Details for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Description
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 post-secondary education.
Tasks
- Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
- Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
- Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
- Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
- Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
- Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.
- Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.
- Provide customers with ongoing technical support.
- Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.
- Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
- Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.
- Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs.
- Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.
- Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
- Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products.
- Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.
- Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations.
- Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales.
- Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal.
- Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products.
- Research and convey information to customers about tax benefits or government rebates associated with energy-efficient scientific or technical products, such as solar panels.
- Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.
- Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
- Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
- Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.
- Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.
- Identify prospective customers, using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.
- Advise customers on product usage to improve production.
- Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products.
- Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.
- Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.
- Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products.
- Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations.
- Verify accuracy of materials lists.
- Verify customer credit ratings.
- Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values.
Interests
- Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Education, training, experience
- Education - Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Training - Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
- Experience - A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Knowledge
- Administration and Management -Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Sales and Marketing -Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
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