Sales Representative
On this page
- What's it like to be a Sales Representative?
- How to become a Sales Representative
- Latest Sales Representative jobs
- Top skills and experience for Sales Representatives
What's it like to be a Sales Representative?
Sales Representatives act as a company’s representative to businesses, government agencies, organisations, and key personalities in order to make sales. Their work mostly revolves around direct communication with customers, from making phone calls, responding to emails, doing product presentations, to closing deals in order to hit company sales targets. Sales Representatives must have good communication and interpersonal skills.
Tasks and duties
- Conducting sales visits to new and existing customers.
- Making phone calls, sending emails, and setting appointments with clients.
- Negotiating contracts.
- Demonstrating the use and benefits of products and/or services being offered.
- Attending trade shows and sales conferences.
- Generating leads.
- Maintaining and building relationships with clients.
- Processing customer orders and requests.
- Updating superiors such as Sales Managers on any client-facing issues or sales issues.
- Preparing sales reports on a weekly or monthly basis.
How to become a Sales Representative
To work as a Sales Representative, formal education is required.
Graduate with an N, O, or diploma or certificate in any field. A degree in business, economics, marketing, or a related field is advantageous.
Secure a Class 3 driving licence as you may be assigned to do field work.
Gain one to five years’ worth of sales experience in a relevant industry. Hone soft skills such as persuasion, negotiation, and communication skills. Familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology is a plus.
Become well-versed in Microsoft Office applications.
Progress to a role such as an Account Manager or Sales Manager.
