Sales Engineer Onboarding Process
Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Sales Engineer starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Engineering onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Sales Engineer, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Sales Engineer onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.
Sales Engineer Onboarding Checklist
1. Introduction to the company: The sales engineer should be provided with a comprehensive introduction to the company, including its history, mission, values, and organizational structure. This task is typically performed by the HR department or a designated onboarding specialist.
2. Product and service training: The sales engineer needs to undergo thorough training on the company’s products and services. This includes understanding the technical specifications, features, and benefits of each offering. The training is usually conducted by the product management team or experienced sales engineers.
3. Familiarization with sales processes: The sales engineer should be familiarized with the company’s sales processes, including lead generation, qualification, and closing techniques. This task is typically performed by the sales manager or a senior sales engineer.
4. Shadowing experienced sales engineers: To gain practical knowledge and insights, the new sales engineer should shadow experienced colleagues during customer meetings, presentations, and negotiations. This task is performed by senior sales engineers or the sales manager.
5. Understanding target market and customers: The sales engineer should be provided with in-depth knowledge about the target market and customer segments. This includes understanding customer pain points, industry trends, and competitive landscape. The task is usually performed by the sales manager or marketing team.
6. Technical training: As an engineering-focused role, the sales engineer should receive technical training on the company’s products, systems, and technologies. This training is typically conducted by the product development team or subject matter experts.
7. CRM and sales tools training: The sales engineer should be trained on the company’s customer relationship management (CRM) system and other sales tools used for lead tracking, pipeline management, and reporting. This training is usually provided by the sales operations team or IT department.
8. Building relationships with internal stakeholders: The sales engineer should be introduced to key internal stakeholders, such as product managers, engineers, and customer support teams. This task is typically performed by the sales manager or a designated mentor.
9. Understanding pricing and contracts: The sales engineer should be educated on the company’s pricing structure, discount policies, and contract terms. This task is usually performed by the sales manager or finance department.
10. Attending industry events and conferences: To stay updated with industry trends and network with potential customers, the sales engineer should be encouraged to attend relevant industry events and conferences. The task of identifying and registering for such events is typically performed by the sales manager or marketing team.
11. Creating sales collateral: The sales engineer should be involved in creating or updating sales collateral, such as product brochures, technical datasheets, and case studies. This task is usually performed in collaboration with the marketing team.
12. Ongoing training and professional development: The sales engineer should be provided with ongoing training opportunities to enhance their technical and sales skills. This can include attending workshops, webinars, or pursuing relevant certifications. The responsibility for identifying and organizing such training lies with the sales manager or HR department.
13. Performance evaluation and feedback: Regular performance evaluations and feedback sessions should be conducted to assess the sales engineer’s progress and provide guidance for improvement. This task is typically performed by the sales manager or a designated mentor.
14. Setting sales targets and goals: The sales engineer should work with the sales manager to set realistic sales targets and goals aligned with the company’s objectives. This task is performed by the sales manager in collaboration with the sales engineer.
15. Continuous learning and knowledge sharing: The sales engineer should be encouraged to continuously learn and share knowledge with colleagues. This can be facilitated through internal knowledge sharing sessions, online forums, or mentorship programs. The responsibility for promoting a culture of continuous learning lies with the sales manager and HR department
Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process
From reading through the items in the example Sales Engineer checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Sales Engineer up to speed and working well in your Engineering team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.