Hiring can have a huge impact on your business. If you’re skeptical about this, just examine the difference in productivity between your junior and senior staff, or your high achievers versus your average workers. When it comes to your sales staff, the potential for gain (or loss) based on who you hire is even greater. Here are some things to keep in mind when hiring salespeople:
Try to fill in a skills gap in your team.
When it comes to hiring, it can be tempting to select candidates who remind you of yourself or of others on your staff. This can lead to okay results in most cases, but when it comes to your sales team, it can be even more helpful to hire people who have strengths that no one else has. In a way, sales is more of an individual pursuit than a team one, so it can be helpful to have different people available to meet with clients.
Hire people who are passionate.
When bringing someone new aboard, passion seems like an obvious thing to look for. But what does it mean, exactly, and how do you find it in a candidate? It can be as simple as seeing who shows up appropriately dressed and prepared for their tasks, or something as difficult as having a good feeling about who you want representing your company. No matter who you hire, if you make sure they give some hint of being a passionate worker, you won’t regret asking them to join your team.
Be involved with your hiring process.
Don’t let human resources take over your entire hiring process. They can be a great initial filter, screening for basic education and skills, but beyond this, you need to get your hands dirty. Call candidates directly, conduct interviews, and involve the rest of your sales team in the hiring process as well. While the opinion of your HR department is valuable, you also need input from people who have a more direct idea of what the new hires will be expected to do.
Are you having a hard time finding the perfect sales candidate? Contemporary Staffing Solutions has expertise in finding the right talent for our customers. Get in touch with one of our recruiting specialists today!