Jason M. Lemkin explains how to hire salespeople who actually want to sell. He screens for passion for the craft, genuine desire for money, and competitive drive, while avoiding candidates who show signs of burnout from volatile market conditions.
Chapters
I would say the majority don't want to do sales. It's my first screening question. And that's why they gotta carry a bag because it proves they actually still care about the craft. And the best sales folks love sales. It's a craft. They love money. Yes, they love money and that does matter. Do not hire a sales rep that doesn't like money. Trust me on this one. That there's 0% chance they'll work out either. But they also like the craft. They like honing the script. They like beating the competition. They like figuring out the counterfoot. They like figuring out the weapon and the TEDx feature. They like working on a team. They like hunting. They love it. But then sometimes I just think burnout is always a reality, but I just think that the last 3 years have been so yo-yoed that folks are just, they're out. They're out and don't hire them no matter how smart they are. And that's the test.