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Sales Recruitment

Employers and candidates beginning their search for sales employees or careers have become more dependent on employment services.  These agencies offer a number of benefits to both parties.  Sales job seekers value from being able to complete one application that is suitable for multiple employers.  Employers, on the other hand, benefit from the candidate screening, interviewing, testing, drug screening, and background checks that the majority of employment agencies offer.  Depending upon the specific career available, services may test candidates on phone etiquette, mental aptitude, personality, or their ability to properly handle certain situations. 

There are three different types of employment agencies available.  Each option focuses on specific needs or goals of employers and candidates.  Sales recruiters are employed when companies are seeking long term, professional level associates.  They thoroughly assess all candidates; therefore, they offer only the best and most qualified associates to employers.  Candidates compete a great deal for these careers because of the prestige and pay that generally accompanies these positions.  Sales professionals interested in the mid-level occupations generally work with staffing services.  Many busy employers experiencing turn over or increased company growth use these agencies to decrease the amount of time spent hiring permanent professionals.  These employment agencies offer many of the same benefits of professional firms, but they work with a lower skill level, so there is a larger candidate database to choose from.  Temporary agencies work only with short term assignments, which include employers encountering unexpected peaks in business, maternity or medical leave, special projects, or any other situation in which an employee is needed to compensate for the additional workload.  These assignments are perfect for students, working professionals seeking supplemental income, or candidates interested in the sales field that have little or no experience.  

Companies tend to seek a certain personality type when hiring sales associates, so it is important that interested candidates understand what is expected of them before entering an interview.  Sales associates must be personable, goal oriented, highly confident, persuasive, and organized.  Employers’ interview questions are designed to determine whether candidates fit these requirements.  Candidates must be prepared to fully explain gaps in their employment or schooling, career changes, or any other discrepancies in their professional history.  Typical questions for a sales interview may include the following:

1. What are the three words that best describe you?
2. Describe a situation in which your manager asked you to do something that you were not comfortable with?
3. Why should I hire you instead of one of the others I am meeting with?
4. Why are you seeking employment currently?
5. What is it you are looking for within this position?

For more information on sales recruitment, please visit the following sites:

• Campusi
• Saterfiel and Associates
• Hire Success
• Profiles International, Inc  

For an alternative to recruiting services, please visit iHireSalesPeople, an online sales job board.