Most salespeople use their product knowledge, customer service skills, and confidence to persuade potential customers to buy a product…. But unlike those who sell directly to consumers, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They sell products from wholesalers or manufacturers, including food, office supplies, and clothing, as well as technical and scientific products, such as agricultural and mechanical equipment, computers, or pharmaceuticals. Wholesale and manufacturing sales reps typically contact potential customers, explain the features of their products, negotiate prices, and answer customers’ questions. After making a sale, representatives may follow-up to ensure customer satisfaction, or to help train the customers’ employees on how to use new equipment. They also analyze sales statistics, write up reports, and handle duties such as filing expense accounts, scheduling appointments, and making travel plans. Most wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives work full time, and many work more than 40 hours per week. They often have sales quotas to meet… their income and job security may depend directly on the amount of product they sell. For non-technical product sales, a high school diploma is considered an entry level qualification. For scientific or technical products, sales representatives typically need a related bachelor’s degree.
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
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.
Business
customer service
sales and marketing
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
manufacture and distribution of products
Basic Skills
talking to others
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
talking people into changing their minds or their behavior
bringing people together to solve differences
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
come up with lots of ideas
Memory
remember words, numbers, pictures, or steps
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
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