sales representative

Some of the tasks of a sales representative include:

• researching a company's target market: as a sales representative, it is important to understand the market for your products, from demographics to economic factors that influence sales. From the research, you identify avenues for generating new leads and carving out new market niches for your products.
• assisting in sales promotions: as a sales representative, you help your company make profits. To achieve good sales, you get involved in sales promotion activities. You participate in marketing events and lead generation to improve sales activities.
• keeping customers satisfied: ensuring customers get the right supply of products is your primary duty as a sales rep. You make regular calls and respond to customers' messages and emails. You also keep them informed about new and upgraded products or services. Sometimes, you assist customers throughout the purchase process by responding to their queries.
• setting and stocking outlets: if you work as a manufacturer's sales representative, you are responsible for identifying and creating sales outlets and ensuring they have a continuous supply of products. You also monitor fast-moving products and find ways to promote slow-moving items.
• training other sales agents: as a sales representative, you train entry-level workers to ensure their work meets the company's standards. You equip retail agents and are responsible for selling company products using sales techniques and basic advertisement materials, such as stickers or banners.
• drafting and presenting sales reports: as a sales representative, you prepare regular sales records. They include expenditures incurred during marketing, the amount made in sales, and data on the market outlook. You present these reports to your superiors and advise them on how to improve marketing strategies.

As a sales representative, your work environment may vary, from the people you interact with to your physical location. Many sales representatives work indoors. However, you will often work outdoors in some industries, such as the automotive industry. Sometimes you work on public holidays because most industries enjoy peak sales over the holidays.

This profession is built on interactions, meaning you communicate with your customers constantly. As a sales rep, you spend your time on calls, replying to emails or meeting customers. Sometimes, you deal with dissatisfied customers who need support or refunds.

 As a sales representative, you work alongside various colleagues. For instance, you work with sales associates, warehouse associates and sales managers. In the office environment, you work with office managers, HR managers, customer service representatives and administrative assistants. You also work with field sales reps and account managers.

Most sales representatives have a regular work schedule. You usually work 40 to 44 hours weekly, with time distributed between your responsibilities. However, some types of sales reps have a more dynamic work schedule. For example, specialty sales reps do not have specific work hours. They sell different types of products and may represent more than one company at a time. Depending on your industry, you may take business trips, either locally or overseas, especially if you are a manufacturer's sales rep.

As a sales representative, you have many opportunities for career progression. You can specialize in specific sales channels or strategies and increase your expertise. Some sales representatives specialize in retail sales, while others become manufacturer's sales agents. With experience, you can progress to a higher role, such as a sales manager, account manager or marketing manager role.

Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.

• always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
• many training opportunities
• a range of jobs in your area

As a sales representative, you are the link between the company and its customers. You sell the company's products and services using your customer service and sales skills. The role requires detailed knowledge of the company's products and services and to understand their benefits to customers. You also maintain good relationships with customers to ensure repeat sales.

As a sales representative, you earn an average salary of $57,507 annually. The earnings fluctuate based on experience and qualifications. For instance, in entry-level roles, you start with a salary of $40,000 annually. Meanwhile, the most experienced workers make over $96,972 per year. Working in a large city improves your earning potential due to the high demand for sales representatives in metropolitan areas.

While you can work as a sales rep without post-secondary education, consider gaining academic qualifications. For instance, completing a bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, or sales increases your job prospects. Choose your preferred industry and pursue certifications specific to your goals. For instance, if you sell information technology (IT) products, technical skills improve your earning potential. Gain experience through entry-level jobs.

As a sales representative, you require confidence and persistence to convince new customers to purchase products from your company. Rapport-building is also useful in creating good relationships with customers and promoting loyalty.

Sales is a fast-paced and unpredictable environment. You are expected to meet sales quotas weekly and monthly. Despite the challenging work environment, you meet new people and contribute directly to the company's growth.

Finding a job near you as a sales representative is easy. Search our job offers. Have you found what you're looking for? Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Send us your resume and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.