How can you ensure that you’re hiring the right people to join your sales team?

Many sales leaders have been asking me how to hire new sales reps and build a profitable team.

I often suggest taking a step back before conducting interviews and hiring a new team member. There are a few things you need to do before you proceed with interviews in order to ensure that you hire the right person and create the best team possible.

1) Gain Clarity

You want to be clear about what you’re looking for in a salesperson. It’s a mistake to simply collect resumes and pick the “best” of the bunch. Sit down and work with your team to carve out your ideal candidate for hire.

Here are a few questions you should be asking yourself about the candidate you wish to join your organization:

  • What kinds of characteristics do they possess?
  • What experience do they have?
  • What are their skills and qualifications?
  • What kinds of results have they previously produced?

Get clear on what YOU want. Far too many sales leaders enter the hiring process without a solid idea of what they’re looking for. Avoid doing this or you may end up hiring the wrong person for the job!

2) Have Support In Place

If you hire the right personality, most new hires can be molded and taught the skills and lessons they need to succeed.

  • What kinds of challenges will your new hire likely face?
  • Who on your current team is best suited to train them?
  • How long will you need to train the new recruit?
  • What kinds of resources will be available to the new hire?

You know your business. As a sales leader, you must be able to think ahead and use what you know to anticipate possible obstacles for your new hires. By being able to think ahead, you can eliminate those barriers before they show up and fast track your new team member to success.

3) Gain Perspective

Gain perspective from your current team members who are already working in similar roles. Ask the exact people the recruit will be working with for their perspective and what they look for in a teammate. You will get first-hand knowledge on the type of person who will most likely succeed on the team and your current sales roster will be more likely to welcome their new colleague.

Involve your current workforce as much as possible to best ensure a positive working environment for all parties.

Remember sellers, do not simply collect resumes and begin conducting interviews! Knowledge is power! The more you know about your ideal candidate, the better the chances that you will find them and that they will succeed!

What’s another practice you’ve implemented as a sales leader to maximize your hiring success?