Internship Role Interview

What motivated you to apply for the Sales Development Intern position at Oracle?

Yeah so I've been looking at a few companies for the past couple months and Oracle really stood out to me for a couple reasons the biggest is the current sdrs and bdrs openness to talk and provide guidance throughout this time in my career search which has been super persuasive in moving towards Oracle as a company and as a culture and in terms of the SDR rule internship I can go on and on about my sales experiment experience and my other business background whatever may be but I think overall my motivation and competitiveness and my want to succeed in a very Dynamic and face fast pace environment plan to why I want the SDR role especially in a tech landscape you have to be fueled by competition and the one to always get better so that's kind of why I went to SDR role internship and bring it back to Oracle everyone I've networked with and everyone I've spoken to in entry level roles at Oracle has all said the same thing about their training it's a great opportunity to sharpen your skills and overall get better as an intern and at an early point in your career

Your answer has several strengths, but it could be improved for clarity and focus. Here’s a breakdown:

Strengths:
1. Company Fit: You highlighted Oracle's culture and the positive experiences you've had interacting with current employees, which is crucial when discussing motivation.
2. Personal Attributes: You mentioned your motivation, competitiveness, and desire to succeed. These qualities align well with a Sales Development role.
3. Training Value: You referenced the robust training offered, emphasizing a desire for professional development.

Areas for Improvement:
1. Structure: The response could benefit from a clearer structure. Consider dividing your answer into distinct sections: what attracts you to Oracle, why the SDR role, and how your background fits.
2. Clarity and Brevity: While it's good to express enthusiasm, some sentences are quite long and complex, which may detract from the main points. Aim for concise and impactful statements.
3. Specific Examples: Providing specific examples from past experiences where you demonstrated your motivation and competitiveness might strengthen your case.

Improved Answer Example:
"I was motivated to apply for the Sales Development Intern position at Oracle because of the company's strong emphasis on career development and the positive experiences I’ve had networking with current SDRs and BDRs. Their willingness to offer guidance greatly impressed me and showcased Oracle's supportive culture. My previous sales experience taught me the importance of adaptability in a fast-paced tech environment, and I thrive on the competitiveness this role entails. Oracle's commitment to training allows interns to sharpen their skills significantly, which is essential at this early stage in my career. I believe this role will not only challenge me but also provide an excellent platform to grow."

Rating:
3.5/5

This scores slightly above average due to the enthusiasm and relevance to the role, but it needs more refinement in structure and clarity.

Can you describe a time when you demonstrated resilience in a challenging situation?

Yes so Brazilians has got to be one of the most important qualities in a sales rep especially in the highly competitive environment that is tax sales so I think the most recent time I can think of has got to be last semester of school so in essence I was trying to get my first ever 4.0 GP on the semester and at the same time I was in the job search for a remote sales role and there was just a lot on my plate at the time so what I had to do was try to balance School balance my exams and balance the interview process and early job process and what I did was I created a daily outline of what I wanted to get done that day and kind of organize my time and I was very intentional with what I was doing day in and day out and it was coming down to the end of the semester I was on the edge with one b and one class to the 4.0 and I had the choice to either blow it off and go out with my friends or stay in and study and also prepare for my interview within the next week what I did was I cut off all of the going out having fun and I stuck to my studying and my interview preparation as a result I was able to learn my first ever sales rule and on top of that get my first ever 4.0 GPA and this really shows the value of resilience and being able to have the tenacity to push through tough times to focus on what really matters

Your answer effectively addresses the question about demonstrating resilience, but there are areas for improvement.

Strengths:
1. Relevance: You related your experience directly to the skills desired in a sales role, highlighting resilience and time management, which are crucial in sales.
2. Specificity: You provided a specific instance from your life (the pursuit of a 4.0 GPA while job hunting), making your response relatable and concrete.
3. Outcome: You concluded with the successful results of your hard work—landing your first sales role and achieving a 4.0 GPA, which reinforces your resilience.

Areas for Improvement:
1. Clarity and Structure: Your answer could be more structured. Consider breaking it down using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for clarity. For instance:
- Situation: Juggling school and job search.
- Task: Achieving a 4.0 GPA and preparing for interviews.
- Action: Created a daily outline and prioritized studying over social activities.
- Result: Successfully obtained a 4.0 GPA and secured a sales role.

2. Depth of Reflection: Include a brief reflection on what you learned about resilience and how it shapes your approach to challenges. This gives more insight into your character.

3. Conciseness: Aim to condense some parts of your answer to maintain the listener's attention. Avoid repeating points, which can make it feel lengthy.

Based on these points, I would rate your answer 3.5/5. With adjustments for clarity, structure, and reflection, your answer could become a strong response to showcase your resilience.

How do you prioritize and manage your tasks when facing multiple deadlines?

Yeah so I think it's a very important skill especially in the Fast Pace landscape that is Tech sales so when I have a lot of my plate and there's multiple deadlines creeping up on me I like to plan my day in certain time blocks focusing on the most important task whether it's getting out my cold emails getting out my cold calls or hopping on a discovery call whatever the most important action to actually move the needle is I will knock that out first and then from there I sort of reverse engineer my day in terms of importance of tasks so in essence it's having the ability to understand what's important in your day and the self-awareness to understand what you can get done and what you need to get done but in essence it's just having a plan to attack your tasks and systematizing that to make it fluid for instance it was about Q3 of last year and I had to get out 100 cold calls that day but I also had a couple inbound calls for discovery what I did was I lined up all the discovery calls first to get in sort of a flow state of doing Discovery knock those out of the way cuz they're most important and then from there I change my mindset into doing cold outbound and knocked out the 100 calls of cold outbound all in a row and I finished the day with time to spare

Your answer demonstrates a solid understanding of task prioritization and time management, especially within the context of a fast-paced environment like tech sales. You’ve highlighted several key aspects:

1. Planning and Time Blocking: You mention using time blocks to structure your day, which is an effective strategy for managing multiple deadlines. This shows you are organized and proactive.

2. Prioritization: You wisely focus on the most crucial tasks first, such as discovery calls, which reflects an understanding of moving the sales process forward. This prioritization strategy is essential in sales, where certain tasks can significantly influence outcomes.

3. Adaptability and Flow State: You describe shifting your focus once identifying what needs to be done, emphasizing your ability to adapt and maintain productivity in different contexts.

4. Real-world Example: Providing a specific instance of how you handled multiple tasks helps back your claims with concrete evidence, making your answer more convincing.

To improve your response, consider the following:

- Use a Framework: Introduce a structured approach to your answer, like the Eisenhower Matrix (urgent vs. important), to explain how you decide what to prioritize.
- Mention Tools: Briefly mention any tools you use (like a calendar app or task management software) to illustrate your technical proficiency.
- Wrap Up with a Summary Statement: Conclude with a reflection on the outcomes of your approach, such as improved efficiency or success in meeting deadlines, to reinforce your effectiveness.

Rating: 4/5. Your answer is strong, but incorporating a structured method or tools would enhance it further.