Recruiting the best and brightest for your marketing and sales team may seem to be an overwhelming prospect. Turnover in sales positions is 34.7%, with an estimated 1 in 10 companies experiencing turnover rates above 55%. Couple this with the statistic that it takes most salespeople an average of 6–9 months to get up to speed. You want to try to mitigate that turnover rate and give great talent the support that they need as they find their footing and use their superb skills to the benefit of your company.
Your sales and marketing team will be in the business of recruiting clients, assessing their needs, and explaining how your business offers solutions to their problems, and helps them fill in their own organizational gaps. Sales and marketing talent will be looking to join a company that has clearly defined its brand and its offerings.
You need to be able to persuasively tell your company’s story to potential recruits so that they, too, can tell that story to potential clients and understand how they can be an integral part of it. 59% of candidates use social media to research a company they are interested in, and 48% used it during their most recent job search.
Make sure that your website and social media channels offer current information and are all sharing a compelling narrative of your company that marketing and sales professionals will be excited to bring their skills to every day.
If you want to attract top marketing and sales talent, you have to make it clear that your company values individuals who possess these unique skill sets. You know that your sales and marketing team are assets in telling the story of your company and its services and products to others. Make sure that recruits know that you understand this. (Tailor your social media posts appropriately!)
Support for the work of the marketing and sales team should be company-wide, too. Recruits are looking to join a team that will be supported, not only within a department but also by colleagues who respect the work that the marketing and sales team does as one of the company’s external faces that helps generate new business and find new opportunities.
People who are the best in their field know what they are worth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers will see an employment increase of 10% between 2016–2026, which is higher than the country’s average employment rate is expected to rise (7%).
Every company needs a great marketing and sales team. If you want to recruit and retain yours, you need to make sure that you are paying them what they are worth. 89% of top-performing sales talent leave a job because of compensation issues.
Marketing and sales professionals are able to think outside the box and leverage their insights into your company and the broader market to attract, find, and retain clients. They do this by combining their business savvy with their ability to connect with people and tell the right stories. These soft skills are in-demand.
According to a recent survey by Adecco Staffing USA, 44% of executives said a lack of soft skills was the biggest proficiency gap that they saw in the U.S. workforce. You’ll want to make it clear to the sales and marketing professionals whom you want to join your team that you know that they’ll bring these necessary attributes to their work. Let recruits (and then, employees!) know that their contributions will be crucial in helping your company continue to innovate and grow.
Paul Cody
President, Counsel Financial Services
If you want to recruit and retain yours, you need to make sure that you are paying them what they are worth. 89% of top-performing sales talent leave a job because of compensation issues.
44% of executives said a lack of soft skills was the biggest proficiency gap that they saw in the U.S. workforce.
Turnover in sales positions is 34.7%, with an estimated 1 in 10 companies experiencing turnover rates above 55%.
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