Filling a sales role typically takes 30 to 45 days on average, and senior or specialist roles often take longer. The biggest delays are a vague brief, relying on job ads to reach people who aren’t looking, and a slow interview process that loses the best candidates to other offers. With a clear profile and direct outreach, most sales roles can be filled within about four to six weeks. Sales Talent Group’s average is 29 days, and we guarantee placement within 45.
How long does each stage take?
- Defining the role: a few days, if the number, buyer and pay are agreed quickly.
- Finding candidates: one to three weeks. This is where most searches stall when they rely on applicants.
- Interviews: one to two weeks, if they’re scheduled close together.
- Offer and acceptance: a few days to a week.
- Notice period: typically two weeks or more before the hire can start, which comes on top of the time to fill.
What slows sales hiring down?
- An unclear brief. If the hiring team doesn’t agree on the profile, every shortlist gets rejected.
- Waiting for applicants. The best salespeople are employed and hitting quota. They don’t answer job ads, so a search that depends on ads takes longer and turns up weaker people.
- Too many interview rounds. Each extra round adds days and gives competitors time to make an offer.
- Slow feedback. Candidates lose interest when they wait a week to hear back.
- An uncompetitive offer. Low pay or a vague commission plan sends finalists elsewhere.
How can you hire a salesperson faster?
- Agree the number, buyer, must-haves and pay before you start.
- Go directly to people already doing the job, through outreach and referrals.
- Screen on results first, so you only interview proven candidates.
- Keep to three interviews, booked within a week.
- Give feedback within 48 hours and be ready to make an offer.
Our step-by-step guide to hiring a salesperson covers each step.
What does a slow hire cost?
Every month a territory sits empty is a month of pipeline you don’t build, and that gap shows up in revenue a quarter or two later. The cost of a wrong hire is bigger still: the months to find out, the lost deals and the search starting again. We break down these costs in HR’s true hidden costs of in-house sales recruiting.
How Sales Talent Group fills sales roles quickly
We fill sales roles within 45 days, and our average is 29 days, against an industry average of 30 to 45. We start with a detailed brief, approach passive candidates directly through our sales database and 12-step sourcing strategy, and send detailed profiles of pre-screened candidates within five days. If we haven’t filled the role in 45 days, you can cancel without paying anything. Every hire is also guaranteed to reach their first-year quota.
See our guarantee or start a search.
Questions about time to hire
What is the average time to fill a sales role?
Industry averages are commonly put at 30 to 45 days, longer for senior roles. Sales Talent Group’s average time to fill is 29 days.
How long does it take to hire a VP of Sales?
Senior searches usually take longer than rep searches because the candidate pool is small and the best people are in demanding roles. A focused executive search shortens it. See executive search.
Does hiring faster mean hiring worse?
Not if the speed comes from a clear brief and direct outreach rather than lowering the bar. Slow processes often lose the strongest candidates to faster competitors.
