Example response for question delving into Communication with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence

•  Understanding the audience: Before explaining a complex technical concept to a non-technical audience, it is crucial to understand their background, knowledge, and interests. This will help tailor the explanation to their level of understanding and ensure they can relate to the concept
•  Simplifying the concept: To make a complex technical concept understandable, it is important to simplify it by breaking it down into smaller, more digestible parts. This can involve using analogies, real-life examples, or visual aids to help the audience grasp the main idea
•  Avoiding jargon & technical terms: When explaining a complex technical concept to a non-technical audience, it is essential to avoid using jargon or technical terms that they may not be familiar with. Instead, use simple and everyday language that they can easily understand
•  Providing context & relevance: To engage the non-technical audience, it is important to provide context and explain why the concept is relevant to them. This can involve highlighting the benefits, practical applications, or potential impact of understanding the concept
•  Using visual aids: Visual aids such as diagrams, charts, or infographics can greatly enhance the understanding of a complex technical concept. These visual representations can simplify complex information and make it easier for the non-technical audience to grasp
•  Encouraging questions & feedback: Throughout the explanation, it is important to encourage the non-technical audience to ask questions and provide feedback. This allows for clarification and ensures that they are actively engaged in the learning process
•  Summarizing & reinforcing key points: At the end of the explanation, it is helpful to summarize and reinforce the key points of the complex technical concept. This helps solidify the understanding and ensures that the audience retains the main ideas
•  Adapting the explanation: Lastly, it is important to be flexible and adapt the explanation based on the audience's reactions and level of understanding. This may involve adjusting the pace, providing additional examples, or addressing specific concerns or questions raised by the audience

  What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question

•  Communication skills: Assessing ability to simplify complex ideas
•  Technical knowledge: Evaluating depth of understanding and expertise
•  Adaptability: Testing capacity to tailor information for different audiences
•  Problem-solving: Determining capability to break down complex concepts into understandable parts

  How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags

•  Using jargon or technical terms: Using technical terms or jargon that the non-technical audience may not understand
•  Lack of clarity: Not providing a clear and concise explanation that can be easily understood by a non-technical audience
•  Assuming prior knowledge: Assuming that the non-technical audience has prior knowledge or understanding of the technical concept
•  Overwhelming with details: Providing too much technical detail that may confuse or overwhelm the non-technical audience
•  Lack of examples or analogies: Not using examples or analogies to help simplify and illustrate the complex technical concept

 Related

  Other questions asked for the Sales Engineer in Sales function. View details for the Sales Engineer here

• How do you approach understanding customer needs?
• Describe a time when you successfully closed a difficult sale.
• How do you handle objections from potential customers?
• What steps do you take to qualify leads and identify potential opportunities?
• Tell me about a time when you had to work collaboratively with a sales team.
• How do you handle competing priorities and manage your time effectively?
• Tell me about a time when you had to meet or exceed sales targets.
• How do you handle rejection in sales?
• What metrics do you track to measure your sales performance?
• How do you handle product demonstrations and presentations?
• How do you stay updated on industry trends and new technologies?
• Describe a situation where you had to handle a dissatisfied customer.
• Tell me about a time when you had to work with cross-functional teams.
• What tools or software do you use to manage your sales activities?
• Tell me about your experience in sales engineering.
• Describe a situation where you had to negotiate a complex deal.
• How do you adapt your sales approach to different industries or markets?
• What strategies do you use to build and maintain relationships with clients?
• What strategies do you use to generate new leads and expand your customer base?