34 Promoter Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

Updated 27 November 2022

Many companies rely on promoters to help them sell their products to achieve their business objectives such as increased sales and revenues. Promoters who excel at their jobs often earn sizeable commissions based on the number of products that they sell, making it a popular career option for many entrepreneurial individuals. Understanding why interviewers may ask certain questions during an interview can enable you to craft better answers that increase your chances of getting a job offer. In this article, we examine some promoter interview questions you might encounter and sample answers for some of them.

General promoter interview questions

Interviewers typically ask general promoter interview questions at the start of the interview to find out more about you. Here's a list of some general questions you might encounter at an interview for a promoter job:

Tell me more about yourself and your educational qualifications.
Why do you want to work for this company?
What do you think are your greatest strengths?
What do you think are your greatest weaknesses?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What is one achievement that you're proudest of?
How did you find out about the company?
What does customer service mean to you?
Do you work better in a team or on your own?
How do you handle stressful situations?

Questions about experience and background

Interviewers may ask you more specific questions about your experience and background to get an initial estimate of your suitability for the promoter job you applied for. Here's a list of some questions about experience and background that you might encounter at an interview for a promoter job:

How long did you work at your last job?
Why are you leaving your current job?
Have you done any sales training?
Are you familiar with common sales strategies that promoters use?
Are you familiar with the products that the company sells?
What is your motivation to become a promoter?
Tell me about a memorable time when you successfully sold a product.
What kinds of products do you have the most experience selling?
Are you comfortable with the long working hours?
Do you have any long-term relationships with customers that you've sold to in the past?

In-depth questions

Interviewers commonly ask in-depth questions to test your skills and to find out whether you're familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a promoter. Here's a list of some in-depth questions you might encounter at an interview for a promoter job:

Tell me about a time when you encountered a difficult customer and how you managed the situation.
How would you start promoting a new product that you've never used before?
What strategies do you use to close your sales?
How do you answer a question that you don't know the answer to from a potential customer?
How do you cope when you face rejection from customers?
Tell me about how you would attract potential customers to listen to your pitch.
What do you think the ideal day at work would be like for you?
Sell me this pen.
Tell me about a time that you failed to close a sale and how you would have done things differently in hindsight.
What is a skill that has helped you make the most sales in the past?

Interview questions with sample answers

Here are some interview questions that you're likely to encounter in an interview to become a promoter, along with an explanation of why an interviewer might ask you the question and a sample answer:

1. How long have you been working in a sales-related position?

Interviewers commonly ask this question to find out more about your background and relevant experience. If you encounter such a question, it can be beneficial to talk about your professional experience not only as a promoter but also in any related position. If you talk about your experience in a non-promoter role, ensure that you highlight why it might be relevant and how those experiences may enable you to perform the duties and responsibilities of a promoter more effectively.

Example: 'I have almost five years of experience in a sales-related position. I originally started my career as a cashier, where I learnt many transferable skills that eventually helped me when I switched careers to become a promoter. In my three years as a cashier, I gained valuable skills such as interpersonal communication skills, charisma and knowledge of selling strategies. Subsequently, I joined a kitchen appliances company where I have been a promoter for almost two years and have consistently achieved one of the highest monthly sales within the company'.

2. Are you able to sell a product that you've never used, and if so, how would you do it?

Interviewers may ask you this question as a test of your abilities as a promoter. Good promoters can typically sell almost any product, regardless of whether they personally use the product. Thus, to answer this question, you can describe the process that you can take to learn about the product and its selling points instead of using the product.

Example: 'I can sell and have sold many products in the past that I had never used before. I follow a process for selling these items. First, I typically start by learning more about the specifications of a product and memorising its selling points. I then consider the product from the perspective of the target consumer and think of the best way to convince a potential customer that they need the product. After pitching to several customers, I then review my selling points and pitch to see if I can improve it'.

3. How would you rate your skills as a promoter?

An interviewer might ask you this question as a subtle way to find out how well good you are at promoting products. When answering this question, it's important to provide facts about your past successes. Instead of focusing on what skills you think you might have, it can be beneficial for you to talk about any awards or accomplishments that you might have received before. You can also consider highlighting specific skills that may have helped you achieve success as a promoter.

Example: 'I believe I'm a fairly competent promoter and I have a record of success in my previous positions. At the last company I worked in, I attained the highest monthly sales in three months of the two years that I worked there. I was also able to consistently reach my sales targets, something which I believe my previous manager mentioned in my letter of recommendation. I believe I was able to achieve this because of my charisma and my years of experience as a promoter'.

4. Have you sold products through any non-traditional channels such as social media?

Interviewers might ask this question to determine whether you're able to use alternative methods to close sales. With many people shopping online, some companies might want to employ promoters who are able to sell products using social media platforms as well. When answering this question, you can highlight the specific channels that you've managed to sell products through and any success that you might have achieved with these channels.

Example: 'I have used social media and other non-traditional channels to sell products before. In my current position, I occasionally use live-streaming platforms to sell products and regularly have 15% to 20% of my monthly sales coming from such platforms. I also use social media channels to connect with potential customers, although I usually arrange to pitch products to them in person. I believe that non-traditional channels such as social media can be very helpful for promoters who are looking to increase their sales and expand into a new market'.