When you hire a contract sales recruiter, you want someone who is going to hit the deliverables you need while also representing your company as if they were part of your team. In short, you want to treat hiring a contract recruiter as if you were hiring them in-house. Just like hiring for any role, this can take some time and prep. Below, we’ve outlined some things to keep in mind when making this important hire:

• Specialization - Startups don’t have the time to take risks when it comes to recruiting. You need someone who is experienced and specialized in hiring great candidates. If you want to fill sales roles, you should hire a recruiter with a proven track record of successfully filling sales roles. As a startup, it can also be extremely helpful to bring someone on who has experience working with startups, since they have unique needs.

• Ask Questions - It’s good to prepare questions for a potential contract recruiter. Remember, this individual is going to be working closely with your team, so you should ask the same questions you would ask someone you’re hiring in-house. Ask them about their sourcing tactics, expected deliverables, timelines and anything else you find relevant. This can help reveal if they’ll be a good fit for your team.

• Proven Track Record - Make sure to check references and testimonials. A proven track record of success and happy clients is always a good sign.

• Culture Fit - A recruiter is typically the first point of contact for a potential employee in the hiring pipeline, and they’ll likely be communicating with them until a candidate is eventually hired. Your recruiter should be able to align with your culture and vision to communicate these values to potential employees and represent your company accurately.

How to write an effective job post

To attract a quality sales recruiter, start with writing an effective job best. A clear and concise post that outlines exactly what you need from a recruiter. This ensures the most qualified candidates apply, streamlining the process for both you and the candidates. Here are some tips for creating an effective contract sales recruiter post:

• Job title - Make sure you have a clear job title that says you’re seeking a sales recruiter. Indicate that you want someone who is experienced and who has a proven track record of success.

• Qualifications - Talk about the skills and qualifications a sales recruiter needs to have to succeed on your team. This could include knowledge of sales tools, communication skills and more.

• Scope of work - Communicate the scope of work and expectations you have for the role. Talk about the roles you need to fill, timelines and other pertinent details.

• Project length - Freelance recruiters need to know upfront if they have the bandwidth to help you. Outline the project length to communicate how long they’ll be working with you.