To grow your business, you need to hire a sales team. Every company comes to a point where they can no longer wear all the hats, and hiring a salesforce is a must. But where do you start? What type of talent pool should you be targeting?
When all is said and done, it comes down to timing, resources, and planning. Now is the perfect time to formulate your plan. And it shouldn’t be taken lightly, as you will be pumping lots of energy and money into your new sales team.
After you learn how to hire a sales team properly, you’ll put all of those resources back into your pocket and watch them grow.
How to Hire a Sales Team
Where would your company be without those energetic and charming minds that keep revenue in the green? Here are our seven steps to hire a sales team that knocks your goals out of the park.
1. Know When to Hire
First and foremost, you must determine if it is the proper time to hire a new salesperson. Perform a cost-benefit analysis and figure how much (or if) money to allocate toward onboarding and compensation.
You should only hire a sales team when they can help you grow your company the most. Also, hire someone when your current team has reached its limits and is spread too thin.
2. Work with Product Releases
Are you going to release a new product or service sometime soon? Planning for a new addition to the market could indicate the perfect time to ramp up your salesforce.
Instead of adding one more thing for your team to cover, the new addition could focus on the launch while your existing team continues to work with your current offers.
3. Plan for Growth
Many companies will use their annual or quarterly forecasts to guide salesforce hiring decisions. This makes sense as sales are usually intertwined with scalability and business growth. You can’t have one without the other.
So, look at your projected growth and forecasts before making any decisions. If you aren’t sure, you can always hire a contract or freelance salesperson just to be safe.
4. Create a Benchmark
Knowing how to hire a sales team means understanding what makes a sales team exceptional. Use top performers in the industry to set a benchmark. Or create your own list and metrics to measure candidates against.
This is also where you define your non-negotiable skills. Make a note of the soft (or hard) skills your potential sales team member MUST have.
5. Use the Right Talent Sources
You’ve made your plans and benchmarks, and now it’s time to find talent. But where do you go? Where do you post your job listing?
Well, there are a few ways you can scout for salespeople. Many companies who are willing to invest in building a salesperson will follow college campus recruiting strategies, attend career days for graduates, and offer paid internships.
You can also make use of recruiting firms. Or you can try to find referrals from your professional network, such as people you’ve worked with in the field or who you know on LinkedIn.
6. Get Everyone Involved
One way to evaluate candidates efficiently is to get all the decision-makers involved. To get a well-rounded picture of the candidate’s personality and skill, multiple people should have conversations or review the salesperson’s interview responses.
You might consider hosting a virtual group interview for the most efficient use of your time. Studies even show that 70% of talent professionals agree that virtual recruiting will become a new standard.
We also recommend adding your existing sales team to the conversation if you have one established. Your current team can shine a light on what traits and skills are needed the most as well.
7. Offer Competitive Compensation
Wondering how to hire a sales team easily? Just offer competitive compensation. Everyone wants to feel like they are fairly compensated anyway. Salaries, attractive commissions, bonuses, and extra rewards can attract the best salespeople.
Mention these perks in your job posting, and watch the leads pool in. However, ensure your potential candidates want to work for your company because of other factors outside of money.
Skip the Interview and Go Straight to a Dallas Recruiter
Are you looking for a job in the sales industry in Dallas, Texas? Our team can help you find the perfect sales position that aligns with your objective, future goals, and current skill set. We will connect you straight to hiring companies to expedite your job search.
If you are trying to fill a sales-based role within your company, Sales Recruiters Dallas can also help you hire the perfect candidate. We use a hands-on approach that’s proven to get results and makes the hiring process a breeze.
Learn more about us to hire talent or get hired sooner rather than later.