What You'll Do

  • Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service or to make a donation.
  • Contact businesses or private individuals by telephone to solicit sales for goods or services, or to request donations for charitable causes.
  • Explain products or services and prices, and answer questions from customers.
  • Obtain customer information such as name, address, and payment method, and enter orders into computers.
  • Record names, addresses, purchases, and reactions of prospects contacted.
  • Adjust sales scripts to better target the needs and interests of specific individuals.
  • Obtain names and telephone numbers of potential customers from sources such as telephone directories, magazine reply cards, and lists purchased from other organizations.
  • Answer telephone calls from potential customers who have been solicited through advertisements.
  • Telephone or write letters to respond to correspondence from customers or to follow up initial sales contacts.
  • Maintain records of contacts, accounts, and orders.

Essential Skills

Speaking 4.12/5
Persuasion 4.12/5
Active Listening 4.0/5
Service Orientation 3.5/5
Reading Comprehension 3.25/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.25/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Negotiation 3.0/5
Writing 2.5/5
Coordination 2.5/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.38/5

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.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Persistence, Integrity, Initiative, Adaptability/Flexibility, Stress Tolerance

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Speech Clarity 3.75/5
Speech Recognition 3.62/5
Written Comprehension 3.12/5
Selective Attention 3.12/5
Problem Sensitivity 2.88/5
Near Vision 2.88/5

Technologies & Tools

Acarda Sales Technologies Acarda Outbound Automatic call distribution software Customer relationship management CRM software Database Systems Corp Telemation Interactive voice response software Microsoft Dynamics Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Remote access call center software Salesforce software Softphone software Zoom

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Persistence (High importance: 4.22/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.08/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.05/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 4.02/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.0/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

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

Call Agent Call Center Agent Call Center Operator Call Center Representative (Call Center Rep) Call Center Sales Agent Call Center Telemarketer Contact Center Agent Direct Sales Agent Donation Worker Inbound Call Center Agent Inbound Telemarketer Inside Sales Representative (Inside Sales Rep) Marketing Processor Outbound Sales Agent Outbound Telemarketer Scheduling Agent Solicitor Telemarketer Telemarketing Representative (Telemarketing Rep) Telemarketing Sales Representative (Telemarketing Sales Rep) Telephone Sales Agent Telephone Sales Representative (TSR) Telephone Service Representative (TSR) Telephone Solicitor Telesales Agent Telesales Representative (Telesales Rep) Telesales Specialist