The Most Expensive Mistake
Hiring a senior leader, like a VP of Sales, is a high-stakes bet. If you get it wrong, you don't just lose their salary. You lose the 6 months they spent "ramping up," the deals they burned, and the morale of the team they mismanaged. The total cost of a bad executive hire can be 3x-5x their annual compensation. To avoid this, many companies use executive interim management to bridge the gap while they search.
The Interview Illusion
Many candidates are great at interviewing but mediocre at executing. A founder, who is usually an expert in product, may not know how to grill a sales leader on their pipeline methodology or commission structures. You get sold by the candidate's charisma, not their competence. This is where an HR audit for small companies often reveals gaps in the hiring process itself.
The Specialist Interviewer
This is where an interim HR leader or a veteran Sales Advisor helps. They conduct the technical interview. They ask the uncomfortable questions. They look for the red flags in the resume that you might miss. They ensure that the person you hire can actually build the engine, not just drive the car. Vetting leadership talent is a skill; rent it if you don't own it.