Headhunting 101

By Alex Opacic, Founder, Athlete2Business

As a business owner or hiring manager, you understand that the success of your company relies on having a strong sales team. But finding top-performing sales professionals can be a challenge. Often, the best salespeople are not actively seeking new job opportunities, and they are likely already successful in their current positions. So, how do you go about headhunting the best sales professionals for your business?

Here are three key strategies to consider:

1. The best sales professionals are not applying for job ads.

The most successful salespeople are likely already employed and performing at a high level for their current company. They are not actively searching for new job opportunities, but they may be open to new opportunities if they are approached with the right offer. This means that in order to find the best of the best, you need to actively seek them out and headhunt them.

2. Get active on LinkedIn and in-person networking events.

One effective way to find top sales professionals is to use LinkedIn to identify and reach out to candidates who meet your criteria. You can use LinkedIn's search functionality to filter by location, industry, and job title to find potential candidates who are a good fit for your business. Additionally, attending industry conferences, trade shows, and other networking events can be an effective way to meet high-performing sales professionals in person.

3. Interview candidates three times.

Once you have identified potential candidates, it's important to conduct a thorough interview process to ensure that they are a good fit for your company. This process should include at least three interviews. During the first interview, focus on getting to know the candidate on a personal level to assess whether they would be a good cultural fit for your business. During the second interview, delve into the candidate's sales process and numbers to gain a deeper understanding of their skills and experience. Finally, during the third interview, conduct a role-play pitch to see how the candidate performs in a real-world scenario.

Hiring the best sales professionals for your business requires a proactive approach. By actively seeking out top-performing candidates, networking in person and online, and conducting a thorough interview process, you can increase your chances of finding the right sales professional for your company. Remember, finding the right candidate takes time, but the investment will pay off in the long run with a strong and successful sales team.