4 Qualities to Look for When Hiring Sales Representatives

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,625,700 sales representatives working in the United States. This figure is set to rise by 5% throughout the 2020s.

With many people working in similar roles, there are lots of sales reps out there to choose from. With this in mind, you’ll want to ensure you’re hiring sales representatives that are great at their jobs.

But what makes a good sales representative?

In this guide, we’ll talk you through the qualities of a good sales representative so that your business can hit the ground running and maximize revenue.

1. The Best Sales Representatives Are Honest

Salespeople quite often get an unfair reputation that they’ll spin a lie to close a sale. While many commission-based sales reps may have little regard for the people they’re selling to, thankfully, the majority do.

While you’ll want your sales team to highlight the positives of a product and focus less on the drawbacks, honesty about what they’re selling will win you return custom and ensure your business has a good relationship with its customers.

2. Sales Representatives Should Be Knowledgeable

Whatever product your business is selling, your sales team needs to know it inside out. The more they know about how it works, what the benefits are, and what other similar products are available on the market, the better equipped they’ll be at selling it.

Of course, you may not always be able to hire a sales rep that already knows your product well; however, the willingness and ability to learn should be evident during their interview and in their previous work.

3. Sales Representatives Need Great Communication Skills

It may seem obvious, but you’ll want a sales rep that is confident in striking up conversations. While being able to talk about your products at length with potential customers should be a given, there’s more to communication than just that.

Sales reps should be able to ask open-ended questions to find out the needs of their clients. Not only this, but they’ll need to be great listeners too. Finding out what a customer is looking for is key in recommending the right product.

4. Sales Representatives Need to Be Empathetic

Empathy is an important quality for a sales rep. Without the ability to be empathetic, your sales reps won’t be able to see things from your client’s perspectives.

Having a good degree of empathy means your sales team will be able to better understand your client’s needs along with any reservations they may have about the product you’re selling.

This article talks you through some of the benefits of having a sales team along with how to hire sales representatives.

The Qualities to Look for When Hiring Sales Representatives

When hiring sales representatives, look for knowledgeable and honest communicators that have empathy and understanding for your customer’s needs.

For more great advice to improve your operations, check out the business section.