SALES
Sales is a hot hiring sector again this year according to CareerBuilder’s annual survey, which showed 36 percent of surveyed companies plan to add full-time, permanent sales employees. CareerBuilder’s CEO Matt Ferguson says that hiring overall is up 12 percent over last year and recruiting is expected to be competitive.
It's important to stay up to date on the current sales hiring trends - our team understands the ins and outs of the hiring sector, making it easier for you to acquire the talent you need.
Sales hiring trends are important to us here at Emerge Talent Cloud. While employers planned to hire more sales staff last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Services, the reality was that it was difficult for a variety of reasons. A recent Harvard Business School report shows that sales positions are difficult and take longer to fill than other jobs.
In-Demand Sales Skills
While sales roles vary widely and employers provide sales training programs lasting from six to 18 months, employers are requiring new hires to have a college degree. Specialized certification and advanced technical and scientific training and knowledge are required to sell complex scientific products and machinery. MBAs are required for higher level sales management positions especially in industries like financial services.
Projected Trends & Compensation Packages
Employers will need to change their recruiting and hiring tactics to attract the millennial sales force they need heading toward 2020. Advisory firm CEB managing director Nick Toman says employers are still using sales-job postings with phrases like “competitive environment” and “variable compensation packages” which turns off applicants who are looking for stable salaries and supportive work environments.
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Software firm Xactly CEO Christopher Cabrera says companies have to change their compensation strategies to attract younger employees who want financial safety and are offering higher base pay with lower commission ratios in entry-level sales positions.
