What You'll Do

  • 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.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.75/5
Persuasion 3.75/5
Negotiation 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.5/5
Reading Comprehension 3.38/5
Writing 3.25/5
Active Learning 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Coordination 3.12/5
Service Orientation 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Analytical Thinking, Initiative, Dependability, Adaptability/Flexibility, Stress Tolerance

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Expression 4.0/5
Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Speech Clarity 3.88/5
Written Comprehension 3.75/5
Speech Recognition 3.75/5
Written Expression 3.62/5
Fluency of Ideas 3.12/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

3M Post-it App ACT! Premium Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Dreamweaver Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Advantage Signature Marketing Group Web Master Airtable Apache Groovy Apple Keynote Apple macOS Aptean Onyx CRM Ardexus Mode Ardexus TASC Autodesk AutoCAD Blackboard software Blink Cisco Webex

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.34/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.31/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.3/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 4.27/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.26/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Account Representative Account Specialist Agricultural Produce Commission Agent Apparel Trimmings Sales Representative Architectural Supplies Sales Representative Artists Materials Sales Representative Barber and Beauty Equipment Sales Representative Barber and Beauty Supplies Sales Representative Bottle Sales Representative Bottling Equipment Sales Representative Boys' Apparel Sales Representative Bulk Plant Agent Bulk Station Agent Business to Business Sales Representative Canvas Products Sales Representative Church Furniture Sales Representative Circulation Sales Representative Coin Machine Sales Representative Commercial Equipment Sales Representative Commercial Supplies Sales Representative Consignee Containers Sales Representative Cordage Sales Representative Customer Account Technician Diamond Broker Diamond Merchant Distribution Agent Distributor Engineering Supplies Sales Representative Enterprise Account Executive Exporter Factory Representative Field Marketing Representative Field Service Representative Florist Supplies Salesperson Food Products Sales Representative Footwear Sales Representative Freight Broker Fuel Sales Representative General Merchandise Sales Representative Girls' Apparel Sales Representative Hardware Supplies Sales Representative Hobbies and Crafts Sales Representative Home Furnishings Sales Representative Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Sales Representative Hotel and Restaurant Supply Sales Representative Hotel Supplies Salesperson Household Appliances Sales Representative Importer Independent Sales Representative Industrial Rubber Goods Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative Inside Salesperson Jewelry Sales Representative Leather Goods Sales Representative Livestock Commission Agent Livestock Sales Representative Malt Liquors Sales Representative Manufacturer's Representative Manufacturers Agent Marking Pens Sales Representative Men's Apparel Sales Representative Metal Dealer Mill Representative Mortician Supplies Sales Representative Motor Vehicle Sales Representative Motor Vehicle Supply Sales Representative Musical Accessories Sales Representative Musical Instrument Sales Representative Novelties Sales Representative Office Machines Sales Representative Office Materials Sales Representative Oil Distributor Outside Sales Representative Paper Products Sales Representative Paper Sales Representative Petroleum Products Sales Representative Plastic Products Sales Representative Pressure Sensitive Tape Sales Representative Printing Supplies Sales Representative Publication Sales Representative Pulpwood Dealer Recreation Sales Representative Religious Supplies Sales Representative Route Sales Representative Safety Apparel Sales Representative Safety Equipment Sales Representative Sales Account Executive Sales Consultant Sales Coordinator Sales Development Representative (Sales Development Rep) Sales Negotiator Sales Professional Sales Representative (Sales Rep) Sales Specialist Sales Team Member Salesman Salesperson School Equipment Sales Representative School Supplies Sales Representative Scrap Dealer Shoe Findings Sales Representative Shoe Leather Sales Representative Smoking Supplies Sales Representative Sporting Goods Sales Representative Textile Broker Textile Designs Sales Representative Textiles Sales Representative Tobacco Drummer Tobacco Products Sales Representative Toilet Preparations Sales Representative Tractor Distributor Turf Salesperson Uniforms Sales Representative Vending Machine Sales Representative Videotape Sales Representative Water Softening Equipment Sales Representative Wholesale Diamond Broker Women's Apparel Sales Representative Wool Merchant Writing Pens Sales Representative