Have you ever had to handle the pressure of meeting and exceeding sales quotas?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
Answer Example

With any pharmaceutical company, establishing sales goals and quotas is a vital step for ensuring that product distribution goals are met. These sales quotas ultimately fall on the pharmaceutical sales team. Your interviewer knows that meeting and exceeding quotas can be both a motivator and stressor for their reps, so they hope to hear that you have some familiarity with similar situations where meeting pre-set goals was vital to your work.

First, you want to answer the question directly and speak to any direct sales experience you have had where working under specific sales goals and quotas was a part of your measured success. If you do have this experience, make it clear that you used those goals as motivation to thrive in that kind of environment. If you are looking to break into a sales-related field here, that is okay. Don't hesitate to discuss any other roles you've held where you had production (or other types) of goals to meet. Another key piece to your answer here is discussing your list of stress remedies with the interviewer.

"Yes, in my current position in auto sales, we certainly have monthly sales goals as an entire team. The week prior to the start of each month, our leadership team presents the goals for the coming month and these goals typically take into account prior year sales in that time period and upcoming rebates and incentives from manufacturers. Being a very goal-driven person, I use sales quotas as a motivator for me to do my best and close as many sales as possible. I can imagine that sales goals are vital for pharmaceutical sales reps and I know I'd relish this opportunity. Are you able to talk a bit more about how quotas are developed and how your reps are supported in pursuing monthly goals?"

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How to Answer: Have you ever had to handle the pressure of meeting and exceeding sales quotas?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Pharmaceutical Sales job interview.

31. Have you ever had to handle the pressure of meeting and exceeding sales quotas?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

With any pharmaceutical company, establishing sales goals and quotas is a vital step for ensuring that product distribution goals are met. These sales quotas ultimately fall on the pharmaceutical sales team. Your interviewer knows that meeting and exceeding quotas can be both a motivator and stressor for their reps, so they hope to hear that you have some familiarity with similar situations where meeting pre-set goals was vital to your work.

Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023

How to Answer

First, you want to answer the question directly and speak to any direct sales experience you have had where working under specific sales goals and quotas was a part of your measured success. If you do have this experience, make it clear that you used those goals as motivation to thrive in that kind of environment. If you are looking to break into a sales-related field here, that is okay. Don't hesitate to discuss any other roles you've held where you had production (or other types) of goals to meet. Another key piece to your answer here is discussing your list of stress remedies with the interviewer.

Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023

Answer Example

"Yes, in my current position in auto sales, we certainly have monthly sales goals as an entire team. The week prior to the start of each month, our leadership team presents the goals for the coming month and these goals typically take into account prior year sales in that time period and upcoming rebates and incentives from manufacturers. Being a very goal-driven person, I use sales quotas as a motivator for me to do my best and close as many sales as possible. I can imagine that sales goals are vital for pharmaceutical sales reps and I know I'd relish this opportunity. Are you able to talk a bit more about how quotas are developed and how your reps are supported in pursuing monthly goals?"

Written by Samantha Brown on November 28th, 2023

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