Stack Overflow Sales Representative Interview Questions
& Process

The interview started with a phone screener where I was asked to deeply explain my resume. After that, I went to their office for the next stages. They require all Sales candidates to take a series of tests first. The tests are done on a computer in a private room and consist of three parts: a 20-minute math and grammar test (basic stuff, calculator provided, timing is key for the reading comp questions at the end), a 20-minute sales personality test to see if my personality fits the trends of successful sales professionals, and a written test where I had to write a mock-email to a client to check my writing skills. All of these tests are timed and I passed them all. After passing the tests, I had lunch with three people who currently hold the position I was interviewing for. We chatted about the company, my interest, and general plans. It was important to remember their names. If all three liked me, I would then meet someone higher up. I was supposed to meet three people, but only met one via Google Hangouts. He asked about my previous job and then asked me to name the three people I had lunch with, by first and last name. I couldn't remember all the names, so he said I failed and ended the interview, making a condescending remark about my ability to do the job based on that. After that, I left the office.

So the process I went through had a chat with the recruiter in NY and then a 4-hour visit to the Denver office. The first chat was cool, about 20-30 mins, to get a feel for the job and sales org. Then, later that week, I went in person. That day had a few parts. First, a quick intro chat with the hiring manager. Then, two tests: personality and a Wonderlic-type math/grammar one. After that, I had to write a draft prospecting email to a made-up person based on a prompt. This first bit took about half the time. Then, a casual lunch with some sales folks to ask about life and work stuff, maybe 30-60 mins. The last part was a Google Hangout with a team lead and the VP of Sales from NY. This was more intense, digging into my past experience. They really looked at my resume, even criticizing its length. Then came usual questions about roles and quotas, with some room for my questions. The VP of Sales joined for another round of similar questions. I think he might have watched the first interview because some questions were repeated. That was it for me; they decided I wasn't a fit. The VP was upfront about it, and my interview was likely cut short from the normal duration, so there might be more steps I didn't get to.

The interview process was pretty smooth overall, though tough. It had 9 stages. First, you do an initial phone call with a recruiter that lasts about an hour. Then, there are some personality/IQ tests and a writing exercise. Next, you have a casual lunch interview with 3-4 current employees to check for cultural fit. After that, you interview with 2-3 Sales managers. Finally, you have another 2-3 interviews with executives. They review you after each step, and you only move on if everyone previously interviewed says 'yes'. A single 'no' from anyone means you're out.