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Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Occupation Detailed Description

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

The main tasks and work activities of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products are to answer customer questions about goods or services, recommend products or services to customers, contact current or potential customers to promote products or services, demonstrate products to consumers. In general, for the Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products, speaking, active Listening, negotiation, persuasion and other 12 skills are required.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products jobs. 47.98% of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 33.88% of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products have Bachelor's Degree and Above.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
47.98%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
14.18%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
3.96%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
33.88%

Tasks and Work Activities of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

  • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
  • Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.
  • Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.
  • Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.
  • Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
  • Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.
  • Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.
  • Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.
  • Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment.
  • Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.
  • Obtain credit information about prospective customers.
  • Forward orders to manufacturers.
  • Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary.
  • Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising.
  • Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising.
  • Buy products from manufacturers or brokerage firms and distribute them to wholesale and retail clients.
  • Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
  • Negotiate details of contracts and payments.
  • Selling or Influencing OthersConvincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Answer customer questions about goods or services.
  • Recommend products or services to customers.
  • Contact current or potential customers to promote products or services.
  • Demonstrate products to consumers.
  • Explain technical product or service information to customers.
  • Estimate costs or terms of sales.
  • Advise customers on the use of products or services.
  • Develop proposals for current or prospective customers.
  • Prepare drawings or diagrams of products or services.
  • Distribute promotional literature or samples to customers.
  • Identify potential customers.
  • Arrange delivery of goods or services.
  • Monitor market conditions or trends.
  • Study product information to acquire professional knowledge.
  • Maintain records of sales or other business transactions.
  • Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
  • Verify customer credit information.
  • Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
  • Send information, materials or documentation.
  • Monitor inventories of products or materials.

Skills and Abilities for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Laser printerse.g. Laser printers
  • Liquid crystal display projectore.g. Light-emitting diode LED projectors
  • Mobile phonese.g. Mobile telephones
  • Notebook computerse.g. Notebook computers
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Sales and MarketingKnowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.