Sales Truths : Sales Truths : Check and Evaluate Job Applicants’ Skills and Composure Under Fire.

BY DAVID RICHARDSON

Published in the April 2013 issue.

WHY IT IS TRUE: Thinking on your feet is a critical sales skill. Measure your candidate’s ability by asking her one or two challenging and unexpected questions.

PLAN OF ACTION: Ask questions such as: “Tell me about your last performance appraisal. In what areas were you most disappointed?” and “How would your previous manager rate your ability to cope with last-minute changes?” Listen carefully to her answers, probe her responses, and fairly evaluate what you are hearing, and seeing in the way of body language. It’s not your job to like the candidate, but rather it’s her job to make you like her. — DAVE RICHARDSON