In my experience, there are 2 groups of sales reps that can be distinguished with this question (assuming an honest answer). There aren't many reps in a middle

In my experience, there are 2 groups of sales reps that can be distinguished with this question (assuming an honest answer). There aren't many reps in a middle ground between the two either. There's the hyper-organized salesperson, their calendar is regimented to the point that every hour is tied to some revenue-generating activity. Their room, like their desk, office, and car (if they're in an outside sales role) will be equally organized. There is variation and I've generalized some common traits, but the organized rep will fit in a role that requires attention to detail, time management, and new business. The other type of rep is the "wing it", off the cuff rep. They are quick to respond to any request and although they aren't spending every minute selling, they prefer to juggle a number of tasks at once. A messy room can help narrow their personality down. The "in-the-moment" rep is a good fit for an fast paced role that needs the rep to constantly adapt and respond quickly to customer concerns. Is one question going to tell you all of that? No, but it is a useful tool for building a profile of their personality and selling style but you'll need a lot more than one answer to base it on.