So, the time has finally come. You need to hire your first salesperson. Or perhaps it has been a number of years since you were in a position to hire salespeople.

The truth is there is not a secret formula for hiring salespeople. You need a solid recruiting process that will allow you to properly evaluate talent in a time-efficient manner. Easier said than done, right?

Whether you are new to hiring in sales or you just need a refresher, this simple guide will give you some great tips from the pros for how to hire great salespeople:

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Why it’s tough to hire salespeople

Obviously, you want to ensure you hire the right person for the job. But hiring in the sales industry is unique in the sense that salespeople know how to sell themselves in interviews. They know what to say and many of the candidates you will encounter will be great conversationalists. They are job interview experts. This can make it more challenging for employers to differentiate between candidates and determine who appears to be a good candidate and who actually is the best person to fill the role.  You’ll need a strong evaluation process to make this distinction.

How to hire great salespeople

Follow these tips to hire great salespeople:

• Define your ideal candidate: You need to have a detailed vision of the type of candidate you are looking for. What type of sales experience should they have? What sales tools do they need to have experience using? What specific skill set do they require?

• Write a specific job ad: You can’t recycle the same job ad repeatedly and expect to get the best candidates. Write it specifically based on your ideal candidate. Be as detailed as possible.

• Put extra effort into the candidates you choose to interview: Put effort into creating a thorough list of people you want to speak with about the job. Pay particular attention to candidates who put in extra effort during the application process.

• Ask great questions: You have limited time to learn as much as you can about your sales candidates. Make use of this time by asking questions that will help you learn about candidates on a deeper level. You should also ask questions that will help you differentiate and assess candidates.

• Act quickly: If you find a candidate who meets all the qualifications and would be a good fit, take action right away. If you see them as a good candidate, other employers will as well. Offer a competitive and enticing employment package as soon as you can.

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