As a hiring manager, what do the best sales candidates have in common?

This is a very important question and one that not everyone will see eye to eye with me on this. But personally, it has never failed me up until now. There are a few elements that are common to candidates that have been proven to be successful: The first is tenacity. It is that inner hunger to learn new topics or master new skill sets. One who always finds ways to be proactive and push boundaries. When talking to candidates, I always look for a potential team member whom I will need to restrain ...Read More

Great question and something I love talking to (and sometimes 'debating') our leaders about - the idea behind 'what's the characteristic (or two) of your best seller you would want to clone?' For me, at the top of the list are 2 attributes I look for in potential sales team members: 1) 'Customer first' mindset: I don't want to lead or support a team of 'vendors' who are only interested in selling 'licenses'. I want to enable a team of 'consultants' or 'trusted advisors' that are not interested i ...Read More

In my experience, the best sales candidates are masters of their craft, whatever that may be. I love asking candidates to walk me through something they've sold before, or if it's their first sales role, something they're genuinely passionate about. I pay close attention to how they tell the story and how well they understand the "why" behind what they were selling. That depth always comes through in a good interview. The strongest candidates also come prepared. They’ve done their homework, not ...Read More

Good question! I evaluate every sales candidate who is interviewing to join my team on the same 3 criteria: 1. Sales Skills & Knowledge - key expertise & skills required to be an effective salesperson (ex. conversation generation, discovery, relationship building, business case construction, managing a closing process, etc.) 2. Core Behavioral Competencies - the characteristics that can contribute to success as a salesperson (ex. motivation, presence, adaptability, coachability, etc.) 3. ...Read More

The answer to this question depends on the sales leader (i.e. me vs someone else), the product that the rep is selling, the stage of the business, etc. The list goes on. I personally am always looking for candidates who have these two attributes: Innate curiosity Persuasiveness The first is (hopefully) obviously critical. The more curious the rep, the better they should be at discovery. The better they are at discovery, the more time you can spend helping them execute the back half of their deal ...Read More

In my experience, the best sales candidates are not necessarily people with the most years of sales experience. I've noticed the best sales candidates all have these qualities in common: Insanely Driven and Hard-Working (folks who are intrinsically motivated to double down on KPIs to exceed their goals if that's what it takes) Adaptable (people who can think on their feet, and adjust their sales motion/process to best hit their sales targets) Inquisitive (excellent salespeople know that the key ...Read More

The best sales candidates often share several key traits and skills that set them apart. As a hiring manager, you can identify high-potential candidates by looking for the following common characteristics: 1) Strong Communication skills Clarity and Persuasion: Top candidates can clearly and confidently articulate ideas, products, and value propositions. Active Listening: They listen carefully to customer needs and feedback, showing empathy and understanding. 2) Adaptability Handling Rejection: T ...Read More

I'd say the one thing that winning candidates have in common is based on how easy they are to talk to. When an interview goes right its. Focused Educational Inpsired Interesting Flows well So, the best candidates tend to have enough knowledge about me or my business that they are dropping references to things that are familiar and show a genuine curiosity that helps me visualize them on a call with a prospect.  The best candidates typically have the following in common:  Tenacious Curious Execut ...Read More

The best sales candidates are able to demonstrate their curiosity, coachability and empathy in the interview process. These are three attributes that we see in our most successful Account Executives and here's why they are important. Curiosity enables sales reps to uncover valuable insights that can inform their sales approach and tailor solutions to meet the customer's specific needs effectively. Their thirst for continuous learning enables sales reps to stay ahead of the curve, competitors and ...Read More

The best sales candidates often share key traits and skills that set them apart. Here’s what top-performing candidates tend to have in common: 1. Resilience & Grit – Sales can be tough with frequent rejections, and top candidates demonstrate the ability to persevere. 2. Emotional Intelligence – They understand customer needs, handle objections tactfully, and build strong relationships. 3. Curiosity & Learning Agility – They are eager to learn about products, industries, and customer pain ...Read More

As a hiring manager, the best sales candidates have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. They come prepared with questions about the organization, sales team structure and prospects you sell into. They aren't afraid to ask for next steps in the interview process while standing out from the crowd of interviews that might be in your calendar. This might sound old school, but in a candidate heavy market, it's important to write a cover letter as to why you would be a great fit for the company long ...Read More