Jason Lemkin, CEO and Founder of SaaStr, discusses the top 10 mistakes when hiring a VP of Sales in the SaaS industry. Topics include the importance of understanding the product and industry, involving VPs in the sales process, and avoiding hiring cynical individuals. The significance of title allocation and not being blinded by a candidate's previous company are also explored.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Reference Checks
Thoroughly reference-check VP of Sales candidates.
Uncover any inconsistencies or red flags by talking to past employers and colleagues.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Team Ready
Ensure your VP of Sales candidate has a team lined up.
Avoid hiring a sales leader with no followers, as building a team takes time.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Willingness to Sell
Hire VPs of Sales willing to sell themselves, at least initially.
This ensures they understand the product, customer pain points, and the sales process.
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The Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Hiring a VP of Sales with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin
Hiring a VP of Sales isn’t new, but the conversations have evolved as the world has. SaaStr’s own Jason Lemkin shares the top 10 mistakes he sees during the hiring process during Workshop Wednesday, held every Wednesday at 10 a.m. PST.
Jason has written about the cheat codes for hiring VPs of Sales since 2012 and realized it was worth a deeper dive. The last 18 months have seen the biggest changes in the VP of Sales in his SaaS career. We’re still learning what world we’re in — some people interview over Zoom, some are focused on how to build teams in the current age, and many are dealing with a weird overhang from the SaaS explosion of 2021, quiet quitting, layoffs, and team turnover. While this topic isn’t new, you want to avoid getting this hire wrong. So, let’s look at the top 10 mistakes Jason sees in the VP of Sales hiring process.
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