Sales Representative
Job Description
Sales Representatives sell retail products, goods, and services to customers on behalf of a company. Sales Representatives also commonly referred to as Sales Consultants. Sales Representatives consult with customers to find what they are looking for and determine how to offer the best product or service which will create solutions. They answer questions, offer alternative solutions, discuss bulk discounts, and disclose periodical promotions. They build relationships and ensure a smooth sales process, processing, or organising payment. Sales Representatives will seek out new leads, through business directories, client referrals, and networking. They can work in a retail store front or call centre environment, dealing directly with the public. They may also work in wholesale, operating from a single location or within a region or area, promoting and selling products or services B2B (Business to Business). Sales Representatives commonly work in retail selling electronic and computer equipment, whitegoods, furniture, household appliances, new and used vehicles, new home display villages and on road selling endless products and services in a business to business environment.
Qualifications
There are no formal educational requirements to work as a Sales Consultant or Sales Representative.
Most companies will give you training on the job, where you can learn from a Sales Manager or Senior Sales Representatives. You will also be likely to receive training from Sales Consultants about products and services they sell.
You may need qualifications if you plan to work in a specialised industry. For example, if you work a company selling heavy plant and equipment, you may benefit from having a mechanical background, or if you work in a retail store selling computers, you may benefit from having IT qualifications.
If sales and marketing is a career you wish to pursue, you may consider completing a diploma or degree majoring in marketing.
Attributes
- Approachable
- Charismatic
- Communicator
- Confident
- Customer Orientated
- Impressionable
- Interpersonal
- Motivated
- Persuasive
- Punctual
- Self-Motivated
Key Skills
- Prospecting
- Discovery
- Social Selling
- Storytelling
- Active Listening
- Objection-Handling
- Sales
- Management
- Business
Future Prospects
Some transferable skills can be utilised in other relatable roles such as;
- Business Development Manager
- Account Manager
- Sales Manager / Area Manager
- Sales Assistant
- Client Services Officer
- Customer Service Representative
- Call Centre Operator
