How to build out a candidate profile

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Recently, I talked about the four-step process we follow when given a recruitment assignment. This is the pillar to our success, and  I want to share with you the second step in the process, ‘Building out a Profile’ which follows on after taking a thorough job brief.

    We’ve now laid the foundations with the job brief and given all the necessary feedback on market salary ranges, market insights and overall market expectations based on the initial discussions.

    Now we understand the role and the company well enough, we can confidently build out a basic picture of who we believe would fit the role and what that person’s experience looks like (or doesn’t look like).

    Some of the things we need to determine are:

    1.  What level of experience suits this role?
    2. Are we looking for a hunter, a farmer or someone in the middle?
    3. What type of sales role(s) has the ideal candidate had to make their experience levels right but also mean that they are motivated to make the move?
    4. Is experience within a specific vertical or industry necessary?
    5. Will a tertiary qualification be irrelevant or potentially be a good guide towards the right person?
    6. What deal sizes should the person be used to selling?
    7. Is there career progression and, if so, do we need someone that specifically wants more responsibility in the future or not?

    Once we’ve painted the picture of the right person, we are halfway there and need to start thinking about WHY candidate X might be motivated to move from company Y to your organisation. That comes in step three but is also possible once we complete step two.

    The art of hiring great people in 2022 will come down to careful planning, deep market knowledge, great marketing and constant, transparent communication.

    As always, Pulse is ready to help build your team and partner with you on that journey, so please reach out if you’d like to know more.

     

    ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUILD YOUR TEAM?

    Pulse Recruitment is a specialist IT, sales and marketing recruitment agency designed specifically to help find the best staff within the highly competitive Asia-Pacific and United States markets. Find out more by getting in touch with us!

    FROM OUR PULSE NEWS, EMPLOYER AND JOB SEEKER HUBS

    Featured Articles

    How Enterprise Sales Became a Multi-Stakeholder Strategy Game

    In the traditional “golden age” of sales, the path to a closed-won deal was often a straight line. You identified a decision-maker—usually a charismatic executive with a budget and a problem—convinced them of your value, signed a contract, and moved on to the next lead. This “single-threaded” approach relied on personal rapport and individual authority….

    You Should Prioritize Alignment Over Compensation in Tech Sales

    In the hyper-competitive world of tech sales, it is easy to be blinded by the “Big Number.” Recruiters often lead with eye-popping On-Target Earnings (OTE), signing bonuses, and equity packages that look like lottery tickets. For years, the prevailing wisdom was simple: follow the money. However, as we navigate the sales landscape of 2026, the…

    Self-Direction Is One of the Most Valuable Sales Skills

    For decades, the image of the “Sales Floor” was one of high-octane chaos: rows of desks, the rhythmic sound of cold calls, and a manager pacing the aisles with a leaderboard in hand. It was an environment built on external pressure and shared energy. Today, that floor is silent. The shift toward hybrid and remote…

    Why “AI Curiosity” No Longer Cuts It in 2026

    Not long ago, having “AI curiosity” on your CV signaled something valuable. It suggested initiative, adaptability, and a willingness to explore new tools before they became mainstream. In 2024, that alone could differentiate you. It hinted that you weren’t waiting for change—you were leaning into it. In 2026, that signal has largely disappeared. The market…

    Breaking the “Inbound Dependency” in ANZ Sales Teams

    For nearly a decade, the ANZ SaaS ecosystem thrived in a golden era of predictable lead generation. A steady stream of inbound inquiries acted as a structural safety net for sales teams across Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. Marketing departments, fueled by low interest rates and expansive budgets, could effectively “buy” growth through heavy ad spend…

    The Shift Toward Full-Cycle Competency

    For the better part of two decades, the tech industry operated under a single, unchallenged gospel: the Predictable Revenue model. Popularized in the early 2010s, this framework suggested that the most efficient way to scale a sales organization was through hyper-specialization. You had Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) to hunt, Account Executives (AEs) to close, and…

    How Top Sales Reps Find Roles Before They’re Advertised

    In tech sales, the most desirable roles rarely make it to job boards. By the time a position is publicly advertised, it’s often already flooded with applicants—or quietly earmarked for an internal referral. Top-performing sales professionals understand this reality and operate differently. They don’t wait for opportunities to appear; they position themselves to be found…

    How to Build a Winning Sales Culture That Retains High Performers

    In the high-stakes world of tech sales, culture is often dismissed as a “soft” metric—something involving ping-pong tables, free snacks, or the occasional happy hour. But in 2026, top-tier sales talent has seen it all. They aren’t looking for perks; they are looking for an environment that optimizes their ability to win. A “Winning Sales…

    From SDR to AE: How to Get Promoted Faster in a Tech Company

    The Sales Development Representative (SDR) role is the “Special Forces” of the tech world. It’s a high-pressure, high-volume environment where you are the first point of contact for potential customers. But let’s be honest: you didn’t take this job just to book meetings forever. You’re eyeing that Account Executive (AE) seat—the closer, the strategist, the…

    The Death of the Demo: Selling in the Age of Skepticism

    By the time a buyer finally decides to talk to a salesperson in 2026, the traditional sales cycle is already more than half over. In fact, the average B2B buyer has likely spent upwards of 20 hours researching their specific problem before they even consider hitting a “Book a Demo” button. They have scoured peer…