Commission Transparency & Easier Sales Hiring

“It was my understanding that there would be no math.”

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84% of sales people have either been stiffed on commissions when they left a job or worry it could happen. It’s top of mind when they make a move.

If you’re hiring salespeople and your commission payouts are on the up and up, there’s a easy talent attraction strategy right in front of you:

1. Address it head on. It’s the question no one wants to ask.

“What happens when I leave?” doesn’t set the tone most job seekers are looking for. But that doesn’t mean they don’t worry about it.

If you can address how things are handled when people leave and your hiring competitors don’t, it’s another check in your column.

2. Put it in a handbook. Make it readily available so people don’t have to dig.

It may make perfect sense to you but still be ambiguous to the people you’re looking to hire. Or worse, the people you already have on the team. 

3. Keep it simple i.e. “It was my understanding that there would be no math.”**

You’re hiring salespeople (or recruiters). Math isn’t everyone’s strong suit. If they can’t figure it out easily, they’ll assume it isn’t good.


**I was today years old when I learned where “It was my understanding that there would be no math” originally came from. SNL, 1976. Here.


Full episode of the 10 Minute Talent Rant, Episode 42 "Ever Get Stiffed On Commissions?" available at Hirewell's Talent Insight media site, here.


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James Hornick