Sales Representative
Sales representatives promote, market and sell products or services to new and existing clients.
Tasks & duties
Sales representatives may do some or all of the following:
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visit and talk to clients about products and services, and provide them with information on new products
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take orders for the products or services
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arrange contracts and payment details with clients
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arrange for delivery or installation of products
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stock shelves with products or suggest how to display products
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train clients about how to use purchased items
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keep in contact with clients and answer their enquiries
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deal with complaints and arrange for servicing of goods if they are faulty
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advise management and staff of the clients' needs
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keep sales records and write reports
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predict future market trends and develop new sales ideas to attract more clients
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find and contact potential new customers
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organise sales budgets
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attend trade shows and conferences
Skills & knowledge
Sales representatives need to have:
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knowledge of the products or services being sold, the market for those products or services, and how to advertise or promote them
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specialist knowledge of the particular industry they are selling in, including competitors' products
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an understanding of contract law
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the ability to place orders and manage stock
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good communication and people skills for dealing with a large number of different people and analysing clients' needs
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good time management skills
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business, marketing and basic accounting skills
Entry requirements
A driver's licence is required to become a sales representative.
Secondary education
Three or four years of secondary school education, including English and maths, is preferred.
Training on the job
Skills are usually learned on the job at company training courses or at sales courses at TAFE.
Useful experience
Sales work or work within the industry you are selling to is useful experience for sales representatives. Retail work, marketing work, or work that involves dealing with money and customers may also be helpful.
Related courses
Marketing
Sales
For more information, please refer to myfuture.
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