Ashok Leyland Territory Sales Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Be confident, don't fake, be realistic in your approach

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: I come from a 29 months work ex in Automobile Industry. However, I wasn't shortlisted in first 2 lists. Later, when some of the placement committee members pushed for me personally, I was the only candidate shortlisted in third list.

In campus recruitment, you need to be extremely lucky if the first selection is CV based. In a campus like KJ SIMSR, where recruiters generally get around 200-250 CVs, its unlikely that they'll look at them personally and completely. CGPA and Work Ex (having more can also go negative) are general filters.
Tips: Either make sure that you are one of the best CGPA holders or have good access to recruiters so that they look at your other credentials too. (Good relations with PCommers could be really helpful in this.)

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: After getting shortlisted at 11:45am, I was told to sit for the GD at 12:10pm. But since it was a case study based discussion, everyone was on the same page. HR guy explained the case study to all of us and asked us to put our individual points in first 5 mins. Then it was opened for forum. It went on very peacefully without any interruption by the moderators (more because very few of the participants had a little bit of product knowledge). We were asked to plan marketing stratergy for TML's commercial vehicle Tata Magic which is used for passenger movements. Out of 12 participants, 4 were shortlisted including me.
Tips: Start well, speak less, speak sense. Save your best words to close in last two lines.
Duration: 15 minutes

Round: HR Interview
Experience: HR interview was very generic. Reason to join Automobile, Team Handling capabilities, role description, past experiences. I have worked with Tata Motors before as a vendor in my previous company. So I could take many known names, discuss various experiences in detail. Tatas are known for ethics. And trust me, as far as my experience is concerned, I have really felt that its people who work there, make it really special. HRs made me very comfortable and complete interview experience was really nice.
Tips: Speak the truth. Company like Tata Motors have been recruiting people since last 60 years. They'll catch you if you're lying.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Tech interview was not that difficult. I had spoken to one of my friends in service department who helped me a lot with pros and cons of TML products. I knew the market wise performance of the company. Hence, I am sure that I scored the most there. Being an experienced candidate, the interviewer took me on a discussion level than interview. Some of the basic guesstimate questions were like,

1. What is TML's market share in Commercial Business
2. Why TML commands so much of MS?
3. Why do you think Ashok Leyland is doing better in South and not anywhere else?

Just have some basic knowledge about Automobile industry and you should be through. They don't expect you to know everything.
Tips: Learn, study or talk to people who are working in the company. People are very simple here. So don't try to impress them with your style. They'll get impressed with sensible, real knowledge and material that you have. If you are a fresher, then obviously they won't expect you to have product knowledge and information on commercial vehicle industry. But you should be able to convey your passion for Automobile Industry and domain for which you are being interviewed.

General Tips: Be properly dressed. Speak clear, speak sense, to the point. Don't try to show off. Ethics are very much important in this organization. So don't say otherwise in interviews. The company can have gone places if it starts following market practices. But its firm on what it is doing and will stick to it.
Skills: Market Analysis, sales, domai, Leader
College Name: KJ Somaiya Institute Of Management Studies And Research
Motivation: Past work ex as a vendor, people who work there, excellent leadership that company has had in past.
Funny Moments: I knew that I was selected even more finishing my interview. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn't shortlisted in first two lists. So I missed the presentation that TML gave to all shortlisted candidates. Hence I requested the interviewer to go through the presentation so that I don't miss on anything important. He replied with a question asking me if I really need any presentation to know more about the company?

Round: Technical + HR Interview
Experience: I introduced myself along with stating my strengths and weakness, that is, my managerial skills urging the interviewer to ask questions about my strengths. I have organized several cultural and technical festivals in my college and I also have statistical figures to prove what i am capable of to the interviewer.

The questions which I asked him are :-
1. What is the biggest challenge Tata has ever faced and how did it overcome it ?
2. What do you like the most about your job? (The interviewer was Regional Manager)
And some 2 or 3 more questions similar to the ones mentioned above.



College Name: NIT Trichy

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Be confident, speak concisely and clearly and be respectful.

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - 1. Do some basic research on the company's product range and the segment that it caters to. This will set the context right for discussion. Also have a general overview of the competitors business and overall business scenario in the region / country.

2. Focus on how you can add value with respect to leveraging the channel partner's team and using them as resource for company's ultimate goal of ever increasing business volumes and market shares.

3. Highlight your practical skills and focus more on the same rather than talking about your high grades or marks that you have obtained. All that is over. 60% and above is good enough to prove that academically one is a bright candidate. In the practical world a 35% pass-out can out beat an 80% pass-out by his/her sheer way of working.

4. Your practical skills or strengths should be hard core - like you should be easily able to connect with people who are your direct colleagues, who are your associates in the market place like vehicle financers and of-course the most important the channel partner's team and the principal owner of the dealership.

5. Get some market references if possible from various competitor companies, vehicle finance companies, vehicle insurance companies etc. Mention few names that you may know. This shows that you are connected with right kind of people in the market place.

6. Remember - you need to be a problem solver and focus on the laid down process of the companies. This approach will propel you towards recognition & growth in the company.

7. Practice the most common question that is asked - Tell me something about your self.
In this start with your personal background with minimum words. Focus more on your learnings that you have attained and any achievements in the field of sports, arts, certification etc. Tell them that all these traits and learnings will help you add tremendous value to the company's objective and finally help you grow in your career.

Finally - be spontaneous - the above points are to be kept at the back of your mind. Rehearse the points, but when you face the interviewer or the panel - be at your ease and show positivity without being over enthusiastic. Be calm and composed but also be prompt while speaking without fumbling as much as possible.

All D Best.

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Be confident about ur achievements

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Be confident and share your views freely