The Art Of Recruiting Marketing And Sales Consultants

The most efficacious and rigorous method one can implement to hire marketing and sales consultants involve asking oneself, and prospective candidates, several salient questions.  These have been listed out below and together constitute an infallible technique to achieve the goal of recruiting the best possible contenders for the position.

1.  The extent to which they are compatible with the needs of one’s industry.

The first step in this process is to identify the marketing and sales needs that need to be catered to by the prospective employee. Perhaps the target audience has to be enlarged or maybe the company’s social media presence needs to be expanded and improved. Whatever the requirements, an individual with expertise in the target area is clearly the most suitable for the job. It is essential to determine if this person has the requisite knowledge of the industry in order to fulfill their role satisfactorily.

2.  Their readiness to provide details of their previous work.

A reputable consultant will be more than willing to expound upon their antecedent projects as well as provide comprehensive examples and client lists. They will not be hesitant to divulge their references and will have a fairly large customer base vying for their services. It is crucial to then follow up with their references and perform a cursory background check using the vast resources of the internet. Their website must also be reviewed with respect to a few features. Is it easily navigable? Is there a strong portfolio? Are testimonials displayed on the site?

3. The thoroughness of their answers and their composure in an interview setting.

If a candidate is able to explain what sets them apart from their competition, they are likely to be apt for the position. Additionally, they should be able to give precise and detailed answers about what their strategies are to improve the current marketing system as well as provide honest feedback about what the present system lacks. In short, if they are able to market themselves effectively during their applications, they can probably market the company successfully. After all, the most important skill in the repertoire of a sales consultant is the ability to articulate the value of a product.

4. If they are willing to create a proposal.

Post the interview, requesting that they prepare a proposal that identifies and provides definite solutions for the business’ marketing problems is imperative.  A good freelance procurement consultant will bring fresh ideas and new perspectives into the organization.

5. If they fit within the budget.

Before engaging potential hires, one must first fix a price range and then ascertain if they are willing to work within this definite budget. They must be told precisely what is expected of them and, in turn, they should outline exactly how they plan to go about their work.

6. If they have the backing of a team.

While this is not an absolute necessity, a good consultant will have the support of a strong, multi-disciplined team with multiple skill sets.

To summarize, the ability to accurately identify and bridge the gaps in the current marketing strategy, the presence of a strong work ethic (based on past work and references), and a well-designed website are all key factors in choosing the perfect fit for the job.