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Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

  • Bright Outlook
  • Numerous Job Openings

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

What you’d do

  • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
  • Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.
  • 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 sales contracts and order forms.
  • Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.
  • Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking

How to get there

Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree

Also called

  • Outside Sales Representative
  • Sales Consultant
  • Sales Representative (Sales Rep)
  • Salesman
  • Account Representative
  • Customer Account Technician

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