While it makes a lousy first impression, just because a candidate doesn’t express himself or herself well on paper shouldn’t be the sole reason for eliminating the person from the competition. Not every good salesperson has a great grasp of the written word or can spell well, but they may be able to sell up a storm.
A lot of well-written resumes are not the work of the candidate. They are often the result of a resume preparation service and don’t give you a true insight into the person’s ability to write. If writing letters isn’t a major criterion for the job, don’t worry that the resume isn’t a work of art.
One way to avoid this hiring trap is to take the time to at least interview the person over the telephone. If the candidate sounds good, carry on with the hiring process and see if he can make the grade against your other hiring criterion.
While it’s nice to have both, the ability to sell far outweighs the ability to properly express oneself in writing.
| Brian Jeffrey is the creator of the Sales Temperament Assessment. For over 20 years, companies have used this tool to assess thousands of salespeople and make even better hiring decisions. Brian has spent over four decades in sales as a salesperson, sales manager, consultant, sales trainer, professional speaker, and writer. Brian is the author of over 100 articles on sales and sales management. |
