How to hire a sales counselor

How to hire a sales counselor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sales counselor 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 counselor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sales counselor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a sales counselor do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the sales counselor you need to hire. Certain sales counselor roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect sales counselor 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 counselors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Sales Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
   Sales Counselor	Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.	$20-45
   Expert	An expert has extensive knowledge on a subject gained from a significant amount of experience. Although the tasks will vary on the line of work or organization, an expert's role will often revolve around sharing expertise through discussion, evaluation, and influencing... Show more	$25-77
   Beauty Advisor	A beauty advisor's role is to represent a brand by engaging with customers and recommending cosmetic or skincare products in pursuit of securing sales. They must have extensive knowledge of the company's products and current trends, ability in applying make-up, and customer service skills as most of the duties will focus on demonstrating and responding to inquiries... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lead Management
   • Customer Service
   • Real Estate
   • Community Events
   • Business Development
   • Sales Process
   • CRM
   • PowerPoint
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • KB
   • Independent Living
   • Retirement Community
   • Competitive Market Analysis
   • Sales Presentations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Enter all leads into the CRM system and maintains that information until the lead is transferred to a sales representative.
   • Manage product deliveries, and maintain overall orderliness and cleanliness of facility to optimize customer experience.
   • Clean the dressing rooms, do recovery, help on POS
   • Outpace division goals to increase CRM usage through upbeat mentoring, training and technical support.
   • Coordinate all MLS meetings for Collin and Denton counties to establish a presence for the company.
   • Provide parties with accurate responses to their questions and assist in making their experience with AAA worthwhile.

   More sales counselor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sales counselor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A sales counselor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, sales counselors' average salary in missouri is 43% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sales counselors 56% less than senior-level sales counselors.
   • Certifications. A sales counselor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a sales counselor's salary.

   Average sales counselor salary

   $63,569yearly

   $30.56 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sales counselor salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average sales counselor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$80,240	$39
   2	New York	$77,624	$37
   3	Massachusetts	$73,296	$35
   4	Maryland	$70,554	$34
   5	New Jersey	$70,357	$34
   6	Nevada	$66,237	$32
   7	Arizona	$64,748	$31
   8	North Carolina	$61,714	$30
   9	Texas	$61,304	$29
   10	Ohio	$61,067	$29
   11	South Carolina	$59,736	$29
   12	Virginia	$58,625	$28
   13	Florida	$57,842	$28
   14	Oklahoma	$57,449	$28
   15	Colorado	$56,065	$27
   16	Indiana	$53,679	$26

   Average sales counselor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Stripe	$93,594	$45.00	7
   2	Alteryx	$82,478	$39.65
   3	Meritage Homes	$75,860	$36.47
   4	KB Home	$68,049	$32.72	37
   5	Lexington Health Network	$63,286	$30.43
   6	Gehan Homes	$62,602	$30.10
   7	Anthology	$61,473	$29.55
   8	DISH Network	$61,157	$29.40
   9	William Ryan Homes	$56,459	$27.14	6
   10	Elder Care Alliance of San Rafael	$54,720	$26.31
   11	Ashton Woods Homes	$53,425	$25.69	7
   12	Rose Hills Mortuary	$52,984	$25.47	3
   13	Texas Family Fitness	$52,240	$25.12
   14	Grand Circle Travel	$50,861	$24.45	3
   15	HRA	$50,514	$24.29
   16	Westminster	$49,680	$23.88
   17	Holt Homes	$49,245	$23.68
   18	ACC Senior Services	$49,169	$23.64
   19	Landsea Homes	$48,654	$23.39	2
   20	Van Daele Homes	$48,622	$23.38

4. Writing a sales counselor job description

   A good sales counselor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a sales counselor job description:

   Sales counselor job description example

   Ingleside at King Farm (IKF) is a not-for-profit, Continuing Care Retirement Community central to the award-winning inter-generational King Farm community and we are
   growing. Serving a daily average of 250 people, with several dining options available to staff and residents - we need YOU! We have a proven record of success! IKF consistently maintains a 5 Star CMS rating and is CARF certified! We have achieved certification as a Great Place to Work based on team member feedback in areas relating to trust, culture, and the meaning derived from their jobs and we are proud to be Sage Certified. Join our team and you will be a part of the success! We seek energetic and friendly employees whose core values are in line with those of IKF: Accountability, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and striving for Excellence. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, have demonstrated food, and excellent customer service skills, we look forward to your application. We are currently seeking to hire full time Sales Counselor
   Job Requirements
   Bachelors degree in a Marketing or related field, one (1) to three (3) years sales counseling experience required; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have knowledge of sales/ marketing techniques and the ability to build relationships with clients. Incumbent should be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written and oral form, possess high-quality verbal and written communication ability, strong customer service skills and be available for travel or weekend work. Must be proficient in the operation of computer applications such as Microsoft Office Suite applications and Enquire. Job Summary
   This position is responsible for counseling prospective residents about the Ingleside community and the various residential options available to achieve Independent Living sales, new apartment and cottage pre-sales and wait list deposits. The position is 80% sales with the primary responsibility to meet and exceed occupancy goals. Additional duties include 20% move-in assistance and participation in a variety of marketing events onsite as well as in the larger community. Key Responsibilities
   Counseling Roles Contacts potential residents daily and markets services offered by the Ingleside community.
   Conducts 20+ daily sales calls to potential residents while utilizing the Enquire software. Logs all calls made into Enquire. Conducts 6+ weekly interviews and tours of potential residents as appropriate. Sets time and date of tour as well as any necessary travel required. Follows up with prospective resident to ensure all parties have been notified of the interview and tour. Promotes Ingleside independent living accommodations inside and outside the community by speaking at local organizations, churches, and civic groups with the Director of Sales - Healthcare Services. Writes marketing letters to prospective residents as well as outside community groups and clubs. Logs all outgoing letters into Enquire. Obtains and utilizes the waiting list to reach out to prospective residents. Tracks all communication in Enquire. Distributes all promotion brochures and packets as appropriate. Coordinates the mailing of brochures with additional community information. Completes all initial and general applicant paperwork and sends to the Sales & Marketing Coordinator for review. Works beyond normal working hours, weekends and holidays and on other shifts as necessary. Performs other duties as assigned.
   
   Move In Assistance Assists Move In & Transitions Manager in arranging details of the new resident. Maintains a positive relationship with current and future residents.
   Presents applicant paperwork for future move-in to the Sales & Marketing Coordinator for processing. Ensures all resident and care agreements have been properly filled out and all information is accurate and complete. Follows up with new move in of each resident. Addresses questions and concerns of the new resident and answers to the best of their ability. Completes a follow up with the resident to ensure all concerns have been resolved and the proper information has been presented. Completes all final paperwork for processing. Continues relationship with resident after move-in has been completed. Serves as a source of retirement and/or counseling information to the resident as appropriate. Performance and Professionalism Maintains professional presence when representing the Ingleside community; exhibits degree of professionalism consistent with standards in performance, behavior, and appearance. Maintains resident confidentiality and privacy at all times according to policies and procedures; uses discretion when discussing confidential matters. Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior with residents, families, co-workers, subordinates, supervisors, and other department staff. Maintains positive working relationships with management and coworkers; willingly follows directions and requests as appropriate.
   Exhibits professional standards through appearance and demeanor consistent personnel standards. Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of work assignments and performs in a manner to meet quality and timeliness objectives. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of policies and procedures; seeks clarification or interpretation from appropriate supervisor when needed. Uses tactful, diplomatic communication techniques in all relations with others. Professional Development Demonstrates professional development/skills competency in all activities. Participates in in-service, projects, or committees as assigned. Maintains all certifications necessary for employment. Demonstrates flexibility, open mindedness, and versatility in adjusting to changing environments and requirements as necessary. Commits to continually improving his/her skills through participations in education opportunities whether offered on the job, within, or outside of the community, to increase knowledge of work-related issues. Maintains a current knowledge of federal, state and other regulations applicable to job. Safety & Security Complies with the Ingleside communities established safety rules and practices. Complies with applicable safety policies and procedures as prescribed by the organization, as well as government regulations. Reports any potential safety hazard(s) immediately to supervisor or other appropriate personnel. Reports any injury of resident, visitor, or employee immediately to supervisor or other appropriate personnel Provides assistance to resident, visitor, or employee in an emergency situation; following the proper emergency procedures.
   EEO Statement As an employer committed to Equal Employment Opportunity, Ingleside recruits, hires, and promotes qualified persons in all job classifications without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro

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5. Post your job

   To find the right sales counselor 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 counselors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit sales counselors 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 counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit sales counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with sales counselor candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 counselor

   Once you've found the sales counselor 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new sales counselor. 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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