Strategic Account Manager

Strategic Account Manager interview questions:

Strategic Account Managers oversee a portfolio of key clients, aiming to foster strong, long-term relationships crucial for meeting sales quotas and business objectives. This role is pivotal for every company.

During your hiring process, use these interview questions to identify candidates who are goal-oriented with exceptional customer service skills. Look for dynamic individuals who actively pursue new sales opportunities. It’s essential that candidates grasp your brand and client needs, and can propose innovative strategies for driving growth.

Future hires will utilize their communication skills to engage clients and collaborate with internal teams such as Sales Executives and Product Managers. Situational and behavioral interview questions can effectively gauge candidates’ approach to work challenges and their potential contributions to your company’s success.

• How would you negotiate with a longstanding client requesting a significant discount?
• If an Account Executive encounters customer complaints, how would you advise them on resolving the conflict?
• When faced with multiple client issues simultaneously, how do you prioritize your workload?
• Where do you seek new sales opportunities if you struggle to meet quotas?
• What CRM software (e.g., Salesforce) are you proficient in?
• What other tools have you found effective in your role?
• How do you prefer to communicate with the Product Management team regarding new features or services?
• Tell me about your client portfolio in your previous role. Do you have more experience with B2B or B2C customers?
• Are you familiar with our products/services?
• What do you consider our competitive edge?
• Describe a successful deal closure with a major client from your experience.
• Have you ever made a mistake that impacted a client? If so, what lessons did you learn?
• What was the most challenging sales cycle you encountered in previous roles? Did you tackle it individually or as part of a team?
• Do you favor email, phone, or face-to-face communication with clients? Why?