How to hire a direct sales agent

How to hire a direct sales agent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step direct sales agent hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a direct sales agent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new direct sales agent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a direct sales agent do?

Post a direct sales agent job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your direct sales agent job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a direct sales agent for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A direct sales agent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, direct sales agents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of direct sales agent salaries for various roles:

   Type of Direct Sales Agent	Description	Hourly rate
   Direct Sales Agent	Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets. They sell securities to individuals, advise companies in search of investors, and conduct trades.	$14-51
   Sales/Marketing	Among the responsibilities of working in sales and marketing is to reach out to clients to achieve sales targets and secure customer satisfaction. It is also essential to come up and develop strategies to obtain sales and find new opportunities that will strengthen the client base and improve the company's brand and image... Show more	$11-33
   Consultant And Sales Representative	A consultant and sales representative's role is to perform research and analysis to devise strategies for reaching sales targets and optimal services. Aside from providing consultations and business plans, they may also represent the company by reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence... Show more	$68-171

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Medicare
   • Health Insurance
   • Direct Sales
   • Underwriting Process
   • Product Knowledge
   • Sales Tools
   • Work Ethic
   • CRM
   • Inbound Calls
   • Smartphones
   • Sales Presentations
   • Develop Rapport
   • Sales Quota

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Increase customer understanding of Comcast products and pricing models as well as competitive advantage over other service providers.
   • Produce call reports and CRM dashboards.
   • Demonstrate strong understanding of Comcast products, promoting and selling offerings to individual customers by knocking every door within assign territories.
   • Contact new and existing customers to discuss how TWC products can meet their needs.
   • Maintain a professional, respectful, and helpful demeanor as a representative of TWC.
   • Communicate ongoing contact activity utilizing Salesforce.com.

   More direct sales agent duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your direct sales agent job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A direct sales agent salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, direct sales agents' average salary in oklahoma is 66% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level direct sales agents earn 72% less than senior-level direct sales agents.
   • Certifications. A direct sales agent with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a direct sales agent's salary.

   Average direct sales agent salary

   $57,712yearly

   $27.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level direct sales agent salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average direct sales agent salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$117,822	$57
   2	Rhode Island	$80,318	$39
   3	New Jersey	$70,202	$34
   4	Missouri	$68,065	$33
   5	New Hampshire	$66,197	$32
   6	Pennsylvania	$65,814	$32
   7	California	$65,455	$31
   8	Virginia	$64,544	$31
   9	Washington	$62,940	$30
   10	West Virginia	$62,678	$30
   11	Minnesota	$61,595	$30
   12	Texas	$61,531	$30
   13	Maryland	$60,553	$29
   14	North Carolina	$60,460	$29
   15	Ohio	$60,069	$29
   16	Hawaii	$59,388	$29
   17	Illinois	$59,174	$28
   18	Indiana	$59,063	$28
   19	Kentucky	$58,891	$28
   20	Wyoming	$57,442	$28

   Average direct sales agent salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	TechnipFMC	$117,978	$56.72	1
   2	Altice USA	$104,935	$50.45	79
   3	Champion Homes	$72,886	$35.04	8
   4	Elevance Health	$69,481	$33.40
   5	Trinity Solar	$58,795	$28.27
   6	UMS Banking	$57,711	$27.75	10
   7	Nationwide	$56,837	$27.33	8
   8	Phoenix American Financial Services	$56,140	$26.99	101
   9	AAA Northeast	$47,496	$22.83	20
   10	AAA Systems	$46,634	$22.42	1
   11	Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC	$44,345	$21.32	1
   12	Kelly Services	$39,032	$18.77	15
   13	Windstream	$34,638	$16.65	26
   14	Comcast	$34,624	$16.65	391
   15	I.h.c.	$32,678	$15.71
   16	Sonic Drive-In	$29,767	$14.31

4. Writing a direct sales agent job description

   A job description for a direct sales agent role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a direct sales agent job description:

   Direct sales agent job description example

   W2 / Weekly - Base Plus Commission

   Immediate Interviews..! Full-Time Only..! START ASAP.!

   Our Head Office (Located in Ft Lauderdale) is seeking Full Time Sales Associates. This is a full-time only position that comes with weekly pay and bonuses attached. We are only looking for candidates with the drive to grow and excel within the company as we are expanding rapidly. We are a business that focuses on the understanding that our entry level people are our future. Therefore, we only promote from within and strive to coach our people into leadership positions. The right candidates will be promoted into higher positions within a few months. You must be able to START IMMEDIATELY…!

   * No Experience Necessary...! * BILINGUAL IS A PLUS...!

   Sales or marketing experience is a PLUS but NOT required. We will put you through a full and comprehensive training once on board. Applicants must be willing to learn and able to work with a team.

   RESPONSIBILITIES:
   You are responsible for processing invoices and verifying information. *Answering any questions our customers may have * Reviewing damage on windshields. * Good verbal skills. * Multitasker

   REQUIREMENTS:
   * No prior experience needed. Management experience is a plus
   * Must be 18 years of age or older
   * Strong work ethic and willingness to succeed
   * Excellent communication skills

   BENEFITS:
   * Full Training Provided
   * Positive work team/office
   * Full-Time Work
   * Growth within a Company & Development
   * Weekly Pay and Bonuses

   * ONLY SERIOUS CANDIDATES!
   Email us and attach your resume to schedule an interview with the hiring manager to discuss further details, make sure you provide a reachable phone number, Thank you!!

   Job Types: Full-time, Commission

   About South Florida Connections :

   At SFC , we embrace originality and cast aside the status quo. Our fresh perspective on sales and marketing ensures that we attain positive outcomes every time.
   
   SFC branding specialists are dedicated professionals. We recruit our people based on their imaginative natures and goal-oriented mind-sets. They are personable individuals who will champion your brand with passion.
   
   SFC has mastered the art of starting conversations that inspire people to become lifelong customers. Our face-to-face technique positions products to speak to individual needs. Your audience will wonder how they lived without your brand.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right direct sales agent for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with direct sales agents they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit direct sales agents who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your direct sales agent job on Zippia to find and recruit direct sales agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting direct sales agents requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new direct sales agent

   Once you've decided on a perfect direct sales agent candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new direct sales agent. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a direct sales agent?