It should go without saying that you’re only as successful your sales team. The people you add to that group can either make or break the customer relationships needed to meet and exceed quotas. With this in mind, we’ve assembled four sales experts to offer solid advice on how you can come out a winner from your next hiring round.

Here are just a few of their tips:

“Take the time to check the candidate’s previous performance claims by speaking with their former sales managers. Don’t be satisfied by just any professional reference. Make sure they can give you the names of past supervisors from prior jobs, as this is a good source of their credibility.” - Martin Yate, Author of Hiring the Best; A Manager’s Guide to Effective Interviewing and Recruiting

“If you have the responsibility to hire salespeople, don’t hire a stereotype of a salesperson. Make it your priority to identify the candidates who possess the skills and experience that best support your customers’ requirements to make an informed purchase decision in the shortest time possible.” - Andy Paul, Author of Zero-Time Selling: 10 Essential Steps to Accelerate Every Company's Sales

“A typical sales leader gets hiring right about 50% of the time. The most crucial characteristic you should be hiring for is drive. Ask questions that help you determine whether a candidate truly has drive.” - Kevin Gaither, VP of Inside Sales at ZipRecruiter

“Bring in a trusted friend or colleague to assess that person and see if they’re a cultural fit for you. Maybe it’s someone you have worked with in the past that has proven technical expertise, or a friend from college who has a super duper reputation in sales and marketing.” - Edward Hess, Author of Grow to Greatness, Smart Growth for Entrepreneurial Business

The below infographic can serve as a quick guide the next time you hire for your sales team: