Startek BDE Interview Prep: Sales Pitch, Aptitude and Typing (Kolkata)
Prepare for all four rounds of Startek's Business Development Executive walk-in in Salt Lake Sector V: HR, operations, aptitude and typing, with objection-handling lines and a short practice set.
Startek is hiring 50 Business Development Executives at Godrej Genesis, Salt Lake Sector V, through a walk-in that runs Monday to Saturday until 31 October 2026. The listing names four rounds: HR, operations, aptitude and typing. Details are on the Startek Kolkata walk-in page.
The role is semi-sales customer support on a day shift with Sunday off. You need fluent English, a regional language, good typing and written comprehension.
The four rounds
| Round | What it checks | Prep time |
|---|---|---|
| HR | Communication, background, experience proof | 1 evening |
| Operations | Whether you can talk to a customer and sell | 2 evenings |
| Aptitude | Basic maths and reasoning | 2 evenings |
| Typing | Speed and accuracy | 15 minutes a day for a week |
HR round answers
"Tell me about yourself." Under a minute: name, degree, your last job with dates and duties, and why you want a sales-support role.
"Why did you leave your last job?" Keep it positive and short: "I want a role with clear growth and targets, and a day shift suits me better."
"Can you show your experience letters?" Graduates need 6 months of on-paper experience. Carry your offer letter and relieving or experience letter. If you are an MBA, you can apply as a fresher.
"Which languages do you speak?" Name English and your regional language, such as Bengali or Hindi, and be ready to speak a few lines in each.
"Are you fine with six days a week and targets?" Say yes only if you mean it. Mention that the fixed Sunday off and day shift work well for you.
Operations round: selling and objections
"Sell me this pen." Do not start by listing features. Ask first:
- "How often do you write by hand?"
- "What annoys you about the pens you use now?"
- Then match one feature to their answer: "This one doesn't smudge, so your notes stay clean."
- Close: "Shall I keep two for you?"
The interviewer is testing whether you ask questions, listen and close, not how much you know about pens.
Common objections and how to answer
| Objection | A good response |
|---|---|
| "It's too expensive." | "I understand. Can I ask what you're comparing it with? Many customers find the [benefit] saves them money over time." |
| "I'll think about it." | "Of course. Is there anything specific you'd like to check? I can explain it now so you have everything you need." |
| "I'm not interested." | "No problem. May I ask what you're using at the moment? If it's working for you, I won't take more of your time." |
| "Send me the details." | "Sure. Which part matters most to you, so I send the right information?" |
Stay polite when the answer is no. Interviewers mark down candidates who argue or push too hard.
Aptitude practice
Try these without a calculator. Answers are at the end.
- A phone costs Rs 12,000. It is sold at a 15 percent discount. What is the selling price?
- If 6 agents handle 240 calls in a shift, how many calls does each agent handle on average?
- A target of 80 sales is set for a month. You have made 52 by day 20. How many more do you need?
- Find the next number: 3, 6, 12, 24, ?
- If all managers are employees and some employees are trainers, is it certain that some managers are trainers?
- A customer pays Rs 1,500 a month for 12 months. What is the total?
Revise percentages, averages, ratios, simple series and basic logic. These cover most BPO aptitude tests.
Typing test
The listing asks for good typing speed. Practise on a free typing site for 15 minutes a day. Aim for 30 words per minute or more with at least 90 percent accuracy. In customer work, accuracy matters more than raw speed, so slow down if you make many errors.
Before you go
- The drive runs Monday to Saturday, 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Do not go on a Sunday.
- Carry your resume (2 copies), PAN or voter ID, certificates, offer and relieving letters, and photos.
- Ask HR about incentives, since this is a sales-linked role, and confirm the in-hand pay.
Startek does not charge any interview fee.
Answers: 1. Rs 10,200. 2. 40. 3. 28. 4. 48. 5. No, it is not certain. 6. Rs 18,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only MBA graduates can apply as freshers. Other graduates need at least 6 months of on-paper experience, shown by an offer letter and a relieving or experience letter.
The October 2026 listing gives about Rs 15,000 a month in hand and about Rs 20,000 CTC, on a day shift from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM with a fixed Sunday off.
Four rounds: HR, operations, an aptitude test and a typing test.
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