When the top sales recruitment agencies are hiring sales people for elite positions, there are certain qualities they look for. And because there are an estimated 22 million sales professionals in North America alone, sales headhunters can afford to be extremely selective.
How To Hire Sales People Like Professional Sales Headhunters…
1. Certain timeless qualities never go out of fashion, like a firm handshake and strong, focused eye contact. However, the skills the marketplace demands are constantly in flux, especially in the 21st century, where “disruption” is the new business world buzz word. For example, some companies use lead management software, which requires certain technical skills for sales reps.
And in 2015, a certain literacy with computers and social media is non-optional. In fact, studies show that almost 80% of sales women and men who incorporated their social media into their sales strategy outperformed those who did not.
Remember: Sales headhunters will follow a candidate on social media to see not only how they represent themselves, but how they represent the company or brand they work for currently.
2. Persistence, the characteristic most sales people identify as the most important trait of a top seller. Sales recruiting agencies look for candidates who advocate for themselves and show perseverance.
Remember: At least 40% of sales people give up after the first “no,” even though 63% of clients take at least three months to make their first purchase.
3. Culture Fit. If you want to find a candidate to stay with your company for years to come, then you’ll want someone who will feel at home with your company. Sales headhunters don’t just consider a candidate’s particular skill set, but also what type of job and firm they would fit in best. Because not only do you want an employee who fits into your office well, you also want someone who can become a future leader, training the next member of your team down the road.
Remember: sales staffing agencies know that the average turnover rate on employees is 40% a year.
If you can’t hire a sales recruiting agency, you can still think like the best sales headhunters when going through that stack of resumes.
