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 to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
On the job, you would:
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.
Business
sales and marketing
customer service
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Social
bringing people together to solve differences
talking people into changing their minds or their behavior
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
come up with lots of ideas
group things in different ways
People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
Analytical Thinking
Dependability
Initiative
Adaptability/Flexibility
Stress Tolerance
Attention to Detail
You might use software like this on the job:
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Microsoft Dynamics
SAP software
Data base user interface and query software
Blackboard software
Yardi software
Customer relationship management CRM software
Salesforce software
Soffront CRM Portal
high school diploma/GED or bachelor's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.