SoftCoreWareAsAService profile picture
SoftCoreWareAsAService profile picture

SoftCoreWareAsAService

Sales Manager

Executive
Executive
Good Citizen
+4

Non-Negotiables when hiring in Sales

I happen to be a hiring manager in the SaaS industry so I'm open to hearing SaaS related skills as well. I've asked my colleagues who are also hiring managers in my industry this question and I'm curious to hear from other AE's what they think I is needed to be successful in sales. I'd love to hear some examples. What are some traits, skills, and/or background needed? 
🤝 Interviewing/Offer
📳 SaaS
😎 Sales Skills
14

20 comments

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oldcloser
Arsonist
5
💀
It's Thanksgiving so I'm not going to be that guy tonight. I'm not going to say that I happen to be very important also.
hunger. end of story.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
💯
LambyCorn
Arsonist
4
A mfkn E
Discipline trumps everything in my opinion but, its fucking hard to tell who is disciplined just from interviewing them - so after that, drive (which I guess translates to hunger as Master Chi oldcloser said below)
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
😂 Chi
BigShrimpin
Catalyst
0
Account executive
True its like motivation its great to have but you need to not shut off if it goes away
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
Persistent, empathetic, and coachable
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
Yeah they need to be able to push when the job suck. Cuz it will suck
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Hunger.

That is all.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
You grill today?
waterjugsales
Politicker
2
Account Executive @ Funemployed
People make a huge fuss over “SaaS” experience. I think it’s overblown - especially if the person has other experience successfully selling somewhat complex solutions outside of SaaS. Be willing to take a chance on someone as long as everything else lines up.

Coachability and some sort of motivating factor - ie they have a family they NEED to provide for, a financial goal or hobbies they need to fund etc.

Others include persistence, ability to listen, process oriented (whether it works for you or someone else is different - but without a formed process most will flame out).

Empathy is good, makes sure you do right by the customer/colleagues/supporting teams.



dumbsalesguy
Member
2
Sales Leader
Totally agree. There's a huge attitude of "if it wasn't SaaS, it's 100% irrelevant" that I see regularly causing companies to get stuck with mediocre talent
SoftCoreWareAsAService
Executive
-1
Sales Manager
Open to hearing other industries that offer similar complexities.
dumbsalesguy
Member
1
Sales Leader
While there are definitely certain industries that are so deeply technical that it would be very difficult for someone ramp on a reasonable timeline, any b2b sales motion will have it's own complexities.

As long as someone has seen a few years of success in SaaS, I'd consider their YOE to be the full length of time they've working in complex sales rather than just the few years in SaaS. The same goes for my vertical: if they were able to successfully adapt to one vertical, they'll likely be able to do the same again.

I'd also say there's far more similarity in skillset based on sales cycle/complexity than there is based on industry. If I was hiring for a role with $250k ACV and 9 month sales cycles, I'd much rather take a candidate who'd had success on $250k / 9month services deals than I would a SaaS AE who's used to 50k / 2 Month deals.
wolfofmiami
Opinionated
1
🐺
Desire hunger and motivated. A wolf at the bottom of the hill is hungrier than the wolf of top of the mountain.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Sitting here after dinner with clean up behind me - hunger is the last thing on my mind.
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
The person should be coachable and has love for sales
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
How do you find the intangibles?
J.J.McLure
Politicker
0
Owner at *redacted*
I always like asking people what their worst job was. I have never met a great worker in any discipline who hasn't had a crap job in the past.
Sales can be tough, but if someone thinks sitting in a comfy chair in a nice warm room with a hot cup of coffee is the worst job they've ever had because they have to face rejection, they won't make it as far as someone who has had a legit horrible job.
sassy_seller
Executive
0
AE
definitely consistency and resilience, I've seen so many people that do great when performing (obviously) but really collapse in case having tough month or 2. actually witnessed quitting so couldn't figure out what's wrong, dealing with bad self-esteem and choosing another company to kinda start over... As I love to say always prepare for the worst and have a 3 month action plan.
Champ24
Opinionated
0
Sales Director
Coachable and willingness to learn.

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