Interview Guide for

Renewals Associate

This interview guide provides a structured approach to evaluating candidates for the Renewals Associate position. It is designed to help hiring teams assess key competencies, skills, and experiences crucial for success in this role. The guide includes a series of interviews and exercises tailored to thoroughly evaluate candidates' abilities to drive customer retention, manage renewals, and identify growth opportunities.

How to Use This Guide

Review the entire guide before beginning the interview process to familiarize yourself with the structure and questions.
Conduct each interview in the order presented, starting with the Screening Interview and progressing through more in-depth assessments.
Use the provided questions as a framework, but feel free to ask follow-up questions to gain deeper insights into candidates' experiences and thought processes.
Complete the scorecard for each interview immediately after conducting it, while your impressions are fresh.
Use the work sample exercise to assess candidates' practical skills in handling renewal situations.
During the debrief meeting, compare notes with other interviewers and discuss any areas of alignment or discrepancy in your evaluations.
Consider using the reference check questions to gain additional perspectives on top candidates.
For alternative or additional interview questions related to specific competencies, visit our Interview Questions Library.

Remember, this guide is a tool to support your decision-making process. While it provides structure and consistency, it's important to also trust your judgment and consider how each candidate might fit within your specific team and company culture.

‍

Job Description

🎯 Role Overview

We're seeking a Renewals Associate to drive customer retention and growth for our Commercial business segment. This role is critical in preserving and enhancing customer relationships through effective contract renewals and upsell opportunities.

💼 Key Responsibilities

Renewal Management: Own and lead the renewals process in collaboration with account teams
Customer Engagement: Actively engage with key decision-makers to identify requirements and overcome renewal obstacles
Negotiation: Creatively negotiate to mitigate churn and improve renewal rates
Forecasting: Maintain an accurate 120-day rolling forecast of renewals
Contract Execution: Negotiate and execute renewal contracts aligned with customer goals
Growth Opportunities: Identify upsell/cross-sell opportunities during the renewal process

🌟 What Success Looks Like

Consistently meeting or exceeding renewal targets
Maintaining a high accuracy rate in forecasting
Reducing churn rate in assigned accounts
Identifying and facilitating upsell opportunities
Building strong relationships with internal teams and customers

📊 Qualifications

Must-Have:

1-2 years of quota-carrying experience in Sales, Customer Success, or Account Management
Strong negotiation and contract closing skills
Excellent collaboration abilities with cross-functional teams
Proactive and self-motivated approach to work
Solid understanding of SaaS applications and collaboration technology

Nice-to-Have:

Experience in a high-growth technology company
Familiarity with CRM systems and sales productivity tools

💪 Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking
Relationship Building
Negotiation Skills
Adaptability
Results Orientation

📍 Location

[Location - Remote/Hybrid/Office]

💰 Compensation

[Base Salary Range][Variable Compensation Details][Additional Benefits]

Ideal Candidate Profile (Internal)

🔍 Role Overview

This role requires a balance of relationship management, strategic thinking, and tactical execution. The Renewals Associate will be crucial in maintaining and growing our customer base, requiring both customer-facing skills and internal collaboration abilities.

🏆 Essential Behavioral Competencies

Customer Focus
Negotiation and Influence
Adaptability
Results Orientation
Collaboration

🎯 Example Goals for Role

Achieve a 90% renewal rate for assigned accounts
Maintain 95% forecast accuracy on 120-day rolling basis
Generate 15% of total renewals value through upsells
Achieve an average Net Promoter Score of 8+ from renewed customers
Collaborate on 3+ process improvement initiatives per year

👤 Ideal Candidate Profile

Demonstrated success in customer retention or account management roles
Strong communicator who can articulate value propositions effectively
Data-driven approach to forecasting and pipeline management
Ability to balance customer needs with company objectives
Proactive problem-solver who can identify and address potential churn risks early
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment
[Additional company-specific requirements

‍

Screening Interview

Directions for the Interviewer

This initial screening is crucial to quickly assess if a candidate should move forward. Focus on work eligibility, cultural fit, performance history, and key skills. Getting details on past performance early is essential. Ask all candidates the same questions to ensure fair comparisons.

Directions to Share with Candidate

"I'll be asking you some initial questions about your background and experience to determine fit for our Renewals Associate role. Please provide concise but thorough answers. Do you have any questions before we begin?"

Interview Questions

1. Can you briefly walk me through your relevant experience in sales, customer success, or account management?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Roles and responsibilities in previous positions
Experience with renewals or customer retention
Familiarity with SaaS applications and collaboration technology

Possible Follow-up Questions:

What was your quota attainment in your most recent role?
How large was your book of business?
What CRM systems have you worked with?

2. Tell me about a time when you successfully renewed a challenging account. What was your approach?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Strategies used to overcome objections
Collaboration with internal teams
Outcome of the renewal

Possible Follow-up Questions:

What made this account particularly challenging?
How did you prepare for the renewal conversation?
What lessons did you learn from this experience?

3. How do you typically approach forecasting and pipeline management?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Methods for maintaining forecast accuracy
Tools or systems used for pipeline management
Frequency of pipeline reviews

Possible Follow-up Questions:

What was your forecast accuracy in your previous role?
How do you handle unexpected changes in your pipeline?
How do you prioritize accounts in your pipeline?

4. Can you give an example of how you've identified and capitalized on an upsell opportunity during a renewal process?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Process for identifying upsell opportunities
Strategies for presenting upsell options to customers
Outcome of the upsell attempt

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How do you balance pushing for upsells with maintaining customer satisfaction?
What percentage of your renewals typically include upsells?
How do you handle customer pushback on upsell suggestions?

5. Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams. How do you ensure effective collaboration?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Experience collaborating with sales, customer success, and product teams
Strategies for maintaining clear communication
Handling conflicts or misalignments between teams

Possible Follow-up Questions:

Can you give an example of a successful cross-functional project you were involved in?
How do you handle situations where different teams have conflicting priorities?
What tools or practices do you find most effective for cross-team collaboration?

6. What interests you most about this Renewals Associate role at our company?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Understanding of the role and company
Alignment with candidate's career goals
Enthusiasm and motivation for the position

Possible Follow-up Questions:

What do you know about our product and target market?
How does this role fit into your long-term career plans?
What aspects of the role do you think will be most challenging?

Interview Scorecard

Relevant Experience

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: No relevant experience in sales, customer success, or account management
2: Some experience but lacks specific renewals or SaaS background
3: 1-2 years of relevant experience with demonstrated success
4: 2+ years of highly relevant experience with exceptional results

Performance History

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Consistently underperformed targets
2: Occasionally met targets
3: Consistently met targets
4: Consistently exceeded targets by significant margin

Strategic Thinking

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Shows little evidence of strategic approach
2: Demonstrates basic strategic thinking
3: Exhibits clear strategic thinking in approach to renewals
4: Displays exceptional strategic insight and innovative approaches

Relationship Building

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Struggles to articulate relationship building strategies
2: Basic understanding of relationship building importance
3: Strong relationship building skills with clear examples
4: Exceptional relationship building abilities with proven results

Collaboration Skills

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited experience or ability in cross-functional collaboration
2: Some experience but lacks depth in collaborative approaches
3: Strong collaboration skills with clear examples
4: Exceptional collaborator with proven ability to drive results through teamwork

Goal: Achieve a 90% renewal rate for assigned accounts

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Overall Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Work Sample: Mock Renewal Call

Directions for the Interviewer

This work sample assesses the candidate's ability to handle a challenging renewal conversation. Provide the candidate with background information on a fictional customer account up for renewal, including current product usage, potential pain points, and upsell opportunities. Evaluate their preparation, questioning strategy, objection handling, and ability to articulate value propositions.

Best practices:

Give the candidate 15-20 minutes to prepare before the role-play
Limit the role-play to 20-30 minutes
Take notes on specific behaviors and statements
Provide a brief opportunity for the candidate to self-reflect after the exercise

Directions to Share with Candidate

"For this exercise, you'll conduct a mock renewal call with a fictional customer whose contract is up for renewal in 30 days. I'll play the role of the customer. You'll have 15 minutes to prepare using the background information provided. Your goal is to secure the renewal, address any concerns, and explore potential upsell opportunities. The call will last about 20 minutes. Do you have any questions?"

Provide the candidate with:

Brief overview of your product/service
Customer account details (current plan, usage statistics, etc.)
Any known pain points or potential objections
Potential upsell opportunities

Interview Scorecard

Preparation

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unprepared, no clear strategy
2: Basic preparation, generic approach
3: Well-prepared with tailored strategy
4: Extensively prepared with innovative approach

Questioning Strategy

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Asks few or irrelevant questions
2: Asks basic qualifying questions
3: Asks probing questions to uncover needs and pain points
4: Asks insightful questions revealing hidden opportunities

Value Articulation

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unable to articulate relevant value propositions
2: Communicates generic value propositions
3: Clearly articulates tailored value propositions
4: Compellingly communicates unique value aligned with specific customer needs

Objection Handling

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Becomes defensive or unable to address objections
2: Provides basic responses to objections
3: Effectively addresses objections with relevant information
4: Skillfully reframes objections as opportunities

Upsell Exploration

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Fails to identify or present upsell opportunities
2: Presents upsell options but struggles to connect with customer needs
3: Effectively presents relevant upsell opportunities
4: Masterfully weaves upsell opportunities into value discussion

Goal: Achieve a 90% renewal rate for assigned accounts

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Goal: Generate 15% of total renewals value through upsells

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Overall Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Hiring Manager Interview

Directions for the Interviewer

This interview focuses on the candidate's relevant work history and performance. Ask the following questions for each relevant previous role, adapting as needed for time and the number of relevant roles. Ask all questions on the most recent or most relevant role. Probe for specific examples and quantifiable results. Pay attention to the progression of responsibilities and achievements across roles.

Directions to Share with Candidate

"I'd like to discuss your relevant work experience in more detail. We'll go through each of your previous roles, focusing on your responsibilities, achievements, and lessons learned. Please provide specific examples and metrics where possible."

Interview Questions

1. What were your main responsibilities in this role?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Scope of role (e.g., number of accounts managed, total contract value)
Key performance metrics
Cross-functional interactions

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How did your responsibilities evolve over time?
What was the most challenging aspect of the role?
How did this role prepare you for your next career step?

2. What were your key performance metrics and how did you perform against them?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Specific quotas and targets
Performance relative to peers
Consistency of achievement

Possible Follow-up Questions:

What strategies did you use to consistently meet/exceed your targets?
How did you recover from any periods of underperformance?
What tools or resources were most helpful in tracking and improving your performance?

3. Tell me about your most significant renewal or upsell achievement in this role.

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Size and complexity of the account
Challenges overcome
Strategies used to secure the renewal/upsell

Possible Follow-up Questions:

What was your specific role in closing this renewal/upsell?
How did you navigate any obstacles or competition?
What lessons from this achievement have you applied to subsequent deals?

4. Describe a time when you lost a significant renewal. What happened and what did you learn?

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Ability to self-reflect
Lessons learned and applied
Resilience and adaptability

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How did you handle the disappointment personally and with your team?
What specific changes did you make to your approach after this experience?
How have you used this experience to coach or mentor others?

Interview Scorecard

Relevant Experience

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited relevant experience in renewals or account management
2: Some relevant experience but gaps in key areas
3: Strong relevant experience aligned with role requirements
4: Extensive highly relevant experience exceeding role requirements

Performance History

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Consistently underperformed against targets
2: Occasionally met targets with inconsistent performance
3: Consistently met or exceeded targets
4: Consistently top performer, significantly exceeding targets

Strategic Thinking

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Shows little evidence of strategic approach to renewals
2: Demonstrates basic strategic thinking in renewal process
3: Exhibits clear strategic thinking in approach to renewals and upsells
4: Displays exceptional strategic insight and innovative approaches to customer retention

Customer Focus

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited understanding of customer needs and value delivery
2: Basic customer-centric approach
3: Strong customer focus with clear examples of value delivery
4: Exceptional customer advocate with proven ability to drive mutual success

Goal: Achieve a 90% renewal rate for assigned accounts

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Goal: Maintain 95% forecast accuracy on 120-day rolling basis

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Goal: Generate 15% of total renewals value through upsells

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Overall Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Behavioral Competency Interview

Directions for the Interviewer

This interview assesses the candidate's behavioral competencies critical for success in the Renewals Associate role. Ask all candidates the same questions, probing for specific examples and details about the situation, actions taken, results achieved, and lessons learned. Avoid hypothetical scenarios and focus on past experiences.

Directions to Share with Candidate

"I'll be asking you about specific experiences from your past that relate to key competencies for this role. Please provide detailed examples, including the situation, your actions, the outcomes, and what you learned. Take a moment to think before answering if needed."

Interview Questions

1. Tell me about a time when you had to adapt your approach to secure a renewal with a challenging customer. (Adaptability, Customer Focus)

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Nature of the challenge and its impact
Process for reassessing the situation
Specific adjustments made to strategy
Outcome and lessons learned

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How did you identify that your initial approach wasn't working?
What resources or support did you leverage to adapt your strategy?
How has this experience influenced your approach to future renewals?

2. Describe a situation where you identified and successfully pursued an upsell opportunity during a renewal process. (Strategic Thinking, Results Orientation)

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Process for identifying the upsell opportunity
Strategy for presenting the upsell to the customer
Handling of any objections or hesitations
Final outcome and impact

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How did you determine the right timing to introduce the upsell opportunity?
What data or insights did you use to support your upsell proposal?
How did you balance the upsell discussion with the core renewal conversation?

3. Give me an example of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams to improve the renewal process or outcomes. (Collaboration)

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Identification of the improvement opportunity
Engagement with different teams or departments
Challenges in aligning diverse perspectives
Implementation and results of the improvement

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How did you gain buy-in from different stakeholders?
What challenges did you encounter in the collaboration process and how did you overcome them?
How did you measure the success of the improvement?

Interview Scorecard

Adaptability

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Struggles to adapt to changing circumstances
2: Can adapt when given clear direction
3: Proactively adjusts approach based on customer needs
4: Thrives in dynamic environments, driving positive change

Customer Focus

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Limited understanding of customer needs
2: Basic customer service orientation
3: Strong customer advocate with clear examples
4: Exceptional ability to align solutions with customer goals

Strategic Thinking

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Focuses solely on tactical execution
2: Demonstrates basic strategic planning
3: Develops comprehensive, effective renewal strategies
4: Creates innovative, market-leading strategic approaches

Results Orientation

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Struggles to consistently achieve targets
2: Meets basic expectations with some prompting
3: Consistently drives to exceed goals and expectations
4: Relentlessly pursues excellence, inspiring others through example

Collaboration

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Works in isolation, rarely engaging others
2: Collaborates when required but prefers independent work
3: Actively seeks opportunities for cross-functional collaboration
4: Drives exceptional results through effective team partnerships

Goal: Achieve a 90% renewal rate for assigned accounts

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Goal: Generate 15% of total renewals value through upsells

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Goal: Achieve an average Net Promoter Score of 8+ from renewed customers

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Overall Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

Skip Level Behavioral Interview

Directions for the Interviewer

This interview further assesses the candidate's behavioral competencies from a different perspective. Ask all candidates the same questions, probing for specific examples and details about the situation, actions taken, results achieved, and lessons learned. Avoid hypothetical scenarios and focus on past experiences.

Directions to Share with Candidate

Interview Questions

1. Tell me about a time when you had to negotiate a complex renewal with multiple stakeholders. How did you approach this challenge? (Negotiation and Influence, Relationship Building)

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Mapping of stakeholders and their interests
Strategies for engaging different personas
Handling conflicting priorities or objections
Ultimate outcome of the negotiation

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How did you identify and engage with the true decision-makers?
What tools or techniques did you use to track stakeholder interactions?
How did you tailor your value proposition for different stakeholders?

2. Describe a situation where you had to balance the needs of multiple accounts or deals simultaneously. How did you manage your time and priorities? (Results Orientation, Organization and Planning)

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Scope and complexity of competing priorities
Strategies for time management and organization
Communication with customers and internal stakeholders
Results achieved across multiple accounts

Possible Follow-up Questions:

What tools or systems do you use to stay organized?
How do you decide when to delegate or seek support?
Can you give an example of a time when you had to make a difficult prioritization decision?

3. Give me an example of how you've used data or market insights to improve your renewal strategy or outcomes. (Strategic Thinking, Data-Driven)

Guidance for Interviewer:Areas to Cover:

Sources of data or insights used
Analysis process
How insights were translated into action
Results achieved

Possible Follow-up Questions:

How do you stay informed about industry trends and potential opportunities?
What tools or resources do you find most valuable for gathering insights?
How have you shared your approach with teammates or mentored others in this area?

Interview Scorecard

Negotiation and Influence

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Struggles to persuade or negotiate effectively
2: Can influence in straightforward situations
3: Consistently negotiates favorable outcomes
4: Masterfully influences at all levels, driving consensus and action

Relationship Building

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Difficulty forming strong customer relationships
2: Builds adequate relationships with some stakeholders
3: Consistently develops strong, multi-level customer relationships
4: Masterfully cultivates deep, lasting partnerships across organizations

Results Orientation

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Struggles to consistently achieve targets
2: Meets basic expectations with some prompting
3: Consistently drives to exceed goals and expectations
4: Relentlessly pursues excellence, inspiring others through example

Organization and Planning

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Often disorganized or reactive in approach
2: Basic organization with some proactive planning
3: Well-organized with effective prioritization and planning
4: Exceptionally organized, optimizing processes for maximum efficiency

Strategic Thinking

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Focuses primarily on short-term, tactical execution
2: Demonstrates some longer-term planning
3: Develops comprehensive strategies aligned with business goals
4: Creates innovative, market-leading strategic approaches

Goal: Maintain 95% forecast accuracy on 120-day rolling basis

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Goal: Collaborate on 3+ process improvement initiatives per year

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Goal: Achieve an average Net Promoter Score of 8+ from renewed customers

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Unlikely to Achieve Goal
2: Likely to Partially Achieve Goal
3: Likely to Achieve Goal
4: Likely to Exceed Goal

Overall Recommendation

1: Strong No Hire
2: No Hire
3: Hire
4: Strong Hire

‍

Debrief Meeting

Directions for Conducting the Debrief Meeting

The Debrief Meeting is an open discussion for the hiring team members to share the information learned during the candidate interviews. Use the questions below to guide the discussion.

Start the meeting by reviewing the requirements for the Renewals Associate role and the key competencies and goals to succeed.

The meeting leader should strive to create an environment where it is okay to express opinions about the candidate that differ from the consensus or the leadership's opinions.

Scores and interview notes are important data points but should not be the sole factor in making the final decision.

Any hiring team member should feel free to change their recommendation as they learn new information and reflect on what they've learned.

Debrief Meeting Questions

Does anyone have any questions for the other interviewers about the candidate?

Guidance: The meeting facilitator should initially present themselves as neutral and try not to sway the conversation before others have a chance to speak up.

Are there any additional comments about the Candidate?

Guidance: This is an opportunity for all the interviewers to share anything they learned that is important for the other interviewers to know.

How well do you think the candidate aligns with our key goals for the role, particularly achieving a 90% renewal rate and generating 15% of total renewals value through upsells?

Guidance: Encourage interviewers to provide specific examples from the interviews that support their assessments.

What strengths and potential areas for growth did you observe in the candidate's approach to the mock renewal call?

Guidance: Focus on both positive aspects and areas where the candidate might need additional support or development if hired.

Is there anything further we need to investigate before making a decision?

Guidance: Based on this discussion, you may decide to probe further on certain issues with the candidate or explore specific issues in the reference calls.

Has anyone changed their hire/no-hire recommendation?

Guidance: This is an opportunity for the interviewers to change their recommendation from the new information they learned in this meeting.

If the consensus is no hire, should the candidate be considered for other roles? If so, what roles?

Guidance: Discuss whether engaging with the candidate about a different role would be worthwhile.

What are the next steps?

Guidance: If there is no consensus, follow the process for that situation (e.g., it is the hiring manager's decision). Further investigation may be needed before making the decision. If there is a consensus on hiring, reference checks could be the next step.

Reference Checks

Directions for Conducting Reference Checks

Select references that can provide insights into the candidate's performance in roles similar to the Renewals Associate position. Ideally, these should be direct supervisors or colleagues who worked closely with the candidate.

Ask the candidate to brief their references on the role they're applying for to ensure the most relevant feedback.

When speaking with references, listen for specific examples and ask follow-up questions to gain deeper insights.

Take detailed notes during the conversation, focusing on both positive feedback and potential areas of concern.

Reference Check Questions

In what capacity did you work with [Candidate Name], and for how long?

Guidance: This helps establish the context of the relationship and the relevance of the reference's perspective.

Can you describe [Candidate Name]'s primary responsibilities in their role, particularly as they relate to customer renewals or account management?

Guidance: Listen for alignment with the key responsibilities of the Renewals Associate role. Follow up on any areas that seem particularly relevant or potentially misaligned.

How would you rate [Candidate Name]'s performance in terms of meeting or exceeding their targets? Can you provide specific examples?

Guidance: This question directly addresses the candidate's ability to achieve goals, which is crucial for the Renewals Associate role. Ask for specific metrics if possible.

Can you tell me about a time when [Candidate Name] successfully handled a challenging renewal or upsell opportunity?

Guidance: This question provides insight into the candidate's problem-solving skills and ability to navigate complex customer situations. Ask for details about the strategies used and outcomes achieved.

How would you describe [Candidate Name]'s ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams?

Guidance: The Renewals Associate role requires strong collaboration skills. Listen for specific examples of effective teamwork and communication.

What areas of improvement or development would you suggest for [Candidate Name]?

Guidance: This question can reveal potential weaknesses or growth areas. Pay attention to how these align with the key requirements of the Renewals Associate role.

On a scale of 1-10, how likely would you be to hire [Candidate Name] for a similar role if you had the opportunity? Why?

Guidance: This question provides a quick quantitative assessment and often leads to insightful qualitative feedback. Ask for specific reasons behind the rating.

Reference Check Scorecard

Performance History

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Consistently underperformed targets
2: Occasionally met targets
3: Consistently met targets
4: Consistently exceeded targets by a significant margin

Customer Relationship Management

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Struggled to maintain positive customer relationships
2: Maintained adequate customer relationships
3: Built strong, positive customer relationships
4: Excelled at building and nurturing customer relationships, often resulting in expanded business

Collaboration and Teamwork

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Often worked in isolation or struggled with team dynamics
2: Collaborated adequately when required
3: Actively and effectively collaborated with cross-functional teams
4: Exceptional collaborator who elevated team performance

Problem-Solving and Adaptability

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Struggled to adapt or solve complex problems
2: Solved routine problems adequately
3: Effectively solved complex problems and adapted to changes
4: Innovative problem-solver who thrived in dynamic environments

Overall Recommendation from Reference

0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate
1: Would not rehire or recommend (1-3 on scale)
2: Might rehire or recommend with reservations (4-6 on scale)
3: Would likely rehire or recommend (7-8 on scale)
4: Would enthusiastically rehire or recommend (9-10 on scale)

‍

FAQ

Q: How should I prepare to use this interview guide?

A: Before starting the interview process, thoroughly review the entire guide to familiarize yourself with its structure and questions. Pay special attention to the "How to Use This Guide" section, which provides step-by-step instructions. Consider practicing with a colleague to get comfortable with the flow of questions and scoring process.

Q: Can I modify the questions in the guide?

A: While it's best to use the provided questions for consistency, you can make minor adjustments to better fit your company's specific needs. If you need to change a question significantly, consider using one of the alternative questions suggested in the Interview Questions Library.

Q: How long should each interview take?

A: The duration can vary, but generally:

Screening Interview: 15-30 minutes
Work Sample: 30-45 minutes
Hiring Manager Interview: 45-60 minutes
Behavioral Competency Interview: 45-60 minutes
Skip Level Behavioral Interview: 45-60 minutes

Allow extra time for candidate questions and transitions between sections.

Q: What if a candidate doesn't have direct experience for a behavioral question?

A: Encourage candidates to draw from any relevant experience, including personal, academic, or volunteer work. The key is to understand their thought process and how they approach challenges. For more guidance on this, check out our blog post on finding and hiring for grit among sales candidates.

Q: How should I handle scoring if I'm unsure about a candidate's response?

A: If you're unsure, it's better to score conservatively. Use the "0: Not Enough Information Gathered to Evaluate" option if you truly don't have enough information to make a fair assessment. This highlights areas where you may need to ask additional questions in future interviews or during reference checks.

Q: What's the best way to conduct the work sample exercise?

A: Provide clear instructions and allow the candidate time to prepare. During the exercise, take detailed notes on their approach and performance. After the exercise, give the candidate a chance to explain their thought process. For more tips on conducting effective work samples, especially for sales roles, read our blog post on mastering role-playing interviews.

Q: How should we handle disagreements among interviewers during the debrief meeting?

A: Disagreements can be valuable for gaining a comprehensive view of the candidate. Encourage open discussion and ask interviewers to provide specific examples to support their assessments. If consensus can't be reached, defer to the hiring manager or follow your company's established decision-making process. Our blog post on candidate debriefs offers additional insights.

Q: What should I do if a candidate scores poorly in one area but excels in others?

A: Consider the relative importance of each competency for the Renewals Associate role. Some weaknesses might be overcome with training, while others could be deal-breakers. Discuss this balance during the debrief meeting and consider how it aligns with your team's needs and culture.

Q: How can I ensure I'm conducting fair and unbiased interviews?

A: Stick to the structured interview format, ask all candidates the same core questions, and use the scoring criteria consistently. Be aware of potential biases and focus on evaluating the candidate's responses and demonstrated abilities rather than personal characteristics. Our blog post on the science of sales hiring provides more insights on this topic.

Remember, this interview guide is a tool to support your decision-making process. While it provides structure and consistency, it's important to also trust your judgment and consider how each candidate might fit within your specific team and company culture.

Was this interview guide helpful? You can build, edit, and use interview guides like this with your hiring team with Yardstick. Sign up for Yardstick and get started for free.