7 strategies to recruiting better salespeople

Recruiting salespeople can be a challenging task. You need to ensure that you choose the right people for the job as they don’t only bring in money, they also represent the company.

From creating a clear job description to asking the right interview questions, there are plenty of strategies you can use to ensure that you’re successful in the recruiting process. List your vacancy on Job Mail and connect to candidates across South Africa.

1. Create a clear job description

Writing an accurate and engaging job description is an essential aspect of the recruitment process. Explain the position clearly and concisely to increase the number of quality candidates who apply. If you’re reusing an old job description, review it to ensure that it’s still relevant. Check the spelling and grammar as typos are a deterrent to top-quality jobseekers.

2. Know what you want

Have a clear idea of your ideal salesperson before you start recruiting. Consider the skills, qualifications, achievements, and personality traits that you’re looking for. This information will guide you when you’re sifting through hundreds of applications.

3. Ask the right questions

When you’re interviewing applicants, it’s important to know what kind of questions to ask. This is your opportunity to get to know each candidate better. While general questions can be useful, focus your attention on determining whether or not they have what it takes to succeed in sales. Whether they’ll work well together with your current team is another essential factor to consider. Prepare the questions ahead of time and write them down so that you can use the same questions for each interview. You can add in a few customised questions that arise during the interview while still gathering the same type of information for each candidate. Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What was your biggest achievement in sales?
• Describe a sale that you lost and how you would approach the situation differently now.
• How do you feel about our company’s products?
• What do you do during a meeting with a potential customer?

4. Consider their tone and body language

When you’re interacting with applicants telephonically and during the interview, consider their tone of voice and body language. Rather than only evaluating what the person is saying, consider how they are saying it. Confidence is an important quality that any salesperson needs so evaluate your overall impression of the candidate for this quality. Eye contact is another essential quality to look out for.

5. Create a great candidate experience

While you’ll be evaluating each applicant during the recruitment process, your candidates will also be deciding whether they want to work for your company or not. Quality salespeople are likely to have interviews at numerous companies so they can take their pick of where they want to work. Ensure that your candidates feel comfortable during the interview and set aside time to answer any questions they have about your company.

6. Get referrals

Ask potential candidates and current staff if they know anyone else who would be a good match for the company. Referrals is a cost- and time-effective approach to finding suitable candidates.

7. Plan ahead

Recruiting the best salespeople should be an ongoing process rather than waiting until the last minute to fill a vacancy. Growing and developing your team takes time and effort. Offer a great work environment to your staff and be on the lookout for talented individuals who would make the perfect addition to your team.

Recruiting new staff is hard work but it pays off in the long run. Selecting talented employees is vital if you want to ensure the success of your company. Place your vacancy on Job Mail and connect with the right salespeople today.