# Choose an Interview Path

Part of the Salesmanship Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/salesmanship/guide/index.md)

*6. Learning from Professionals*

> **6.** Do ONE of the following:

You must choose exactly **one** interview path for this requirement. Both options teach you how sales works in the real world, but they show it from different sides.

## Your Options

- **[Req 6a — Interview a Sales Professional](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/salesmanship/guide/req6a/)**: Learn directly from someone whose job is selling. You will hear about motivation, customer conversations, sales process, and daily habits from the salesperson's point of view.
- **[Req 6b — Interview a Store Owner](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/salesmanship/guide/req6b/)**: Learn from the buyer's side. You will find out how often owners hear pitches, what they want from sales representatives, and what makes them decide to open an account.

## How to Choose

**Choosing your interview path** — Both options are valuable, but they teach different things

- [ ] **Choose Req 6a** if you want to understand daily life in sales and hear how professionals build trust with customers.
- [ ] **Choose Req 6b** if you want to understand how buyers judge sales representatives and make business decisions.
- [ ] **Choose the easier real contact** if one option is much more realistic for you to arrange.
- [ ] **Think ahead to Req 7** because either interview can help you understand sales as a career.

| Option | Main point of view | What you will gain |
|---|---|---|
| 6a | Seller | insight into motivation, customer conversations, and sales method |
| 6b | Buyer | insight into how professionals judge sales reps and decide what to carry |

> **Tip**
>
> If you are not sure which option to choose, ask your counselor which contact is more realistic to arrange soon. A real interview with thoughtful questions is better than waiting too long for a harder option.

### Prepare before the interview

No matter which path you choose, do not show up with only the requirement text in your hand. Read the questions ahead of time, think about what each one is really trying to teach, and be ready to ask follow-up questions when the interviewee says something interesting.

Video: [How to Conduct an Interview (video)](https://youtu.be/kO9WcdINoRk)

### Take notes like a reporter

Bring a notebook or a printed question sheet. Record short quotes, key examples, and anything that surprised you. Good notes will help you explain your interview clearly to your counselor later.

In the next pages, you will see what each interview path is trying to teach you.

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- Previous: [Try Retail Selling](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/salesmanship/guide/req5c/index.md)
- Next: [Interview a Sales Professional](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/salesmanship/guide/req6a/index.md)