You have concluded that it’s time to hire a sales rep for your business but you may be unsure about how to go about the process. There are various factors to consider such as the type of position to hire for, payment structure, salesperson qualities to look for, training, and where to find the best salespeople. Below, we cover some of these topics.

Hiring Options

Before hiring a salesperson, you need to consider your hiring options. Here are some of the options:

1. Hiring based on a commission structure is typically the route that smaller businesses take in order to save on expenses. But the downside to this option is that commission only workers can have less motivation and commitment and companies tend to invest less in them. So it can be beneficial to supplement a commission structure with some regular hourly pay.

2. Hiring full-time salespeople is more ideal for companies that are well-established and have a strong sales process. This option can be expensive so it is important to be well prepared before hiring and to be selective in who you hire.

3. A third option is to outsource sales to a company that specializes in this area. This reduces risk and expenses. Also, companies who specialize in this area already have effective systems in place to help ensure success.

Training a Sales Rep

Before hiring a sales rep, make sure that you have an effective training system in place that the rep can efficiently go through. You can put together training guides such as scripts and videos. Also have operations procedures for the tasks that you want your reps to perform. Note the things that are going well and not going well during training so that you can make improvements to your processes.

Qualities to Look for in a Salesperson

In order to write a good job description that attracts the right candidates, it’s important to define what you are looking for in a salesperson. Here are some things to consider:

1. What sales skills and experience does the candidate have? Consider how much training you will be able to provide and the level of skill needed for the position. When you are first starting to hire, you will want to hire experienced salespeople who will be able to train and lead the rest of your team members.

2. Your candidates should be resourceful, coachable, and motivated to improve.

3. Consider how well candidates align with your company mission, culture, and sales process.

A coach can help you with developing your sales rep hiring process. Get in touch today!