As an agency owner, you know how important it is to find the right salesperson to help your business grow. But hiring a salesperson can be daunting, especially if you’re new to the industry or don’t have a lot of experience hiring professionals.
This article will provide a checklist to help you find the right salesperson for your small or medium-sized agency. By following this guide, you’ll be able to hire a qualified individual to help your agency achieve its goals!
Core Sales Skills Checklist For Hiring A Salesperson
When finding the right salesperson for your business, you must understand what qualities are essential for success. Here are a few critical skills that any salesperson should have to be successful in your small or medium agency:
1. Charisma
A good salesman is someone who can connect with customers on a personal level and win them over quickly. They need to be able to charm people into buying their product or service, even if they don’t initially agree with it.
2. Communication
Sellers need excellent communication skills when they’re talking to buyers and working with other team members involved in the sale process (such as account managers, marketing personnel, etc.). They should be able to clearly explain what’s going on and keep everyone informed throughout the entire process.
Salespeople need to be good at both verbal and nonverbal communication. They need to understand and express customer needs clearly and convincingly.
3. Persistence & Grit
No matter how often a customer says no or walks away from the table, a great salesperson will never give up until they have closed the deal! This trait is crucial because it allows sellers to overcome any obstacle head-on and get results fast.
Salespeople need to be able to keep going when things get tough, no matter how many times they are rejected or how long it takes them to close a deal.
4. Proactivity
A good salesman always looks for opportunities–whether that means being proactive about contacting potential clients early in his research project or staying active on social media networks where potential customers may hang out. Every day counts when selling products/services!
5. Ability To Take Orders & Follow Instructions
Once customers have placed orders through direct interaction or an intermediary. An excellent way to assess whether or not a salesperson is suited for a small or medium agency is to ask how well they take orders and follow instructions. Salespeople who can do this effectively are likely to be successful in any sales environment.
6. Flexibility
Salespeople need to be able to adapt their strategy and approach based on the customer they’re working with. Salespeople need to think on their feet, understand the customer’s needs, and quickly come up with a plan of action that will meet those needs.
7. Leadership
Salespeople need to be able to lead teams and manage expectations, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goal. Leadership is one of the most critical skills that a salesperson can have. It’s essential not only in selling but also in managing teams and expectations. If you can lead your team effectively, they’ll be more likely to succeed together.
Other skills your ideal salesperson should have are;
● Interpersonal skills
● Strong work ethic
● Proven experience selling in a customer-facing role.
● Strong sales skills, including listening well, taking notes, and asking questions convincingly.
● Knowledge of marketing channels and how to use them effectively.
● Expertise in pitching your product or service
How to Hire a Salesperson
When hiring a salesperson, the company’s overall sales strategy must be kept in mind. Ideally, the person you hire should be able to support your entire sales process – from lead generation and building relationships with potential customers to closed deals and follow-up marketing efforts.
It’s also beneficial if your candidate has prior experience selling products or services similar to your business. This will help them understand how buyers think and what tactics work best for achieving success.
Finally, ensure the applicant has adequate skills (such as excellent communication and customer service skills), so they can effectively carry out their duties on behalf of the company.
Sales Hiring Checklist
As established, it is essential to have a checklist of things to assess before making an offer. Not only that, the list will help you maximize your hiring process.
Employee Name: Position Title:
Start Date: Salary:
| TASK | DATE | |
| ✔ | Outline Your Job Description | MM/DD/YYYY |
| ● | Determine the essential qualifications for the position, such as sales experience, industry knowledge, and market knowledge. | |
| ● | What technical skills does your salesperson need? | |
| ● | Is this a full or part-time job? Are the working hours fixed or flexible? | |
| ● | How will job performance and success be measured? Is there a sales quota? | |
| ● | Create a job description for the salesperson position that addresses the points mentioned above. | |
| ✔ | Establish Your Compensation Plan | |
| ● | Is it commission-based? Salary based? Or commission and salary. | |
| ● | When do you need your sales rep to start work? | |
| ● | Are there other benefits attached to this job role? | |
| ● | What is the salary base and commission? | |
| ● | Are there growth opportunities? | |
| ✔ | Establish your hiring process | |
| ● | Determine the recruitment team for the salesperson. | |
| ● | Who is going to interview the applicants? | |
| ● | Who will interview potential employees and investigate their backgrounds? | |
| ● | Who will train the new salesperson? | |
| ● | Who will the sales rep report to? | |
| ✔ | Post Advert to a Job Board | |
| ● | Write your job ad with the proper descriptions. | |
| ● | Write out your pre-screen questions. | |
| ● | Post your on job boards | |
| ✔ | Screen Applicants and Schedule a Meeting | |
| ● | Review resumes and cover letters to ensure the candidates possess the skills and industry experience needed. | |
| ● | Verify job history | |
| ✔ | Interview and Evaluate Applicants | |
| ● | Create interview questions | |
| ● | Schedule an interview | |
| ● | Evaluate candidates | |
| ✔ | Offer Letter | |
| ● | Choose the top candidate(s) | |
| ● | Create the offer letter | |
| ● | Deliver offer letter | |
| ✔ | Onboarding Sales Rep | |
| ● | Send out all the paperwork. | |
| ● | Collect paperwork | |
| ● | Employee orientation and onboarding |
How To Hire A Salesperson For A Startup
Hiring a salesperson can be a long and tedious process. You’ll need to do proper market research, interviewing skills, performance evaluations, and other due diligence before hiring someone.
To save time and energy, use the checklist we’ve shared above. As you can see from this article, it contains all the critical information that will help you hire a salesperson for your agency with ease!
