If you’re on the hunt for a job in sales, one of the first things you’ll likely face after sending off your resume is an interview with a recruiter. Also known as a ‘phone screen’, this short call offers you a chance to ask your sales job recruiter key questions that could help you secure the role.
Sales recruitment is a competitive game, often with hundreds of people applying for the same position. And in booming business states like Texas, great salespeople are in ultra-high demand. Sales recruiters in Dallas and other big cities will be sifting through a whole host of potential candidates, so equipping yourself with all the right questions is an absolute must if you want to land the job.
But what are the best questions to ask a sales job recruiter? Here are our top 11.
1. Who will I be meeting?
One of the first things you will want to find out when preparing for any job interview is who you’ll be meeting with. Sales recruitment can be cut-throat, so knowing everything there is to know about the person you will be shaking hands with on the day is a great approach. Hiring managers can be tricky people to navigate, especially if they’re short on time and need a new sales representative as soon as possible.
Whether you’re working with a broad-scope headhunter or someone more specific like a medical sales recruiter, knowing who you’ll be working under is essential for any candidate. Researching the higher ups is always worthwhile, so getting as many names from your recruiter as you possibly can is the perfect starting point.
2. Describe for me the most successful sales person at the company?
Your sales job recruiter in Dallas or other business-centered cities will have plenty of knowledge to share with you in preparation for your interview. While their job is to find out what your skills are, it’s always a good idea to ask what the company they’re working for is in need of.
In sales recruitment, many of the relevant skills are people-focused. A sales recruiter will be evaluating your communication skills, your ability to think on the spot, and most of all, how successfully you can follow through on a lead to make a sale.
Depending on what company you’re aiming to work for, the skills on their priority list could vary. This is why it’s crucial to get that key list of criteria from your recruiter before the interview. Recruiters often have close relationships with the company they’re working for, meaning they’ll know exactly what they’re in need of. It’s up to you to find out this information, so don’t forget to ask them. It could make or break your chances of being successful!
3. What’s your sales job recruiter’s relationship with the client? How did they find you?
Sales job recruiters maintain a vital link between prospective employees and hiring businesses. They’re one of the best contacts you can have in the industry, so making sure you’re dealing with the best recruiters is vital.
One of the best ways to establish a good relationship with your Dallas sales recruiter is to enquire about their relationship with the hiring company. As well as giving the impression that you’re keen to know more about them, it will also give you an insight into some other key factors too.
- How long have they been recruiting together?
- How did they establish the connection?
- What’s the best thing about hiring for this business?
These questions may seem intrusive, but your sales recruiter won’t be surprised by them. Going down this line of questioning will alert you of any potential red flags, particularly when it comes to staff turnover or company culture.
As well as finding the right job, it’s important for you to find a long-lasting and sustainable career. Your recruiter can help you to do this, as long as you ask the right questions!
4. Walk me through the compensation structure for this role?
While asking about salary in your main interview might be a little too close to the bone for some hiring managers, there’s absolutely no harm in discussing this with your recruiter.
Salaries can vary role to role, and sales headhunters in Dallas and beyond will be happy to discuss this with you. Being open and honest about money is important for your success, but it also shows you’re willing to have difficult conversations – often a key aspect of any sales role. Using your initiative and being polite is essential though – you don’t want to come across as abrupt by going in all guns blazing.
Some casual ways to slip salary into the conversation include:
- So in terms of pay, what sort of range are we looking at?
- The salary could be an influential factor for me, can you predict what it might be?
- I’m really excited about this position, so I hope the salary is well-suited to me!
Salary is a deal breaker for most prospective employees, so communicating well and being open about the subject is important. Don’t be afraid to talk money with your Dallas sales and recruiting representative – just be smart about it!
5. What does the typical interview process look like? How many steps are should I prepare for?
Sales jobs vary enormously depending what business you end up working for, and the interview process is no exception. If you’re chasing a corporate position, you can expect to experience a more traditional-style session. But if you’re trying to get in with a startup or smaller business, the process could be a little more unexpected.
Discussing the interview with your recruiter in Dallas, or wherever else you’re job hunting, is an intelligent approach. As well as telling you what to anticipate, your recruiter may also have some tricks up their sleeves about how the company expects things to be. Sales recruiters are often experts themselves when it comes to sales jobs, so even if they can’t reveal the exact information, they might still be able to suggest some questions to be prepared for.
Interview mistakes are easy to make when you’re under pressure, so finding out as much as you can beforehand is your best bet!
6. What is the internal company culture like at my potential workplace?
Any prospective sales representative should be considering company culture when deciding if they’re right for a workplace. Dallas sales jobs can be varied, but there’s almost certainly a company suited to everyone.
Sales job recruiters will be familiar with the company they’re hiring for, and finding people who fit in well is one of the top tasks on their agenda. By asking them about your prospective work culture, you’ll be able to find out vital information that could make or break your final decision.
7. Does your sales job recruiter have any concerns? Ask this, based on our conversation, do you feel confident in presenting me to your client?
Another important thing to discuss with your sales recruiter is your own skillset and the qualifications on your resume.
Different employers will have different expectations of their staff, so tapping into that knowledge will allow you to find out where you’re excelling, and where you’re lacking. Some businesses prefer their sales representatives to have business diplomas or specific qualifications, while others will make their decisions based on experience and skills alone.
Having an open conversation with your recruiter about your resume will be extremely insightful, even if you’re not open to suggestions!
8. What are the knock questions? What do I need to be aware of?
Did you know that over 1 trillion dollars are spent annually on sales forces? While this figure speaks to the value of sales teams across the US, it also suggests that employee turnover can be unexpectedly high. Companies don’t advertize their turnover rate unless it’s surprisingly low, but your sales recruiter may be privy to this information.
As well as enquiring about turnover rate with your recruiter, a lot can be learned by asking why previous candidates were unsuccessful. Whether they made mistakes at an interview, or something on their resume let them down, it’s well worth asking these questions so that you can better position yourself.
Of course, some people just aren’t the right fit. Every company is different and requires unique people and personalities to slot into their teams, usually with high expectations for a smooth transition. Talk to your recruiter about other candidates they’ve screened to make sure you’re as suitable as possible for the job.
9. What can you tell me that is not on the job description?
If you’re preparing for a sales job interview, you’re probably already familiar with the brief job description listed on the ad. This should have filled you in on key responsibilities and desirable skills, but these short ads rarely tell a candidate everything.
That’s where your recruiter comes in.
Don’t be nervous about asking your recruiter for a more specific job description. As we’ve made clear, they’ll be more than happy to answer any questions and will have exclusive information reserved for ideal candidates. Showing initiative and curiosity when it comes to details like this are essential skills for any good sales representative, so asking may work in your favor.
Ask your Dallas sales job recruiter everything you need to know, from the ins and outs of company software to the day-to-day routine you’ll be expected to follow. The more information you equip yourself with, the more successful you’re likely to be at the subsequent interview.
10. How long has this position been open?
Knowing how long a position has been open can tell you a lot about the job and whether it’s right for you. If you’re aiming for a highly paid, more specialist role, you can expect the position to have been open for longer. The screening process for a role like this is more in-depth, and the stakes are higher for the company hiring.
However, if you’re applying for an entry-level sales job that’s looking for a quick transition period, this might be something to consider as a red flag. If a business has had a seemingly appealing position open for a really long time, it could mean they’re ultra-picky when it comes to hiring, or the unadvertized details are not attractive enough.
It’s always worthwhile enquiring about this sort of thing with your recruiter – doing so might give you a better idea about the company and the role itself.
11. When would the company want someone to start?
As you can expect, businesses rely on their sales teams to meet targets and achieve goals as a company. For this reason, it’s essential for hiring managers to fill positions with top talent as soon as possible. Knowing how quickly recruiters need to find a suitable candidate can be beneficial in a number of ways, depending on your situation.
First of all, if you’re planning to relocate to Dallas or a nearby city for your sales job, you’ll need to factor this into your schedule. Similarly, if you have family or childcare responsibilities, you’ll need to consider whether starting sooner or later is best for your situation.
There’s also another benefit to asking your sales recruiter when you’ll need to start. If you have to give a large notice period on your current role, a job which requires an immediate start wouldn’t be right for you. Likewise, if you need to start earning as soon as possible, but the sales job doesn’t start for a few more months, you might need to make other arrangements.
At the end of the day, the more information you can get from your recruiter, the better. Their job is to help you find work and make sure the hiring company receives the best talent, so collaborating to discover what timings will work best should be a priority.
Knowledge is power when it comes to sales recruitment
Sales recruiters are specially trained to find out all the information they need to know from you, but you should always be prepared to give them a run for their money. Create a list of questions and don’t be afraid to run through every single one until you’re feeling as confident as can be for the road ahead.
If you’re looking for top sales vacancies in Dallas, visit Sales Recruiters Dallas Inc. Get in touch with us today and we’ll help you find your dream sales job!