Ace profile picture
Ace profile picture

Ace

CEO

Arsonist
Politicker
Valued Contributor
+7

Hiring questions

I am looking to hire my first sales person in my startup. Shall I look into a couple SDRs or 1 VP of sales or a hybrid? Please know that I sell SaaS and the budget is capped due to fund raising.

Which one should I go for?

Attached poll
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👥 Hiring
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28 comments

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Trinity
WR Officer
3
BusDev
Your first sales hire should not be bookends. You have to hire someone in the middle and a builder. 
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
That's so right 💯
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
This is a very good advice. Any pointers on what I should be looking for ?
Trinity
WR Officer
4
BusDev
A top startup misstep is that founders delegate sales before it's validated and repeatable. An early market sales rep doesn't actually sell, sales start with the founder. A good first sales rep will find ways to get you in front of the right person because they'll reverse engineer the org chart, they'll sniff out budget/champions within the account, even help with negotiating the price and navigate procurement.
A top skill needed in your early-stage sales hire(s) is pattern recognition.
Ace
Arsonist
1
CEO
Damn, this is gold! Thank you so much. I'll be on the lookout
Salespreuner
Big Shot
1
Regional Sales Director
So well explained 🔥
softwarebro
Politicker
2
Sales Director
an AE looking to be a manager with dispositions in sales and marketing. 
Salespreuner
Big Shot
1
Regional Sales Director
One who can multi task would be a good fit 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Any pointers as to what characteristics I should look for?
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
Sales , attitude & communication all 360°
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
I'll have to look really hard for someone with those traits
Salespreuner
Big Shot
1
Regional Sales Director
Big fish, takes time😎
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Agreed. Better to hire slow than hastily since this would be the first sales hire
Salespreuner
Big Shot
1
Regional Sales Director
Yes. Take time and build it out for the right guy
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Yes, thank you!
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
🙌
rekled
Opinionated
2
Strategic Account Executive
I like asking "what is your tools / methodology to keep yourself organized?" this shall include but not limited to email, tasks and other sales obligations. 
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
Perfect
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Yes, this is great!
SADNES5
Politicker
1
down voters are marketing spies
EQ-UIT-TY
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Yes that's an option on the table for sure
ryan_repvue
Good Citizen
1
founder
Much of this actually depends on the skillset that you possess.  If your background is sales all the way you can probably go the route of sdr or newbie hustlers.  Then you can swoop in on all key deals and conversations and make the magic happen.  You can also implement the processes needed as well as tech stack.  If your background isn't in sales A) how did you get in here and B) you'll need to go higher end with someone to build the process for you as well as do the calls.  If anyone says there's a one size fits all thing here they're mistaken.
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
1
Officer of ♥️
one dedicated growth minded hungry person and a good pay will get u far
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
So versatile person
NorthernSalesGuru
Politicker
0
Manager, Outbound Sales
You need your first sales hire to be someone with a relative degree of tenure and who is capable of being highly versatile 
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Yes that's what I'm gleaning off of the comments here. Versatility seems to be the way to go 
thegrinch
Politicker
0
SDR
Hey Ace, can I email you?
Ace
Arsonist
0
CEO
Sure, but what is this about?

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