What Should Commission-only Sales Onboarding Accomplish? 

The key to successful onboarding begins with understanding what the onboarding process should achieve. As you hire commission-only sales reps, establishing clear goals aligning with the following is paramount.

• Acclimation: Ensuring new hires thoroughly grasp your company's mission, expectations, and available support is crucial for their seamless integration and optimal performance.
• Familiarity: Providing sales reps with extensive knowledge about your company and products is essential, empowering them to effectively communicate and sell with confidence and clarity.
• Engagement: Bolstering employee engagement during onboarding helps establish meaningful professional relationships and fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Retention: A focused and supportive onboarding process enhances employee satisfaction and loyalty, significantly increasing the likelihood of retaining top talent in your organization.



Hiring commission-only sales reps with these clear onboarding goals sets the stage for a motivated, knowledgeable, and committed sales team ready to contribute positively to your company's growth. 

Strategies for Onboarding Commission-Only Sales Reps

Now that the goals for onboarding are clear, it's time to explore practical strategies to achieve these objectives. Here's a closer look at some pivotal strategies.

1.   Pre-Boarding

Pre-boarding is the initial phase before the new hire officially joins the company. It's a preparatory step to help the new employee assimilate comfortably into their new role and work environment.

By addressing the anticipation and anxiety that 80% of professionals experience before joining a new workplace, pre-boarding helps new hires feel more relaxed, confident, and prepared, ensuring a smoother transition into their roles.

How to Do It:

• Send a Warm Welcome Email: Provide all necessary details about their role and what to expect, making them feel expected and valued.
• Introduce Them Virtually to the Team: Allow them to meet their new colleagues, fostering a sense of community and belonging even before the official start.
• Organize a Virtual Tour or Meet-and-Greet: Familiarize them with the workplace and team members, reducing first-day anxiety and enhancing their integration into the team.

2.   Structured Training Programs

A Structured Training Program is a planned and systematic approach to onboarding new hires. It's a detailed and organized training schedule designed to equip new commission-only sales reps with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their roles effectively.

A mere 12% of employees express satisfaction with their company's onboarding process. Stand out from the crowd by implementing a robust Structured Training Program. This approach ensures that new hires are not left in the dark, providing them with a clear pathway to integrate into the company seamlessly and confidently. 

How to Do It:

• Develop a Clear Training Pathway: Create a detailed 30-60-90 day plan outlining the training schedule, goals, and assessments.
• Utilize Various Training Methods: Combine hands-on training, e-learning, and workshops to cater to different learning styles.
• Provide Regular Feedback: Keep the lines of communication open, offering regular feedback and support to ensure the new hire is on the right track.

3.   Mentorship or Buddy System

The Mentorship or Buddy System is an onboarding strategy where new hires are paired with experienced colleagues. This partnership facilitates a smoother integration process as the new employee has a go-to person for guidance, queries, and support.

Effective working relationships are crucial to successful onboarding, a factor 60% of managers emphasize. The Mentorship or Buddy System fosters these essential connections, promoting a collaborative and friendly work environment from the get-go.

How to Do It:

• Pair New Hires with Experienced Colleagues: Ensure each new hire has a designated mentor or buddy to guide them.
• Promote Open Communication: Encourage a culture of openness, ensuring new hires feel comfortable seeking help and expressing concerns.

4.   Regular Feedback and Check-ins

Regular Feedback and Check-ins involve a systematic approach for managers and new hires to communicate, ensuring that new commission-only sales reps consistently receive the support and guidance they need during their onboarding process.

With 20% of turnover happening in the first 45 days, regular feedback and check-ins can help identify and resolve issues early, enhancing the satisfaction and retention of commission-only sales reps. 

How to Do It:

• Schedule Regular Check-ins: Set specific times for managers and new hires to discuss progress, expectations, and any concerns.
• Create an Open Environment: Foster a setting where commission-only sales reps feel comfortable providing and receiving feedback.
• Use Multiple Communication Channels: Utilize email, messaging platforms, and face-to-face meetings to ensure clear and open communication.

5.   Clear Goal Setting

Clear Goal Setting is defining and communicating specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives to new hires.

Commission-only sales reps with clear goals have a roadmap for success, reducing the ambiguity and uncertainty that can lead to dissatisfaction and turnover. This strategy ensures that new hires understand their responsibilities, expectations, and the metrics by which their performance will be evaluated.

How to Do It:

• Define Clear Objectives: Lay out the expectations and responsibilities from day one.
• Utilize Smart Goals: Employ Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to provide clarity and direction.
• Offer Support and Resources: Ensure that new hires have the tools, information, and support necessary to achieve their objectives.

When embarking on the journey to hire commission-only sales reps, incorporating these strategies into your onboarding process can significantly enhance the experience for new hires, bolstering their performance, satisfaction, and likelihood to remain with your company.

Need Help Onboarding?

Onboarding doesn't have to be a taxing process, especially when you're aiming to hire commission-only sales reps. At Jayce Grayye Consulting & Recruiting, we understand the intricate steps and efforts that go into creating an efficient and effective onboarding strategy for commission-only sales reps.



• Seeking transparency in the process?
• Need to establish clear and reachable goals?
• Want to ensure consistent feedback and check-ins?

We've got you covered. Secure higher retention rates, superior job performance, and overall satisfaction both for you and your newly hired commission-only sales reps. Take the right step now for a future of unparalleled sales success, and contact us today.