential problem before it became a big issue.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to anticipate issues before they occur. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you identified the issue and what steps you took to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that our servers were running slowly. This was causing some of our applications to run more slowly than usual. After looking into the issue, I found out that we had too many users logged in at once. To fix this, I created a new policy where only certain employees could access the server during off hours.”

19. What would you say is your biggest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s often used to assess your self-awareness. When answering this question, be honest about what you consider to be your weakness but also highlight how you’ve worked on improving it or plan to do so.

Example: “I would say that my biggest weakness is being too trusting of others. I have learned over the years that sometimes people take advantage of me because they know I’m always willing to help them out. Now, I try to only offer assistance when I feel like someone needs it and am more cautious about who I give access to our systems.”

20. Are you willing to travel if needed?

Traveling is a part of many IT jobs, and CDW wants to know if you’re willing to do so. If you have concerns about traveling for work, it’s important to be honest with the interviewer. You can explain that you are open to travel but would prefer not to do so.

Example: “I am happy to travel as needed for my job. I understand that this is often a part of working in IT, and I’m excited to see new places. However, I also understand that some people aren’t comfortable with long-distance travel. In that case, I’d be happy to find another position where I don’t need to travel.”