Just because an applicant's shoes are not polished does not mean that his sales skills are not polished. There are plenty of great salespeople whose shoes have scuff marks on the scuff marks, but if you focus on an applicant's feet in the interview process, you may be overlooking some vastly more important feats.
Obviously, if this individual is going to be selling shoe polish or other related products, then you would have a right to question his judgment. However, beyond that, there are far more significant factors to consider.
For example, you will get better predictive data by focusing on this applicant's work history. Do his experiences indicate that he has the knowledge, skills, abilities, persistence, and motivation to sell for your company?
You can give him work sample questions and simulations to further check out his sales skills. If he sails through the interview and his references verify his excellence, then there is no need for you to give him the boot.
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