Why cannot I find decent sales staff?

DannyU

I run a small packaging company.

I have been trying to employ two sales roles for 2 months. I've advertised on job sites and FAS but I have had no decent response.

I'm offering €30k basic OTE €42.5k. There is uncapped commission on offer and everyone one work in sales for us is hitting target but I still have no joy getting more people.

Any ideas where to find decent sales people?

Chuck_Norris

DannyU wrote: »

I run a small packaging company.

I have been trying to employ two sales roles for 2 months. I've advertised on job sites and FAS but I have had no decent response.

I'm offering €30k basic OTE €42.5k. There is uncapped commission on offer and everyone one work in sales for us is hitting target but I still have no joy getting more people.

Any ideas where to find decent sales people?

To be honest with you mate, no.

Place I used to work was having trouble getting decent sales reps. Granted, the pay and conditions were completely different to what pure offering, but it was selling well established products, into an established industry. Turnover of reps was very high.

My own thinking was that they were getting applications from every Joe Soap, who was thinking "Sales, how hard can it be?" Sorta thing.

Sorry I can't offer any further insight.

ABajaninCork

Have you tried adverting in trade journals?

sozbox

Where are the positions based?

the_syco

DannyU wrote: »

Any ideas where to find decent sales people?

I work in the tech support sector, and when looking for jobs, I'd goto certain recruiters websites more, as they would specialize in the sector I was aiming for. Is there recruitment agencies that specifically hire people for sales jobs?

DannyU

The offices are in Wicklow but we sell nationwide.

DannyU

You could be right about more specific recruiters - maybe salesjobs.ie

I haven't tried it but anything is worth a good at this stage.

OnTheCouch

Sales is tricky, it sounds fairly straightforward, but the key comes when one individual is able to persuade another to buy something they previously had no intention of buying. You have to be very articulate, quick-thinking and not be afraid of rejection, plus be occasionally pushy in the right way, which in my opinion, knowing enough about human psychology, would automatically eliminate 70-80 percent of the population.

Anyway, good luck in your search.

farmerval

To be honest there are so many S**t jobs in sales at the moment that many probably just wouldn't go for a sales job.

I'm a purchaser and would buy a small amount of packaging material and there appears to be major competition out there. One thing that is noticable is that any reps that call in any segement seem to have worked for a few comanies in the same sector.
Perhaps an ad in a trade journal might be the best bet?

martomcg

I have a brother working in sales thats looking for a change. If you could PM the job details/requirements I could forward them onto him?

Jimmyhologram

Sorry if this diverts from thread slightly OP, but do employers looks more for experience, training, or attitude and general demeanor in potential sales candidates? I'm guessing its heavily tilted towards the latter in this particular sector, but are qualifications in marketing/commerce etc necessary also, or merely desirable?

DannyU

To be honest, to me qualifications are of no interest. It is just about ability to sell and to connect to customers and build relationships.

RussRamsden

Hi Danny,

Finding good sales staff at the moment can be difficult, it really depends where you are looking and how you are advertising the role, there are loads of places to advertise but unfortunately most of them are a waste of time.

The other problem with job boards is that unless you are very specific, you will get thousands of applications from people who believe working saturdays at McDonalds qualifies them for ANY sales role out there.

I am a Senior Recruiter based in Dublin and all I do is recruit for sales people at all levels up to senior directors, if you want to pm me I would be happy to have a chat. If you don't want to pay agency fees I would be happy to give you my opinion for free.

Cheers
Russell

patwicklow

I done sales years ago for a Barware company in Wicklow cold calling to bars shops hotels,I went back to the bar trade thats all about up selling too.
Can i have some more details would be interested in applying thanks.

DIY victim

I am also having difficulty recruiting sales teams. We are looking for sales reps for Dublin and Wexford selling services door to door. There is a basic and attractive commissions paid weekly.

We get a low number of applications and and even lower number of people turning up for interview! I am at a loss to understand why. Would love some insight and feedback

OnTheCouch

DIY victim wrote: »

I am also having difficulty recruiting sales teams. We are looking for sales reps for Dublin and Wexford selling services door to door. There is a basic and attractive commissions paid weekly.

We get a low number of applications and and even lower number of people turning up for interview! I am at a loss to understand why. Would love some insight and feedback

I suspect that if you specifically advertise the position as door-to-door, this is going to turn the vast majority off from applying. In my experience it has frequently been cited as one of the worst jobs imaginable for most people and something you would only do if you are really stuck. This is in spite of the fact that the right person could become very successful with proper training.

Generally the companies that go in for these sort of sales do not specifically advertise the fact the candidates will be doing door-to-door in the job notice, preferring to make things ambiguous and assuming that once people have gone through the interview, they will be much more willing to 'have a go.'

Frankieg84

I'm surprised at this! Going on the job specs that I've seen on various websites I presumed that the market was flooded with sales people.

What I find is that after working in fund accounting for 5 years and trying to make a move into a role like sales, it's like starting to look for a job straight out of college, you know you'd be good at it but its getting someone to give you a chance to prove yourself is the most difficult part.

patwicklow

DIY victim wrote: »

I am also having difficulty recruiting sales teams. We are looking for sales reps for Dublin and Wexford selling services door to door. There is a basic and attractive commissions paid weekly.

We get a low number of applications and and even lower number of people turning up for interview! I am at a loss to understand why. Would love some insight and feedback

Well you do indeed like to cold call! This is a pm you sent me!!

<snip>


Like i was only answering this tread so why have you pm,ed me?
and of all the companies Vodafone yuk, and you only have One post Deffo a cold call, and in a bad way not very suttle at all.

Procrastastudy

DannyU wrote: »

I run a small packaging company.

I have been trying to employ two sales roles for 2 months. I've advertised on job sites and FAS but I have had no decent response.

I'm offering €30k basic OTE €42.5k. There is uncapped commission on offer and everyone one work in sales for us is hitting target but I still have no joy getting more people.

Any ideas where to find decent sales people?

Poach them! Thats what I always used to do - different industry though.