Hiring sales is different from hiring any other position. Why? Recruiting shifts when you have to vet out the soft skills required for sales, rather than matching resumes with open positions. Hard skills are easier to find as they are 'measurable' and soft skills are not; a lot more strategy, preparation, and intentionality are required to seek out the soft skills needed for sales roles. We have placed numerous candidates that weren't a fit on paper but were a strong fit for the actual role. A resume never tells the whole story.
Well-stated! Refreshing to see you prioritize soft skills and unique value added in candidates.
Very true-It is sad that a resume is initially given a 6-7 second "review" on first review.
Agreed!
No offense to anyone in the comments but as a purchaser I can tell you that most sales people lack real "soft skills" to connect and that's not what influences a company to buy. It's cost, quality, and speed of delivery. Which one is the most important changes depending on the companies current needs. If you keep calling on that one customer that won't set up a meeting or lunch with you it's because they don't want to deal with their sales person.
Even though this post has been around for a while, its message resonates deeply with me. My decade-long experience as a teacher before transitioning into tech has been instrumental. It's challenging to demonstrate on paper how I have learned to love market research, securing meetings, and finalizing sales. Much of this proficiency stems from years of understanding how to enhance another's process or organization. I've come to truly love the sales profession because, when done right, it's ultimately a "people-first" profession.
The one that annoys me the most is wanting experience in the specific niche of business that they are in. I can teach product, I can teach technology, but sales and people skills are an art form. I have sold everything from toasters to H1's, software to commercial security, and I was never an expert at the product when I took the job. Look for the skills and ability and not the product.
This is so true
What's the key to get noticed if a description asks for 4 years when you have 3? I think most individuals who are going through the job search process right now would argue differently then what this thread suggests. In a world were job applications are getting 100+ submissions in a matter of hours, it's hard to believe that someone is taking the time to vet soft skills by sifting through a resumes and cover letters. When in reality resumes that initially satisfy all requirements posted by the job description (as well as the hidden requirements) are pushed to the top. You're unlikely to get that first conversation unless you have an established personal relationship, or you got a resume that satisfies the hard skills...and it's truly the reality of the situation. The recruitment process as a whole is extremely one sided, until its realized that there's "something in it for them." If you've got all the hard skills on paper, that recruiter conversation is going to last 10 minutes tops. No one is screening for soft skills in 10 minutes.
CPA at Ernst & Young | Billing and A/R Consultant | Financial Planning and Analysis
2ySo true 👍🏽👍🏽