Sales Rep for Wholesale and Manufacturing

Also called: Account Representative, Account Specialist, Agricultural Produce Commission Agent, Apparel Trimmings Sales Representative, Architectural Supplies Sales Representative

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Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

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.
Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.
Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.
Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.
Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.
Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.
Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising.
Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary.
Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising.
Negotiate details of contracts and payments.
Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.
Obtain credit information about prospective customers.
Forward orders to manufacturers.
Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment.
Buy products from manufacturers or brokerage firms and distribute them to wholesale and retail clients.

Work Context

Contact With Others — 100% responded "Constant contact with others".
Telephone — 100% responded "Every day".
Deal With External Customers — 93% responded "Extremely important".
Work With Work Group or Team — 92% responded "Extremely important".
Electronic Mail — 81% responded "Every day".
Frequency of Decision Making — 89% responded "Every day".
Face-to-Face Discussions — 71% responded "Every day".

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 72% responded "Every day".

Structured versus Unstructured Work — 68% responded "A lot of freedom".

Freedom to Make Decisions — 52% responded "A lot of freedom".

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 61% responded "Every day".

Coordinate or Lead Others — 65% responded "Extremely important".

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 49% responded "Important results".

Level of Competition — 43% responded "Highly competitive".

Time Pressure — 45% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 55% responded "Very important".

Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 45% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 40% responded "Extremely important".

Letters and Memos — 64% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".

Spend Time Sitting — 39% responded "Less than half the time".

Frequency of Conflict Situations — 32% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".

Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 36% responded "Limited responsibility".

Physical Proximity — 62% responded "Slightly close (e.g., shared office)".

Exposed to Contaminants — 34% responded "Every day".

Work Activities

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Detailed Work Activities

Prepare sales or other contracts.
Negotiate prices or other sales terms.
Answer customer questions about goods or services.
Recommend products or services to customers.
Explain technical product or service information to customers.
Demonstrate products to consumers.

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.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

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.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Negotiation

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self Control

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software

Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
Medical condition coding software
Epic Systems

Spreadsheet software

Microsoft Excel

Electronic mail software

Microsoft Exchange
Microsoft Outlook
IBM Notes
Mozilla Thunderbird

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New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

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Sales Rep for Wholesale and Manufacturing

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