Sales Representative Careers Information
Though companies often would like us to believe it, no product, no matter how good, sells itself. Always behind the scenes is a sales representative who works hard to make sure her company’s products are on the store shelves.
Sales Representative Careers & Degrees
Much of a sales representative’s work is about maintaining relationships with longtime clients and establishing new ones through cold calls. They must often travel to meet with clients, old or potential, so they can demonstrate the latest products their company has to offer.
Sales representative careers generally fall into one of two categories, those who sell products in the technical and scientific field and those who sell in all other fields. Pharmaceuticals and electronic goods would be examples of products sold in the technical and scientific category; grocery items and machinery would fall in the general category.
Within these categories, inside sales representatives tend to stay in one location, making phone calls and dealing with client issues. Outside sales representatives travel, often extensively, to demonstrate new products to clients.
Sales Representative Careers Path
Typically, sales professionals have a Bachelor’s degree across any number of disciplines such as business or liberal arts. Companies typically have training programs for new sales representatives and most sales representatives attend trade shows and ongoing sales training throughout the year to keep abreast of the latest products and trends.
For those wanting to sell more technical and scientific products, a Bachelor’s degree and sometimes even a graduate level degree is useful to show potential employers that you will understand the product you sell.
Sales Representative Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Outgoing personality, people person, highly organized, excellent communicator, able to work under pressure, willing to travel, flexible with work hours.
Sales Representative Careers: Salary Expectations
The average yearly salary for sales representatives in technical and scientific fields is $70,2000, including commissions, with the middle fifty percent earning between $48,540 and $99,570 a year.
For sales representatives in all other fields not technical or scientific, the average yearly salary is $51,330, including commissions, with the middle fifty percent earning between $36,460 and $75,120 a year.
Sales Representative Careers: Job Outlook
Because the pay relative to education level is so high, competition for sales jobs can be fierce. Those with more education and a proven sales record are the most likely to find work. Those who sell the latest trends or technology can do well, but they must constantly stay on top of the field or risk losing clients.
Sales representatives who want a little more security should look to sell essential goods, such as food and clothing, because people always need these items, regardless of any trend or the economy.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is projected to expand by 7% through 2018, which is less than the national average.
Slightly off the Footpath
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://bls.gov/oco/ocos119.htm (visited November 9, 2011).
