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

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 in selling 'licenses', but providing 'customer solutions' built on value. I want sales teams built on the belief that they can differentiate themselves by showing up to a prospect/customer meeting with curiosity and a perspective on what is happening in the particular industry and company...prospects will pick up on the fact that you seem genuinely interested in understanding their reality.

2) The ability to be a master customer storyteller...something I call 'storyselling'. To me this is an important attribute if you are hoping your sellers show up like 'consultants' and sell on value. Think of how you like to be sold to...most want to partner with someone who understands their current situation, and desired future state. You typically buy from someone you trust, and that trust is typically built out of 'experience' or 'subject matter expertise'. Finally, you want someone who can paint a picture of the future, to get you excited about the 'art of the possible' and nothing means more and comes off as 'authentic' than hearing stories of how other customers, of a similar size and industry, or facing the same challenge, have transformed their business in the way you are looking to do so.

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.

1. Focused
2. Educational
3. Inpsired
4. Interesting
5. 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: 

1. Tenacious
2. Curious
3. Executive presence
4. Creative in their thinking/problem solving/story telling
5. Positive, Excited

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. Alignment to Company Values - the main values we expect to be shared by all employees within the organization

That said, there are aspects that tend to separate the GREAT from the BEST sales candidates. As a I reflect back on the VERY BEST salespeople I've worked alongside and had the opportunity to lead throughout my career, each of them also embodies the following:

1. Intellectual Curiosity - an innate curiosity of the world. Individuals who are deeply facinated by people & relationships, the problems or challenges they may be facing, and have a perpetual hunger to continue learning from others. These individuals tend to be the best at truly understanding a customer's objectives/pain points which enables them to provide the best solutions. 

2. Resilience - formed through tremendously challenging experiences outside of their career. Each of the best people I've worked with has done something incredible in their lives before I met them. They've had success in the face of adversity. By being able to acheive their goals amidst chaos, they learned how to maintain focus on the most critical behaviors, keep themselves above the line, and weather the headwinds. These individuals tend to be the best at managing through the biggest downsturns of a life in sales. 

3. Leadership - not operating behind a title, these indvidiuals embody the truest aspects of Leadership. Always putting the team's development & success above their own self-interest, these individuals find opportunities to innovate within their sales motion, and go out of their way to share their learnings & best practices with the team. 

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 rather than one I will need to nudge forward.

The second is communication skills. A great seller is someone who you talk to and immediately comes off as connectable and relatable. Someone who has a clear understanding of the person in front of them.

The third aspect would have to be very strong social and emotional intelligence. This goes hand in hand with having a client first mentality. A great candidate is one who will give the client the true sense that he puts their interest above anything. Earning that trust is key to building a long-term, healthy relationship.

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 to selling is listening, not talking. So people who are naturally curious about their clients' pain points are generally much better at prescribing solutions and highlighting impact for the client)
• Self-Sufficient with Outbound (the top 1% sales talent I've seen will always find ways to exceed their number beyond what's given to them. They know how to go creatively source for leads and go outbound to feed themselves, and not just rely on an inbound pipeline)

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-term.

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:

1. Innate curiosity

2. 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 deals.

The second is also hopefully obvious. I know plenty of reps who excel in sales through discipline and structure, but I'd take a rep who is also persuasive (on top of those things) any day of the week.

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 adapt to changes in the market (especially now).

• Coachable sales reps are open to feedback, learn from experiences, and are receptive to new ideas and perspectives. They actively seek out opportunities for growth and ask for feedback to enhance their approach.

• Empathetic sales reps build trusting relationships, understand customer needs, communicate effectively, and can more easily resolve objections. Through Gong we are able to track when Account Executives demonstrate empathy and those reps with high levels of empathy are almost always at the top of the leaderboard.  

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: The best salespeople are resilient in the face of rejection, using it as an opportunity to learn and improve.

• Adaptability: They are able to pivot strategies quickly based on new information or market conditions.

3) Ability to problem solve

• Customer-Centric Approach: Great sales candidates approach challenges as problem-solvers, focusing on how they can add value to the customer.

• Critical Thinking: They can analyze a situation and develop creative, strategic solutions to meet customer needs.

4) Work Ethic

• Self-Motivation: They consistently demonstrate initiative and are driven to exceed targets and expectations.

• Tenacity: Top performers are persistent, proactive, and consistently follow through on their goals.

5) Curiosity

• Continuous Learning: They have a growth mindset, regularly seeking to improve their skills, learn from peers, and stay updated on industry trends.

• Product Knowledge Mastery: The best candidates display a deep understanding of the product or service they are selling, and they are committed to staying informed.

6) Empathy

• Relationship Building: High-performing sales candidates excel at building trust and long-term relationships with clients.

• Emotional Awareness: They understand the emotions and motivations of others, which helps them navigate complex sales interactions and negotiations.

7) Confidence

• Self-Assured: Top candidates are confident in their abilities and knowledge but remain humble and open to feedback.

• Team Collaboration: They work well with cross-functional teams, understanding that collaboration often leads to better outcomes.

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 points, and they stay updated on trends.

4. Results-Oriented Mindset – The best salespeople are focused on meeting and exceeding targets, and they can demonstrate past success.

5. Strong Communication Skills – They articulate value clearly and are persuasive in both verbal and written communication.

6. Problem-Solving Ability – They don’t just sell a product; they offer solutions that address customer challenges.

7. Self-Motivation & Ownership – They are proactive and take ownership of their pipelines without needing constant supervision.

These traits help sales candidates excel, adapt to changes, and consistently deliver results.