Is recruiting considered sales?

I'd argue yes. I'm in SaaS AE now, but landed this job as my first "true" sales gig largely based on my experience as an officer recruiter in the military. I had a quota, metrics I needed to hit, logged activity in a bullshit government CRM type tool, cold called, set appointments, had to sit through shitty sales training, all of the above. The main difference is I wasn't on commission obviously because I was in the military and we got paid whatever that rank gets paid no matter what job you have. What about on the civilian side? Are corporate recruiters considered to be in "sales"?

3
funcoupons
WR Officer
2
👑
Yes, for all the reasons you mentioned. Recruiting is probably one of the toughest sales gigs out there given your product is a living, breathing human being that can screw you over at any time. Adds a whole new bucket of challenges. 
HarryCaray
Notable Contributor
1
HMFIC
I definitely agree.  I don't know why other sales folks look down their noses at recruiters.  You have to "sell" a lifestyle at that new organization and the customer is going to inevitably end up being your coworker if you're successful (assuming you're recruiting for your own company).  There can be no smoke and mirrors when you might end up sitting 3 desks down from the person you sold to.
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
1
Senior Account Executive
like Chriss Voss said, everything is a negotiation. So technically everything you do has sales element in it. Definetly Recruiting is sales.
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
This is one of those "the sale begins at no" scenarios. Sometimes it is because you have too much rapport and they don't want to hurt your feelings and then the other times - issues with price, time to onboard, resources needed or not the real DM... There are many more reasons, but this is the opportunity to really dig in and as lots of questions.
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