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How to hire a Sales Consultant

Sales consultant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring sales consultants in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a sales consultant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per sales consultant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 1,049,029 sales consultants in the US, and there are currently 227,636 job openings in this field.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for sales consultants, with 97 job openings.

How to hire a sales consultant, step by step

To hire a sales consultant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a sales consultant:

Here's a step-by-step sales consultant hiring guide:

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

What does a Sales Consultant do?

Sales consultants are employees who work in the sales department of a company. They are usually more skilled than usual sales employees. As such, they are usually given more complicated products or services to sell because they will be able to explain the product or service to the customers better. Sales consultants have in-depth knowledge of the offerings of the company. They talk to customers, understand what the customers need, and match the customers' needs with company products that can address the needs. They should also be updated on trends in the market and what is currently popular with the masses.

Learn more about the specifics of what a sales consultant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your sales consultant 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 sales consultant 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?

    Hiring the perfect sales consultant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of sales consultants and their corresponding salaries.

    Type Of Sales ConsultantDescriptionHourly Rate
    Sales ConsultantWholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain product features, answer any questions that their customers may have, and negotiate prices.$17-46
    Outside SalesAn outside sales representative is responsible for generating the company's sales and revenues by offering goods and services to existing and potential clients, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the products, and researching on possible leads. Outside sales representatives monitor the current industry trends to identify new business opportunities that would help the business adjust to market changes to achieve profitability goals... Show More$26-50
    Consultant And Sales RepresentativeA 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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Sales Process
    • Product Knowledge
    • POS
    • Pre Sales
    • Work Ethic
    • Cross-Selling
    • Customer Service
    • CRM
    • Strong Work Ethic
    • Customer Loyalty
    • Java
    • Sales Training
    • Azure
    • Marketing Campaigns
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Achieve monthly sales goals through new business and upselling current clients.
    • Utilize CRM systems to effectively manage accounts; leverage competitor and market intelligence to drive offer posture and capture competitor accounts.
    • Create print ads design and create ad word campaign for SEO and SEM products.
    • Deliver effective sales presentations to individuals and groups while cross-selling additional vehicle products and services.
    • Handle incoming calls from Medicare recipients.
    • Hire and train employees teach effective upselling strategies.
    More Sales Consultant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your sales consultant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A sales consultant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a sales consultant in Montana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level sales consultant usually earns less than a senior-level sales consultant. Additionally, a sales consultant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average sales consultant salary

    $60,135yearly

    $28.91 hourly rate

    Entry-level sales consultant salary
    $37,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 17, 2025

    Average sales consultant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1California$80,413$39
    2Texas$71,007$34
    3New Jersey$68,272$33
    4Georgia$67,364$32
    5Connecticut$66,549$32
    6Michigan$66,206$32
    7Ohio$66,126$32
    8New York$65,973$32
    9District of Columbia$65,039$31
    10North Carolina$64,651$31
    11Virginia$63,741$31
    12Massachusetts$62,877$30
    13Florida$62,422$30
    14Maryland$61,592$30
    15Washington$60,190$29
    16Minnesota$59,821$29
    17South Carolina$59,168$28
    18Indiana$58,460$28
    19Nevada$58,292$28
    20Arizona$57,464$28

    Average sales consultant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
    1Google$143,294$68.89315
    2Intuit$136,678$65.717
    3SAP$129,333$62.1871
    4Daysmart$127,981$61.53
    5ServiceNow$127,657$61.3736
    6Scantron$121,222$58.28
    7Boehringer Ingelheim$121,143$58.2443
    8Oracle$120,193$57.793,966
    9Dell$116,379$55.9547
    10Constant Contact$116,342$55.936
    11CVS Health$115,954$55.75331
    12Reynolds and Reynolds$114,676$55.131
    13HP$114,069$54.8444
    14Bayer$113,176$54.41108
    15Invesco$112,229$53.966
    16AIG$111,903$53.802
    17Dermalogica$111,745$53.72
    18ResMed$110,159$52.961
    19Henry Schein$109,936$52.8523
    20Morgan Stanley$109,728$52.752
  4. Writing a Sales Consultant Job Description

    A sales consultant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a sales consultant job description:

    Sales Consultant job description example

    Job DescriptionDo you speak in movie quotes? Have a movie moment that changed your life? If you love all things movies, you may be a perfect fit for our team!

    AMC has propelled industry innovation since 1920, and we continue to innovate by delivering premium sight and sound, new and improved food and beverage options, and diverse content in our state-of-the-art theatres.
    What you’ll be doing: Receive, input, verify and confirm requests from our guests during live calls and answer questions relating to IMAX education, DreamScape, marriage proposals, and other non-group sales related requests Manage and execute planning, coordinating, and negotiating details with clients and on-site management team for group sales bookings Accurately document and process email requests, incoming calls and voicemail messages in a timely manner Provide accurate information to the theatres, answer questions, and follow-up to ensure the delivery of the best possible guest experience What we need from you: 1+ year(s) of customer service experience 1+ year(s) of sales experience Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, primarily Excel Strong negotiation and communication skills. Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks during periods of increased volume of wor Willingness to learn new skills and technologies as it relates to system changes within the company
    What we also value (preferred): Event booking experience Exhibition industry or commensurate experience Experience in account management
    AMC team members enjoy a very competitive benefits package including a hybrid (remote/in-office) schedule for most positions, accrued vacation/absentee time, medical/dental/vision coverage, 401(k) match, an open and casual work environment equipped with Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, half off eats and drinks at the theatre, and most importantly for us movie people…FREE movies at any of our theatres nationwide!

    AMC’s company culture is focused on innovation and diversity to ensure that we provide the latest and greatest experience for our guests and associates. We lead by example in doing what is right and take responsibility for our own results and our company’s success. Our open work environment promotes teamwork and unscripted conversations, resulting in fast solutions and therefore, better outcomes.

    We appreciate your interest in AMC and look forward to seeing you at the movies!

    AMC and its subsidiaries are committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. AMC strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination and will provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to an applicant’s race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, military status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other reason prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.
    1+ year(s) of customer service experience and 1+ year(s) of sales experience Process and book incoming guest group sales requests to determine and provide guest with event options. Assist guests on the phone lines and direct them to correct departments if not group sales related.

    **Remote Eligible*

    By submitting your interest in this job, you agree to receive text notifications with additional steps to complete your job application. You will receive up to 6 messages from the number "63879". Message & data rates may apply. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information.
  5. Post your job

    To find the right sales consultant 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 sales consultants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit sales consultants 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 sales consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit sales consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit sales consultants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 sales consultant

    Once you've found the sales consultant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new sales consultant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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 sales consultant?

Before you start to hire sales consultants, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire sales consultants pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $60,135 per year for a sales consultant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for sales consultants in the US typically range between $17 and $46 an hour.

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