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Sales representative

Sales representatives meet or ring customers to persuade them to buy products or services.

Average annual salary

£20,000 to £52,000

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Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You may need to do a degree in a subject related to your area of sales, especially if you're selling specialist products or services, for example pharmaceuticals.

Entry requirements:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

The apprenticeship route you take will depend on the kind of products or services you want to sell. You could do a:

  • Level 3 IT technical salesperson higher apprenticeship
  • Level 4 Sales executive higher apprenticeship
  • Level 6 Business to business sales professional degree apprenticeship

Apprenticeships in retail, customer service or marketing may also give you useful experience for getting into this role.

Entry requirements:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

You could start as an administrator in a sales office. Experience in a retail or customer service role may help you to become a sales rep. You'll also need a good standard of English and number skills.

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Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • customer service skills
  • persistence and determination
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • persuading and negotiating skills
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • the ability to read English
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • business management skills
  • knowledge of English language
  • a desire to help people
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • administration skills
  • concentration skills
  • maths skills
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What you'll do:

Sales representatives meet or ring customers to persuade them to buy products or services.

You may:

  • contact new and existing customers
  • make presentations to promote new products
  • agree sales, prices and delivery
  • manage customer enquiries and issues
  • record orders
  • go to conferences to understand industry trends
  • meet sales targets

Location : You could work in an office, from home, in a contact centre or at a client's business.

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Salary:

Starter : £20,000
Experienced : £52,000

These figures are a guide

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Working hours:

38 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

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Career Path:

With experience, you could become a sales team leader or an area sales manager.

The Institute of Sales Management (ISM) could help you develop your career.

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