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Outside Sales Representative

Gordon Food Service · Bloomington, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about the biggest deal you won from a customer who was already buying from a competitor. How did you get them to switch?

What they are checking: Whether they can win business on value and service when the customer already has a supplier they are comfortable with.

Tell me about a time an order went wrong for one of your customers. What did you do and what happened to the relationship?

What they are checking: Whether they own problems with accounts and work internally to fix them, which keeps customers loyal.

Your pay includes salary, commission and bonuses. How do you organize your week so you grow new business and still take care of existing accounts?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage time and territory on their own when nobody is checking their calendar.

Tell me about a time you got a hard no from a prospect and later turned it into a sale.

What they are checking: Whether they handle rejection with persistence and patience instead of giving up or pushing too hard.

What would you do

Walk me through how you would build a book of business in a territory like Bourbonnais or Milwaukee if you were starting with only a few accounts.

What they are checking: Whether they have a real plan for prospecting restaurants and food operators rather than waiting for leads to arrive.

A restaurant owner tells you your prices are higher than Sysco's on the same chicken breast. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can sell total value like menu help, reliability and margin without immediately dropping price.

One of your best accounts starts ordering less each week and won't say why. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they notice warning signs early and dig in before an account quietly moves to a competitor.

About the work

How do you figure out what a restaurant actually needs from its food supplier on your first visit?

What they are checking: Whether they ask about menu, food cost, labor and volume before pitching products.

How would you help an operator improve their food cost or plate margin using what we sell?

What they are checking: Whether they understand restaurant economics well enough to act as a consultant and not just an order taker.

What do you know about the food service business, and what trends are you seeing with independent restaurants right now?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the industry their customers live in, which earns trust in the first conversation.

How do you track your pipeline and follow-ups so nothing slips?

What they are checking: Whether they use a system for managing many accounts at once rather than relying on memory.

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The full job description

As published by Gordon Food Service.

Welcome to Gordon Food Service! We are excited that you are thinking about opportunities with us, and we have an amazing story to share. See below for a quick glance of who we are and the impact you could have on the food service industry. There's a seat at our table for you... Overview For over 125 years, Gordon Food Service has delivered the excellence, expertise, and quality products our customers need to design successful food operations and experiences. We've grown to be the largest family-operated broadline food distribution company in North America by being passionately committed to the people we serve. At Gordon Food Service, our customers come first. As an Outside Food Sales Representative, you will cultivate relationships, develop new business, and provide innovative solutions to our customers, helping them to achieve their goals and, in return, yours! This position will reside in: Bloomington, Lincoln, Decatur area. Position Benefits • A generous 401(k) matching program that is above industry standards • Financial rewards for performance compensation structure which includes salary, commission, and bonuses • Low-cost benefit options for you and your family's health and future • An Automobile expense reimbursement plan • Cell phone reimbursement plan Outside Food Sales Representative We invite you to join our sales team where you’ll experience a world where servant leadership and cutting-edge tools and training come together to support your career growth and financial objectives. As an Outside Food Sales Representative, you’ll be responsible for the overall sales and relationship management efforts for existing and prospective customers within your assigned territory. This includes pursuing new customers, deepening and strengthening existing customer relationships, and sales territory management. Pursuing New Customers • Researching industry and market trends impacting restaurants within your territory • Identifying and researching prospective customers within your territory • Developing sales strategies that highlight products, services, values, and solutions offered by Gordon Food Service and presenting the sales strategy to prospective customers Deepen and Strengthen Existing Customer Relationships • Visiting all customers within the assigned territory on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis • Conducting business reviews to determine existing customers needs and areas of opportunity for growing sales • Providing ongoing training to customers on Gordon Food Service product offerings • Identifying opportunities within existing customers businesses where Gordon Food Service can add value through product and service offerings Sales Territory Management • Balancing new customers acquisition and deepening and strengthening existing customer relationships • Coordinating visits to prospective customers and existing customers • Communicating order status and order processing updates to customers Sales Training - Getting you Ready Gordon Food Service’s goal during your first 90 days is to set you up for success! This includes engaging you in various training offerings, including e-learning, classroom sessions, video roleplays, job shadowing, and peer sales representative mentorship. Throughout your first 90 days, you will learn: • How to use Gordon Food Service systems, processes, and tools to manage customer relationships • About the products available to Gordon Food Service customers • The sales process for engaging new customers • How to establish your relationships in the vast network of resources available to you, a Gordon Food Service sales representative • Best practices on developing relationships with current and prospective customers • Strategies on how to effectively manage your territory Position Requirements • High School Diploma/GED is required • Bachelor's degree and/or culinary certificate preferred • 1 year of prior sales, business, or food service experience • Maintaining a valid state driver's license and a safe driving record Gordon Food Service encourages veterans and active military members to apply. BE PART OF AN AMAZING CULTURE WHERE WHAT MATTERS TO YOU, MATTERS TO US! Gordon Food Service values our customers and understands that their success is largely dependent upon their workforce. To demonstrate our commitment to our partnership, we will require any candidate who works for a Gordon Food Service customer to provide a letter of support from their management if they are selected for the interview process. Equal Employment Opportunity is a matter of policy at Gordon Food Service, Inc. and we are committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to talent@gfs.com and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line. All Gordon Food Service locations are tobacco-free. Gordon Food Service is a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment drug tests.

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