Description
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Interests
- Enterprising
- Conventional
Work Values
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Integrity
- Initiative
- Cooperation
- Dependability
- Persistence
Tasks
- Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
- Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
- Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
- Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
- Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
Work Activities
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
Detailed Work Activities
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Technology Skills
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Video conferencing software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
Abilities
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Written Comprehension
Skills
- Persuasion
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Negotiation
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
PV Technical Sales CertificationCertifying Organization
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Customer Service SpecialistCertifying Organization
ETA International
Type
Core
Certificate name
Certified Sales ProfessionalCertifying Organization
Manufacturers Representatives Educational Research Foundation
Type
Core
Certificate name
APS - HP P2000 StorageWorks Solutions [2010]Certifying Organization
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning
Type
Product/Equipment
Certificate name
IBM Certified Specialist - System x Server Family Sales V1Certifying Organization
IBM Corporation
Type
Product/Equipment
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | N/A |
| Median (50%) | N/A |
| High (90%) | N/A |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $94,348 |
| Mid Level | $110,390 |
| Senior Level | $129,408 |
| Expert Level | $178,829 |
Employability
There are currently 325,300 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 335,300 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 3%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 3%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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