17 Pre Sales Manager Interview Questions and Answers

The pre-sales manager is responsible for the entire pre-sales process, from identifying potential customers to developing relationships with them and eventually closing the deal. In order to be successful in this role, you need to be an excellent communicator, have strong negotiation skills, and be able to think on your feet.

If you’re applying for a pre-sales manager position, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your experience, skills, and qualifications. In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the most common pre-sales manager interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your next interview.

Are you comfortable working with a team of salespeople to help them develop their skills and improve their performance?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with a team of salespeople and how well you collaborate. Use examples from your past to show that you’re comfortable working in a team environment and enjoy helping others improve their performance.

Example: “I’ve worked with a team of salespeople before, and I find it helpful to share my knowledge and skills with other members of the team. In my last role, I had a colleague who was new to the company and didn’t know all of our products or services yet. I helped him learn more about our offerings so he could better serve his clients. He appreciated my help and learned quickly.”

What are some of the most effective strategies you use to help your clients understand the value of your company’s products or services?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you communicate with clients and customers. Your answer should show that you are a strong communicator who is able to clearly explain complex ideas in an easy-to-understand way.

Example: “I find that one of the best ways to help my clients understand the value of our products or services is by using analogies. I have found that this helps them relate to what we do, which makes it easier for them to remember key points about our offerings. Another strategy I use is to provide real-world examples of how our products or services helped other companies achieve success. This helps my clients see that our solutions work in the field and gives them confidence in our company’s ability to deliver results.”

How do you keep track of the different pricing structures, payment terms and other details of your company’s sales agreements with individual customers?

This question can help the interviewer assess your organizational skills and attention to detail. Your answer should show that you have a system for organizing information, whether it’s through software or another method.

Example: “I use an online document storage service where I can create folders for each customer. Within each folder, I keep track of all relevant documents, including contracts, invoices, emails and correspondence with customers. This allows me to easily access any information about a specific customer when needed. It also helps ensure that I don’t lose important documents.”

What is your process for identifying and addressing any recurring problems with your company’s sales funnel or sales process?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to identify and solve problems. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to take initiative and make improvements to processes or procedures. Your answer should include a specific example of how you identified a problem, researched it and implemented a solution.

Example: “At my previous company, we had a sales funnel where leads would enter at one end and then progress through different stages until they became customers. However, I noticed that many leads were dropping out in the middle stage. After researching this issue, I found that our lead generation campaign was not producing enough qualified leads. To address this problem, I worked with marketing to create more targeted ads for our website. This change resulted in a 50% increase in qualified leads.”

Provide an example of a time when you successfully helped your company develop a new product or service. What was your role in this process?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have experience with product development and can help their company do the same. Use examples from your previous work history of how you helped a team develop a new product or service, including any challenges you faced along the way.

Example: “In my last position as a pre sales manager, I worked with a marketing team to create a new line of products for our clientele. We started by researching what customers were looking for in our current products and services. Then, we developed three different options for each product category based on customer feedback. After presenting these ideas to the client, they decided to go forward with one of the new product lines.”

If you had to choose, which area of sales do you think is more important: pre-sales or sales? Why?

This question is a great way to see how you prioritize your work and what you think about the sales process. Your answer should show that you understand both areas are important, but you may lean toward one more than the other.

Example: “I would say pre-sales is more important because it’s where we can make or break a sale before our salespeople even get involved. If I’m not able to properly qualify leads or educate customers on our products, then my sales team won’t be able to close deals. Pre-sales is also where we can set ourselves up for success by making sure we have all of the right information and resources in place.”

What would you do if one of your salespeople was consistently making mistakes or failing to meet their quotas?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle employee performance issues. Use examples from your past experience to show that you have a process for addressing these situations and helping employees improve their performance or develop new skills.

Example: “I would first meet with the salesperson privately to discuss what they’re doing well, what they could do better and how I expect them to perform in the future. Then, I would set up weekly check-ins with the salesperson to monitor their progress and provide feedback on their performance. If the salesperson continues to struggle after several weeks of coaching, I would consider replacing them.”

How well do you handle stress and pressure when it comes to sales?

Pre sales managers often have to handle a lot of stress and pressure. They’re responsible for meeting quotas, motivating their teams and ensuring clients are happy with the services they receive. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle these types of situations well. In your answer, explain how you manage stress and give an example of a time when you did so successfully.

Example: “I think it’s important to stay calm in stressful situations. I’ve found that if I remain positive and focused on my goals, I’m able to meet them more easily. When I was working as a pre sales manager at my previous company, we had a client who wasn’t happy with our service. Rather than getting stressed out about it, I took a deep breath and thought about what I could do to help the situation. I ended up calling the client and talking through their concerns. We were able to come to a compromise where everyone was happy.”

Do you have any experience using sales analytics tools to gather and analyze data about your company’s sales performance?

Pre sales managers often use analytics tools to help them understand their company’s performance and how they can improve it. An interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience using these types of tools, as well as to learn more about your background in the field. In your answer, try to explain which tools you are familiar with and why you prefer them over others.

Example: “I have used several different sales analytics tools throughout my career. I find that HubSpot is one of the most useful because it allows me to track a variety of metrics, including leads generated, email open rates and social media engagement. It also has an easy-to-use interface that makes it simple for anyone on my team to access and use.”

When selling a new product or service to a potential customer, what is your process for determining whether they are a good fit for what you have to offer?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you make decisions about which customers to target and whether they are a good fit for your company. Use examples from past experiences where you’ve helped your organization decide who to sell to and why, and explain what factors you consider when making these decisions.

Example: “I always start by asking my potential customer questions about their current situation and needs so I can understand more about them as an individual or business. Then, I use this information to compare it to our product or service to see if there is a match. If we have something that would benefit them, then I will continue with the sales process. However, if not, I’ll let them know that we don’t have anything that fits their needs at this time.”

We want to increase our sales in the Asia-Pacific region. How would you target that area with our products and services?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company’s products and services, as well as how you can use them to increase sales. When answering this question, make sure to highlight any experience you have with the Asia-Pacific region or working with international clients.

Example: “I would start by researching which countries in the Asia-Pacific region are most likely to purchase our products and services. Then I would create a marketing plan that includes social media campaigns, email newsletters and other digital advertising methods. I would also consider sending out representatives from our company to speak at conferences and events in those areas.”

Describe your process for helping your salespeople understand the needs of their customers and motivate them to perform well.

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your leadership style and how you motivate others. Use examples from past experiences to describe the steps you take to help your team members understand their customers’ needs and perform well.

Example: “I believe that it’s important for my salespeople to have a strong understanding of their customers so they can provide them with valuable solutions. I hold weekly meetings where we discuss our current clients, including what challenges they’re facing and what goals they hope to achieve through our products or services. During these meetings, I encourage my team members to share ideas on how we can improve our relationships with our customers and help them reach their goals.”

What makes you the best candidate for the pre-sales manager position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you feel about the position. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the role. Focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and abilities while also showing enthusiasm for the job.

Example: “I am passionate about helping customers find solutions to their problems. I have experience working with clients who are unsure what they need in a product or service. My ability to listen carefully and provide helpful suggestions makes me a great fit for this position. I can help your company develop marketing strategies that target specific customer needs.”

Which industries do you have the most experience with when it comes to sales?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience level and how you might fit into their company. If they’re looking for someone with a specific industry background, this is where they may decide whether or not you’re qualified for the position. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about your experience but also highlight any transferable skills that could make you successful in the role.

Example: “I’ve worked primarily in the technology sector, however I have extensive sales experience across many industries including healthcare, retail and financial services. In my previous roles, I was responsible for researching each client’s needs and finding solutions that would work best for them. This skill set makes me confident that I could succeed in any industry.”

What do you think is the most important skill for a successful pre-sales manager?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have what it takes to be a successful pre-sales manager. You can answer this question by identifying one skill and explaining why it’s important for a pre-sales manager.

Example: “I think the most important skill for a pre-sales manager is communication. A pre-sales manager needs to communicate with many different people, including salespeople, marketing teams and customers. I believe effective communication skills are essential for making sure everyone understands each other and stays on track. In my last role as a pre-sales manager, I used my communication skills to make sure all of our team members were on the same page about our goals.”

How often do you think salespeople should be evaluated?

This question can help the interviewer understand your approach to employee evaluations. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific time period that you think is appropriate for salespeople to receive feedback on their performance and how often they should meet with their managers.

Example: “I believe salespeople should be evaluated at least once per quarter. This allows them to have regular feedback from their manager about their performance and gives them an opportunity to ask questions or request additional training if needed. I also think it’s important to give employees more frequent feedback when they’re first starting out so they can learn what behaviors are expected of them.”

There is a high turnover rate among your sales team. What would you do to improve this?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to motivate a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific steps you would take to improve the morale of the sales team and retain employees.

Example: “I have noticed that there is a high turnover rate among our sales team. I believe this is due to low morale and lack of motivation. To address this issue, I would first hold a meeting with my entire sales team to discuss what they like about working here and how we can make improvements. Then, I would implement new training programs for all salespeople to help them learn more about our products and services. Finally, I would create a quarterly goal-setting system so everyone knows what their responsibilities are.”