Your Talent Problem Isn’t About Skills—It’s About Staying Power
Let’s be honest. You’ve brought on candidates who looked great on paper—sharp resumes, strong interviews, solid references. And yet…
They ghost.
They burn out.
They bounce as soon as adversity hits—or when a shinier offer rolls in.
It’s not that your hiring process is broken. The challenge is deeper: your team doesn’t need more experience. It needs more grit.
Why Your GTM Team Keeps Spinning Its Wheels
Sales, prospecting, client success—they’re all long games. Tools have changed. Outreach has evolved. But the fundamentals haven’t:
Success still takes resilience, follow-through, and mental toughness.
Too often, modern hiring prioritizes polish over persistence. And when the going gets tough, many hires check out. They lack the endurance to handle rejection, embrace feedback, or commit to growth over the long haul.
Here’s what you might be seeing:
- Inconsistent performance across reps
- Low engagement or quiet quitting
- Constant ramp-up cycles due to turnover
- Lack of accountability and follow-through
- Difficulty building a cohesive, dependable team
If that sounds familiar, Shift Group is here to help.
What Your Team Really Needs: Grit
Grit isn’t a buzzword—it’s a competitive advantage.
It’s the difference between a rep who shuts down after a bad week and one who adapts, refocuses, and keeps executing.
And that’s exactly what veterans and athletes bring.
These individuals come from structured, team-first environments where quitting isn’t an option—and resilience is built into the culture.
Veterans and Athletes: Built for Go-To-Market Roles
Here’s what they bring to every team:
✅ Discipline
They know how to follow process—and trust it. Whether it’s an outreach sequence or a customer renewal plan, they do the work, even when it’s not exciting.
✅ Coachability
Feedback isn’t threatening to them—it’s essential. They ramp faster, improve steadily, and avoid repeated mistakes.
✅ Team Orientation
They’ve learned to win together, not compete internally. That mindset makes them collaborative, not combative.
✅ Resilience
They’ve pushed through real adversity—in combat, in training, or in competition. That means they won’t unravel over a tough quota or a few rejections.
Stop Over-Indexing on “Experience”—Start Hiring for Character
Yes, experience matters. But experience without the right mindset leads to burnout, baggage, or bad habits.
Veterans and athletes may not have years of SaaS under their belt—but they bring the intangibles most hiring managers wish they could teach:
- Commitment
- Focus
- Purpose
- Drive to improve
With a little training and the right structure, they become some of the most consistent, loyal, and impactful contributors to your GTM org.
Shift Group: Your Partner for Building a Grit-First Team
Shift Group helps forward-thinking companies hire trained, ready-to-work go-to-market talent from athletic and military backgrounds.
We go beyond traditional recruiting by:
- Vetting candidates for character, potential, and mission-fit
- Delivering sales and GTM-specific training before they join your team
- Matching you with candidates ready to plug in and perform
- Supporting both you and your hires post-placement to ensure success
These aren’t short-term hires. They’re foundation-builders who raise the bar and drive momentum from day one.
It’s time to build your team around resilience, not just resumes.
Common Questions About Hiring Veterans and Athletes
Q1: Do I have to train them from scratch?
Nope. Every candidate goes through sales- and GTM-specific training. They understand outreach, communication, tools, and processes—and they’re ready to contribute on day one.
Q2: What if my product is technical or niche?
Veterans and athletes are quick learners with strong process discipline. They’re ideal for fast-paced, high-complexity environments like SaaS, fintech, and logistics.
Q3: How do they compare to traditional candidates?
They’re more reliable, more consistent, and more coachable. Most importantly, they’re in it for the long haul—not just until the next offer comes along.
Q4: Can I scale a team this way?
Absolutely. Many of our partners start small and grow entire teams with Shift Group talent. We stay with you at every stage.
The Right People Are Out There—You Just Haven’t Looked in the Right Place
If you’re frustrated by turnover, disengagement, or inconsistent team performance, the solution isn’t another tool or platform—it’s better people.
Veterans and athletes don’t just fill roles—they elevate teams.
They bring grit, character, and commitment that’s hard to find in the traditional hiring pool.
Let’s help you find them.
About Shift Group:
Shift Group bridges the gap between military veterans, former athletes, and the business world through coaching and career upskilling. Our mission is to help these individuals unlock their unique skills and experiences and match them with top-tier companies in need of resilient, coachable, and team-oriented professionals.
The Shift Connect platform accelerates learning and streamlines the hiring process by connecting employers with pre-vetted candidates who are ready to excel. Customers reduce hiring time, lower costs, increase growth rates and improve retention. Shift Group is committed to helping businesses build high-performing teams and supporting veterans and athletes in their career development.
Discover how Shift Group can transform your hiring process and unlock the potential of exceptional talent. Visit us at shiftgroup.io to learn more.
