How would you handle a difficult prospect?
There are going to be times when you encounter someone on the phone who isn't pleasant. The interviewer wants to know what your strategy is to deal with this type of person. Show that you will remain professional and calm but that you won't allow someone to walk all over you and waste your time either.
"Having worked as a telemarketer in the past, I have a lot of experience in dealing with people who are angry, mean, or both. My personal mantra is to 'kill them with kindness,' and I'm able to do this because I don't take their behavior personally. I know that they might be upset that I called them, but they don't know me as a person and so I don't feel that anything they say in reference to me is valid. I maintain a calm and professional demeanor at all times, and if the conversation isn't going anyplace useful, I firmly cut the interaction off as soon as possible."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
To handle a difficult prospect instead of rambling about the value of your product it's best to cut to the chase and ask them directly qualifying questions to determine if there is a fit. Find their most problematic pain point and get to a solution in order to win their business.
Marcie's Feedback
Perfect! This is a strong answer because it shows how confident and knowledgeable you are about handling this type of situation. Can you provide an example of a time when you did this successfully?