How to hire parts salespersons
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts. • Determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions. • Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock. • Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock. • Prepare sales slips or sales contracts. • Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices. • Receive and fill telephone orders for parts. • Receive payment or obtain credit authorization. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • Strong active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, critical thinking, monitoring and writing skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, sales and marketing, administration and management and administrative • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $18.57 an hour ($38,630 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for parts salespersons
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What parts salespersons do
- Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts.
- Determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions.
- Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock.
- Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock.
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
- Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices.
- Receive and fill telephone orders for parts.
- Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for parts salespersons
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +3% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 30,000 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay parts salespersons
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $48,600 |
| Colorado | $47,660 |
| Minnesota | $47,030 |
| Washington | $46,830 |
| Iowa | $46,670 |
| North Carolina | $32,480 |
| South Carolina | $32,180 |
| Louisiana | $31,310 |
See parts salespersons pay in every state
Related hiring guides
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.