Older article here from our local StarTribune paper - Sales Skills Hiring Managers Seek.  There are some interesting points from the quotes in the article, but one thing that stands out to me are these quotes from different recruiters:

…and have achieved in athletics.

and

A sports background also helps.

This background is couched around the competitive nature of sports transferring to successful selling.  I’m not sure I buy into that correlation, but it does intrigue me.  I played sports throughout high school and college and can envision many self-centered teammates I would not recommend for any sales position.  Still, I am probably over-focused on the exceptions.

However, I do find these pieces of information far more valuable:

“In general, however, companies are seeking salespeople who listen well, ask pertinent questions and bring creativity to the sales process.”

He also seeks people with a good emotional quotient or EQ. “You need to understand your personality style and that of others to be successful in sales,” he adds.

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Posted By Derrick Moe | Hiring Salespeople, Sourcing | |