Sales Recruitment

How to Hire a Sales Executive in the UK (2026)

The all-rounder sales role. How to hire a Sales Executive who fits your business.

By Mark Wilkinson, Managing Director of Coburg Banks

Mark has spent over 30 years in recruitment, placing sales people from SDR up to Sales Director for SMEs across the UK.

Sales Executive is a catch-all title, which is exactly why it's worth defining before you hire. In one business it's phone-based, in another it's field, in a third it's account work. Pin down the actual job and the shortlist gets far sharper.

⚡ In short

A UK Sales Executive typically earns £25k-£38k base plus commission. Expect a placement in 3-6 weeks. Coburg Banks recruits Sales Executives with no fee until your hire starts.

£25k-£38k

Typical base salary

3-6 weeks

Time to hire

48 hrs

To first shortlist

12 wks

Replacement guarantee

What to look for in a Sales Executive

Match to the real role

Because the title's vague, the fit is everything. Be clear whether you need a hunter, a farmer or a bit of both, and hire to it.

Adaptable

All-round sales roles reward flexibility. Look for someone who's worn a few hats and enjoyed it.

Track record that fits

A telesales star may not thrive in field, and the reverse. Match their history to your day-to-day, not just the word 'sales'.

How to run the hire

1. Define the actual job first.
'Sales Executive' covers phone, field and account roles, so write down exactly what this one involves before you brief.

2. Score to that definition.
Match the scorecard to whether you need a hunter, a farmer or a mix.

3. Source to fit.
A telesales star may not thrive in field and vice versa - match their history to your day-to-day.

4. Test the right things.
Once the job is clear, tailor the interview to it rather than asking generic sales questions.

5. Reference relevant results.
Confirm their track record fits the specific role, not just 'sales' in general.

How much does it cost to hire a Sales Executive?

Fees typically run 15-18% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.

Nothing is due until your hire starts. Because the role varies so much, we'll confirm exactly what you need before quoting, so the search is aimed at the right kind of person.

How long does it take to hire a Sales Executive?

Usually 3-6 weeks.

The biggest factor is clarity. 'Sales Executive' means very different jobs in different businesses, so the tighter your brief, the faster and sharper the shortlist.

Why is the Sales Executive title so varied?

Because businesses use it for very different jobs - phone-based in one, field in another, account work in a third.

That's why the first step is always defining the real remit. A telesales star may not thrive in field and vice versa, so we match history to your actual day-to-day.

Do you recruit Sales Executives across sectors?

Yes, across every B2B and B2C sector.

Once we've defined whether you need a hunter, a farmer or a mix, we match sector background where it matters and prioritise transferable selling skill where it doesn't.

What does a Sales Executive do?

Sales Executive is a broad, all-round sales role that means different things in different businesses - phone-based in one, field in another, account work in a third.

Typically it involves finding and winning customers and hitting a target. Because the title is so varied, defining the real remit is the most important step.

What should I ask a Sales Executive at interview?

Once you've defined the role, ask to that. Generally useful:

Talk me through your sales process on a recent deal.
Which part of selling do you enjoy most - and least?
Tell me about a target you hit and one you missed. and How do you organise your week?

External citations

Sources:
- REC
- ONS Labour Market
- Coburg Banks Trustpilot

Tell us about your role and a specialist sales recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.

Tell us about your role

Get in touch

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