Last month, I watched a sales call recording that made me cringe so hard, I nearly pulled a muscle. Our newest hire was trying to pitch our enterprise solution by... reading directly from the website. Word. For. Word.

The worst part? This wasn't some entry-level mishap. This was a "senior" sales representative with an impressive resume and glowing references. Three weeks and $12,000 in onboarding costs later, we realized we'd been sold a story better than any they could tell our customers.

If you're nodding along because you've been there (or worse, you're there right now), you're not alone. A bad sales hire costs companies an average of $115,000 – and that doesn't even count the lost opportunities, damaged client relationships, and countless hours spent trying to fix the situation.

But here's the good news: The tools for spotting great sales talent have evolved way beyond the "What would you sell me this pen?" era. Today's screening solutions can help you identify genuine sales talent before they ever set foot in a client call. Let's explore the best ones that actually work.

Hirevire

Hirevire is the best out there if you are busy and hiring is not the only thing that you do.

Hirevire will collect all types of responses from video, and audio, to file responses to give you better judgement about the candidate's abilities.

You get to see candidates’ true personalities shine while gathering in-depth insights about their abilities.

It is the fastest way to pre-screen applicants and identify those worth investing in for further interviews.

Key Features of Hirevire

• Video Screening - Assess soft skills/fit with pre-recorded video Q&A

• Time Savings - Skip initial interviews to accelerate screening

• ATS Integration - Smooth syncing promotes unified candidate experiences

• Intuitive Interface - Easy for both recruiters and applicants to use

With Hirevire, you can rapidly identify promising talent while simultaneously providing an engaging, modern experience.

Hirevire Cons

• It is not a good fit if you receive very few resumes.

• Not a good fit for interviewers with ample time.

Reviews

• G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

• Capterra: 5.0 stars

• Trustpilot: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Pricing of Hirevire

Hirevire offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card requirements. There are 3 pricing tiers available:

• One Job: $19 per month (Billed annually)

• Startup: $49 per month (Billed annually)

• Growth: $149 per month (Billed annually)

Sounds like exactly what you’ve been looking for? Get started today for free!

TestGorilla

TestGorilla offers easy-to-use video interview software for SMBs.

Key Features

• Custom multi-media interview kits

• Structured interview workflows

• Collaboration tools and stakeholder reviews

• Integration with Greenhouse and Workable

Downsides

• More lightweight features compared to enterprise tools

• Analytics and reporting capabilities limited

Reviews & Ratings

• G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

• Capterra: 4.2 stars

Pricing

• $149/month base plan - $399/month enterprise plan

HireHunch

HireHunch provides AI-powered video recruiting software to automate screening.

Key Features

• Automated video interview scheduling

• AI analysis of video interviews

• Custom criteria scoring and ratings

• Analytics dashboard and reports

Downsides

• Potentially complex for non-technical recruiters

• Smaller customer base than competitors

Reviews & Ratings

• G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

• Capterra: 4.8 stars

Pricing

• $99/month base plan - $399/month enterprise plan

VidCruiter

Vidcruiter is a powerful, all-around solid option with lots of bells and whistles.

It comes at a hefty price, but for those interested in an ATS type of solution they are a possible option.

VidCruiter best features

• Ability to create fully branded hiring experiences

• Guidance for establishing structured digital interviews

• Access to fully automated scheduling features

VidCruiter limitations

• The learning curve and initial setup can be time-consuming.

• Reporting capabilities may not be sufficient for complex needs.

VidCruiter ratings

• G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

• Capterra: 4.6 stars

VidCruiter pricing

Contact directly for pricing.

Testlify

Testlify is a leading talent assessment platform designed to help organizations quickly and accurately identify top talent.

This user-friendly platform offers a seamless experience for candidates and hiring teams, enabling organizations to find the best talent globally.

Testlify's innovative approach ensures that you hire the best, every time, anywhere.

Key Features of Testlify

• Custom video screens with branded templates

• Structured video interview workflows

• Notes, tags, ratings, and pipeline management

• Zapier integration and API access

Downsides of Testlify

• Less robust analytics than some competitors

• No live video interview functionality

Reviews & Ratings of Testlify

• G2 rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

• Capterra: 4.0 stars

Pricing of Testlify

• Starter - For startups: $19/month - Billed at $228/year

• Basic - For growing businesses: $39/month - Billed at $468/year

• Business - For scaling businesses: $199/month - Billed at $2,388/year

• Premium - For high-volume hiring: $599/month - Billed at $7,188/year

Adaface

Adaface helps tech companies hire better, faster. This innovative solution is designed to streamline the process of identifying the most qualified candidates for your tech roles efficiently.

By leveraging Adaface, you can save valuable engineering time by utilizing a vast library of over 750 custom assessments that evaluate candidates' on-the-job skills across various programming languages, frameworks, and aptitudes.

Key Features of Adaface

• Customizable coding tests and assessments

• Automated video interview workflows

• Candidate sentiment analysis with AI

• Chrome extension for easy candidate scheduling

Downsides of Adaface

• More focused on technical/IT roles

• Smaller customer base than competitors

Reviews & Ratings of Adaface

• G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

• Capterra: 4.7 stars

Pricing of Adaface

• Individual plan: $180/ year

• Starter plan: $500/ year

• Pro plan: $900/ year

• Scale plan: $3000/ year

• Growth plan: $5500/ year

• Enterprise plan: $20,000/ year

Evalgator

Evalgator is designed to streamline the hiring process for companies, particularly focusing on digital asset managers. It offers features to:

Key Features of Evalgator

• Multi-faceted assessment suite: Offers applicant tracking system, comprehensive assessments (technical and non-technical), and collaborative coding interviews.

• User-friendly interface: Allows for easy customization of assessments with diverse question types and difficulty levels.

• Remote proctoring: Includes features like face monitoring and anti-cheat measures to maintain assessment integrity.

• Free mock tests: Provides candidates with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the platform and test format.

Downsides of Evalgator

• Limited information: While user reviews are generally positive, finding in-depth analysis of the platform's strengths and weaknesses might require contacting the company directly.

• Pricing transparency: Pricing details are not readily available on the website, requiring potential users to reach out for a quote.

Reviews & Ratings of Evalgator

• Capterra: 4.5 stars

Pricing of Evalgator

Pricing information is not readily available on the Evalgator website. It is recommended to contact the company directly for information on pricing plans and options.

Conclusion

No screening tool is going to be your magic solution. But using the right ones can help you tell apart a smooth-talker from a true sales pro, before you find yourself cringing through bad demo calls.

Rushing into a bad hire will cost you more in the long run than taking the time to screen properly. Your sales team isn’t just pushing products — they’re your company’s voice, and you can't leave that up to gut feelings.

Start simple: pick one or two tools that fit your needs and budget. Try them out with your next few hires, see what works, and tweak your approach as you go. And if you're still watching awkward sales calls in six months... well, we tried to warn you.

For more tips, check out our guide on structured sales interviews or sign up for our webinar, where we break down real sales hiring wins. Your next sales star is out there — you just need the right tools to find them.