Using a sales recruiter can give you a leg up on the competition when looking for a sales job. This is one of the many reasons why people choose to work with sales recruitment agencies. They provide you with the extra advice and industry connections you need to find the right job for you based on your skills and experience.

So, if you’ve enlisted the help of a sales recruiter or if they’ve called you out of the blue, you need to be prepared for the call. How you handle a call with a sales recruiter can determine their next course of action. It could make or break the opportunity for you.

6 Thinks You Should Do When A Sales Headhunter Calls

How you approach a call with a sales headhunter will depend on whether or not it was scheduled beforehand. If the call was scheduled, do your best to prepare for the call. Treat it like a job interview, because they will be assessing you as a potential fit for a sales job they are trying to fill. Have your resume handy and be prepared to answer some interview-style questions.

If the sales recruiter calls without advance notice, be polite and hear them out. Here’s some general advice for how you should handle a call with a sales headhunter:

1. Be appreciative: If a sales headhunter is taking time out of their day to potentially connect you with an employer, the first thing you should do is thank them for connecting. Showing appreciation can go a long way.

2. Listen: Once you are done greeting the sales recruiter, listen. Allow them to explain their reason for calling.

3. Understand the reason they are calling: Is the sales recruiter calling to check out if you are open to looking? Do they want to book an interview? Did they get a recommendation from someone else? Did they find you on LinkedIn or online? Always try to understand the context of their call so you can adjust your approach accordingly.

4. Ask questions about the sales job: Show you are interested in asking questions about the job or employer. The sales recruiter may or may not be able to give you information about it, but try to get as much information as possible to determine your level of interest.

5. Ask about the next steps: At the end of the call, whether you are prompted or not, ask about the next steps. Is there an online application to fill out? Will the sales recruiter follow up with you? Confirm an interview time, date, and format.

6. Thank them at the end of the call: Always thank the sales headhunter for their time, even if you are not interested in the job. If they had a good conversation with you and you made a good impression, you’ll be top of mind if another relevant job becomes available.

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SalesForce Search is a sales recruitment agency that specializes in hiring sales rockstars. Hiring top salespeople is tough. Only 55% meet their quota. Our proactive approach recruits talented salespeople before they hit the market. As North America’s leading sales headhunter we recruit salespeople in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. To find your next sales rockstar, start your search here.