Hiring a Sales Manager? Here’s Your Ideal Candidate According to Behavioral Science

TalentSorter StaffIdeal Candidate Report, Sales

hiring sales manager ideal candidate

We take a position, run it through TalentSorter’s scientific ‘job fit’ algorithm, and provide you with the behavioral characteristics of an “ideal candidate” for the role of Sales Manager. The unique software design behind TalentSorter™ gives it the capability to compare the personality traits and other attributes of your job applicants to those who are high performers in this role. TalentSorter then generates a FitScore® for each of your applicants, giving you an accurate predictor of whether or not they have the right traits and attributes to match those of top performers in this type of management role.

Learn more about our behavioral hiring science here.

Also, check out our list of 70 interview questions to ask a sales manager as well as our infographic on choosing the right kind of sales person.

Ideal Candidate Traits: Sales Manager

Extraversion: Degree to which one requires social interaction and authority.

A Sales Manager position calls for people that display this trait more prominently than most people. The ideal candidate is content working in a group setting, and often seeks out a leadership role.

Agreeableness: Tendency to be friendly, approachable, and easy to get along with.

This position calls for people that display this trait more prominently than most people. The ideal candidate tends to get along with people easily.

Conscientiousness: Tendency to strive for perfection, sometimes at all costs.

Sales Manager positions call for people that display this trait differently than most people. The ideal candidate usually develops a thoroughplan before beginning a task.

Stability: Degree to which one reacts positively to negative or stressful situations.

This position calls for people that display this trait more prominently than most people. The ideal Sales Manager candidate is usually objective in their decision making and actions, even in trying circumstances.

Openness: Willingness to try new ways of doing things.

Sales Manager positions call for people that display this trait like most people. The ideal candidate usually appreciates being able to try new methods, but is able to accept tried and true methods as well.

Resolve: Willingness to work for the intrinsic benefit of work and its ability to enhance character.

This position calls for people that display this trait differently than most people. The ideal candidate tends to be passionate about their work and get a lot of enjoyment and pleasure out of it.

Reliability: Tendency to behave in an uncompromising and consistently honest, moral, and ethical manner.

Sales Manager positions call for people that display this trait differently than most people. The ideal candidate always follows through on their commitments to others to the extent they are in control of a situation.

Intensity: Level of drive and/or restlessness one exhibits.

This position calls for people that display this trait more prominently than most people. The ideal Sales Manager candidate generally has a strong desire to devote the majority of their energy to the task at hand.

Control: Tendency to take charge of people and situations. Leads more than follows. It is often associated with expressing confidence.

Sales Manager positions call for people that display this trait more prominently than most people. The ideal candidate often has a tendency to take charge and be the leader of a group.

Decisiveness: Reflects how confident someone is in accepting the risk of making a decision in a timely fashion using what information is available at the time.

This position calls for people that display this trait more prominently than most people. The ideal candidate is typically not afraid to take risks and make quick decisions when they have adequate information.

Acumen: Tendency to use logic and objective information in decision-making process.

Sales Manager positions call for people that display this trait differently than most people. The ideal candidate prefers to base their decisions on factual information rather than intuition.

Autonomy: Tendency to be self-reliant, self-directed, and to take independent action, making own decisions.

This position calls for people that display this trait more prominently than most people. The ideal Sales Manager candidate is capable of relying on their own resources to make decisions and get tasks done.

Ambition: Willingness to do whatever it takes to attain a personal goal, often even at the expense of others.

Sales Manager positions call for people that display this trait differently than most people. The ideal candidate almost always pursues ways to better themself and advance their career.


Learn more about how you can easily find someone who is right for a role in Sales.

Or contact us to request an Ideal Candidate Report for Sales Managers and/or Salespeople.

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