Interviewing for a Sales Job? Here are 3x3 Questions YOU should ask THEM - Part 3: Social Fit

Alright, alright, alright. We’ve reached the end of our series on sales interviews. In case you’ve missed our last two posts (yo?!), you can check out part 1 here and part 2 here.

Our grand finale will focus on every ychopath’s worst nightmare, social fit.

At first glance the world of tech may seem pretty uniform (pizza, pinball machines, Patagonia…), but once you get to the human level, cultures span the gamut. And, uh, the human level is very important.

So, these questions are important. Ask them, lest you find yourself at Tequila Thursday wondering if this is where you should’ve parked your hard-earned wagon…

1. What do the people on your team have in common?

“Is this like a ‘Justice League’ situation, or is it more of a ‘Suicide Squad’ situation? If it’s the latter, are we talking 2016 ‘Suicide Squad’ or 2021 ‘Suicide Squad’?”

But seriously, this question is your chance to find out if the group you’ll be with is a team that you see yourself fitting into. That’s what you want, collaborative compatibility baby.

Is this a mission/values driven group of people? Results oriented? Money focused? Deep thinkers? Big drinkers? Cupcakes with sprinkles? If you don’t share the fundamental value through-line, you’re bound to run into snowballing frustrations. And that’s just, like, bad, man.

2. How do you celebrate wins and deal with losses?

Coffee's for closers? Nah.

Reactions to both wins and losses should be grounded & constructive. It’s a known attribute of the best pro coaches and team managers that their emotional responses to wins and losses are more similar than different. Lines, not dots. It’s always about what we do tomorrow.

You do not need to suffer fools or bullies. Let their answer to your question guide your intuition. If you don’t trust their ability to rationally handle success and failure, make like the most forgettable Migos and Takeoff.

3. From a human perspective what makes this a unique place to be?

Often the culture quirks & benefits, for better or worse, stem from the personalities of the founders.

We’ve worked with a company that will cover thousands of dollars per employee to support them in training for a marathon. That’s incredibly unique and a meaningful selling point. As long as you like running…

If on the other hand just the idea of doing 26 miles on your flat feet gives you a minor coronary, you may want to find that stuff out before you unpack those tube socks in your orientation package.

Alright, time for parting words. Just because it bears repeating: no matter how much you may think you want a job, don’t you be going into the interview with the single-minded objective of selling yourself.

Qualify. Ask questions. Turn the tables like a young Grandmaster Flash.

If you missed our last 2 parts Part 1 / Part 2

Until next time (& stay phresh),

-The Collective