Want to avoid hiring mistakes? All companies do. Hiring is your opportunity to improve your sales team. Each time you hire a new sales rep, it’s an opportunity to positively impact organizational culture and help your sales team.

Unfortunately, there is no shortage of sales companies that make hiring mistakes. They hire the wrong person for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the common mistakes sales recruiters make during the job interview process:

1. Undefined recruiting objectives

Who are you looking for? Are you looking for someone with fresh ideas? Are you looking for someone to fit a specific mould? Or are you looking for someone completely different from the person who previously held the position?

One of the biggest hiring mistakes sales companies make is not understanding exactly what they want in a candidate. If you are not sure who you are looking for, you’ll likely have a generic job description that attracts somewhat qualified candidates.

You also could end up asking generic and untargeted questions that do little to help you find the right candidate. Know who you are looking for before you start the candidate search.

2. Too much emphasis on experience

Experience is important, but it’s not the only thing on which you should focus. It’s tempting to hire a candidate who has 10 years’ experience and a good track record, but don’t overlook other things such as their fit within the company culture, their attitude, personality and other soft skills.

3. Rushing the process

Pressed for time and under pressure to fill a void, many sales recruiters simply rush the process. Rather than spending the time to find a great talent who can make a difference, they hire the first person who is good enough to fill the role. Sure, you will accomplish your goal of hiring, but are you really improving your company?

4. Not following up with references

References are one of the most important and often overlooked part of the hiring process. Hiring based on what you discussed in the job interview alone can be a mistake. References provide you with the opportunity to not only verify information, but also follow up on things that were said during the interview.

More Blog Posts to Help Avoid Hiring Mistakes

5 Unprofessional Habits That Kill Your Chances of Getting the Best Candidate

Recruit the Best Sales Reps Using These Interview Questions

Talentology: 4 Tips to Hire Top Sales Talent

SalesForce Search is a sales recruiting company which specializes in the recruitment and placement of sales professionals. We recruit salespeople in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. Find the right salesperson for your organization, start your search here.