Tell me about a time when you had to negotiate a deal
Theme: Negotiation Role: Sales Representative Function: Sales
Interview Question for Sales Representative: See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About Sales Representative: Responsible for selling products or services to customers. This role falls within the Sales function of a firm. See other interview questions & further information for this role here
Sample Answer
Example response for question delving into Negotiation with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence
- Background: Provide a brief overview of the situation and the deal you were negotiating
- Preparation: Explain how you prepared for the negotiation, including any research or analysis you conducted
- Communication & Relationship Building: Describe how you established rapport with the other party and effectively communicated your objectives
- Identifying Interests: Explain how you identified the interests and needs of both parties involved in the negotiation
- Creative Problem Solving: Discuss any creative solutions or compromises you proposed to reach a mutually beneficial agreement
- Negotiation Tactics: Outline the specific negotiation tactics or strategies you employed during the process
- Closing the Deal: Describe how you successfully closed the deal and reached a favorable outcome for both parties
- Reflection & Learning: Share any lessons learned from the negotiation experience and how you have applied them in subsequent deals
Underlying Motivations
What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question
- Negotiation skills: Assessing your ability to negotiate and close deals effectively
- Problem-solving skills: Evaluating your approach to resolving conflicts and finding mutually beneficial solutions
- Communication skills: Understanding how well you can articulate your needs and persuade others
- Sales experience: Determining your level of experience and success in negotiating deals in a sales role
- Adaptability: Assessing your ability to adapt to different negotiation styles and situations
Potential Minefields
How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags
- Lack of preparation: Not being able to provide specific details or examples of a negotiation deal
- Lack of collaboration: Not mentioning any collaboration or teamwork involved in the negotiation process
- Inflexibility: Showing an unwillingness to compromise or adapt during the negotiation
- Poor communication skills: Struggling to clearly articulate the negotiation process or outcomes
- Lack of problem-solving: Failing to mention any challenges faced during the negotiation and how they were overcome
- Lack of results: Not highlighting any successful outcomes or positive results achieved through the negotiation