Tips from November 20, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss how to hire employees for sales. Know the environments your candidates have worked in previously. Try to choose the candidates that have been in an environment that is similar to yours to adapt quickly to the culture. Previous work in sales is extremely important, especially if you are hiring for a higher level position. Check their references for sales positions to ensure they are not exaggerating on their resume. Inside sales and outsides sales are completely different. Know what you need to hire, and hire specifically for the position. Generally, the two sales positions don't cross. If you come across a candidate who has both, be sure to look into it. Have a trial session with candidates during the interview. Ask them to role play and deliver a pitch to you. Analyze their tone of voice, body language, and their wording of the pitch. This will help you determin... [Read Full Article]

Tips from November 18, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss how to ensure you hire quality people. Take a good look at your employees, and at yourself. Look at the skills, quality of work, and value that each person brings to your business. Look for someone to compliment your skills. During the interview, note the habits of your candidates. Were they on time? Prepared? Well groomed? Respectable? Actions speak louder than words. Keep your interviews structured. Ask the same questions in each, and follow the same procedures. Go off on some tangents, but keep the interview objective. Ask for references. Even if you don't actually contact these people, it is a way to get a sense of the applicant's relationships with others. Daily Overview: Look at your candidate's resume, as well as their character. A quality candidate is excellent in both categories. [Read Full Article]