Tell me about a time you faced rejection while trying to sell something. How did you handle it?
RoleSales Representative
DifficultyEasy
TopicBehavioral
Asked at
Why This Is Asked
Since RFM Corporation's interview questions are not publicly available, this behavioral question is based on the reality that field sales involves frequent rejection. The interviewer wants to gauge your resilience, adaptability, and whether you can learn from setbacks without taking them personally.
General Approach
Use the STAR method: briefly set the context, explain your specific responsibility, describe concrete actions you took to adapt, and share the positive outcome or lesson learned. Show that you see rejection as a chance to improve.
General Answer
Start by choosing one concrete rejection, ideally from a school fair, a small business, or a past part-time job, and keep the story tight. Say plainly that you expected rejection as part of the job, which shows you understand field sales reality, then walk through what you actually did after the initial no. Explain that you did not argue or over-apologize, because in the Philippine selling context, a polite "thank you for your time" and a warm smile keeps the door open for future visits. Instead, you asked a neutral follow-up question, such as what the customer needed that your product did not cover, and you used that answer to adjust your pitch for the next prospect. Emphasize that you treated each rejection as data, not as a personal failure, and that you tracked which objections came up most often so you could prepare better responses. Close by stating the practical result, like closing a sale after three follow-ups or improving your conversion rate, and tie it to RFM by noting that consistency and a calm, respectful attitude are what keep you productive in a quota-driven environment.
PH Interview Gotcha
Candidates might over-apologize with 'Sorry po, pasensya na po sa abala' after every rejection, which can weaken confidence. Instead, politely thank the person and move on with a positive attitude.
Sample STAR Answer▾
S
Situation
During a school fundraising drive, I was selling cookies door-to-door in our barangay. Many residents immediately said no without even looking at the products.
T
Task
I needed to convince at least 20 households to buy to meet my team's quota, despite the high rejection rate.
A
Action
Instead of getting discouraged, I refined my opening line to be more engaging and focused on how the proceeds would help our school's library. I also asked those who declined for feedback, some said they preferred savory snacks, so I started offering a mix of sweet and savory options the next day. I practiced staying cheerful even after a 'no' and thanked everyone for their time.
R
Result
My conversion rate improved, and I exceeded the target by 10 packs, while also learning valuable customer preferences.
Key Takeaway
Rejection is feedback; use it to adjust your approach and stay resilient.
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