As a leader responsible for hiring sales professionals, you know that your company's success relies on having a high-performing sales team. However, determining whether to hire experienced sales professionals or junior sales professionals can be a challenge. Each option has its benefits and drawbacks, and the decision should be based on your company's specific needs and growth objectives, along with other factors, such as existing turnover rates, the amount of mentorship your existing team is willing to provide, and the nature of the roles you are hiring for.

Experienced Sales Professionals: The Advantages and Disadvantages

Experienced sales professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to your sales team, along with the ability to hit the ground running and generate revenue quickly. They can bring years of experience in the industry, a deep understanding of market trends, and can help mentor junior sales professionals. They can also help to reduce turnover by providing stability to your sales team. Senior Sales professionals, in particular, can often execute their own deals immediately, making them a valuable asset to any team.

However, experienced sales professionals can be also expensive to hire and maintain. They may be resistant to change, hesitant to adopt new processes, and could grow frustrated with any differences they find.

Junior Sales Professionals: The Advantages and Disadvantages

Junior sales professionals are often hired to fill SDR roles or coordinator roles, and have the potential to make a significant impact on your company's growth. They come with lower salary expectations, are usually eager to learn and grow, and can bring new and innovative ideas to your team. They can also be a great option if your team culture is based on mentorship and coaching.

However, junior sales professionals need more training and support to become successful in the industry. It can be costly and time-consuming to invest in training new hires, and there's no guarantee that the investment will pay off. They may also not have the experience needed to handle certain situations and may require more guidance and oversight.

Finding the Balance

Start by considering your company's specific needs, growth objectives, and other factors such as existing turnover rates, the amount of mentorship your existing team is willing to provide, and the nature of the roles you are hiring for.

If you are hiring for SDR or coordinator roles, junior sales professionals can be a good choice to fill those positions. If you're looking for experienced sales professionals to execute deals immediately, senior sales professionals may be the way to go. On the other hand, if you are looking to maintain or grow market share, experienced sales professionals may be the best hire to provide stability to your sales team.

A balanced approach that blends the experience of senior-level hires with the energy and potential of junior hires can also be a successful hiring strategy. For example, you can consider hiring experienced professionals for Senior roles and to fill certain skill gaps, while primarily hiring junior professionals to build your top-of-funnel. You can also leverage your experienced sales team members to provide mentorship to junior sales professionals, which can help the team to grow and develop more effectively.

Ask SalesFirst Recruiting

If you're vacillating between hiring an experienced sales professional or a junior sales professional for your next sales hire, don't hesitate to reach out to SalesFirst Recruiting for expert guidance. Our team of experienced recruiters can help you identify your unique needs and growth objectives, and help you find the right candidate to take your sales team to the next level. Contact us today to learn more. www.salesfirstrecruiting.com