Sales Representative job description template
If you are hiring for this role, start here. This free template is our detailed definition of the position, with everything you need to find and hire the right person. Copy it, add your own requirements, and post it.
What is a Sales Representative?
Sales Representatives are responsible for presenting, promoting, and selling the company’s products or services to existing and new customers.
They can sell products to small or large businesses, various industries, organizations, and corporations.
They inform customers about product or service features and prices and discounts, answer customers’ questions, and provide the best possible experience.
There are outside and Inside Sales Representatives.
Outside Sales Representatives meet with customers face-to-face and promote and sell products through meetings or presentations.
Inside Sales Representatives present and sell products over the phone or online.
The top Sales Representative skills.
Five things separate a strong hire from a résumé that reads well. Use these as your scorecard criteria.
The job description, ready to post.
Copy it as written, or edit it until it sounds like your company. Both work.
Our company is looking for a results-driven Sales Representative who will meet sales goals and sell our products and services. In this position, you will be responsible for promoting and selling products to existing and new customers, as well as analyzing and identifying customers’ needs to improve and increase sales. Your daily duties also include preparing and giving sales presentations to customers, creating and maintaining reports, and resolving customers’ complaints.
The ideal candidate is someone able to negotiate terms and successfully close deals with customers. Our Sales Representative must have strong communication and presentation skills, as well as the ability to build and maintain relationships with customers. Above all, in-depth knowledge of our products and services is a must, along with a confident and enthusiastic approach to each customer.
Duties and responsibilities
- Present, promote, and sell products and services to current and new customers
- Analyze and identify customers’ needs and wishes
- Identify, investigate, and resolve customer problems and complaints to maximize satisfaction
- Achieve sales targets and goals within the schedule
- Coordinate sales efforts with other representatives and departments
- Analyze market potential, trends, and best practices
- Create reports on customer needs, problems, interests, and potentially new products or services
- Negotiate contract conditions
- Prepare and give sales presentations
- Implement sales efforts in marketing programs
- Answer questions about credit terms, product specifications, prices, and availability
- Schedule meetings and presentations with customers
- Develop and implement action plans by conducting data analysis
- Maintain professional and trustworthy relationships with customers
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communications, economics, or a similar field
- Previous working experience in sales
- Ability to learn fast and understand products
- Knowledge of sales processes and dynamics
- Outstanding communication, negotiating, and presentation skills
- Commitment to results and excellent customer service
- Self-motivation and enthusiasm
- Knowledge of MS Office and sales management software
- Ability to build and maintain productive and trusty business relationships
- Analytical mind and problem-solving skills
Take the template with you
Copy it straight into your job board or ATS, or have it emailed to you with the interview questions for this role.
What education this role needs.
A high school diploma or a GED is sufficient for candidates who sell non-specific products.
However, since Sales Representatives can work in various industry branches and deal with numerous products, employers often prefer candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communication, or a similar role.
Previous experience in sales includes dealing with people and negotiating is helpful and beneficial for candidates.
Candidates with previous working experience already possess a set of skills and necessary knowledge for this position.
Sample interview questions for a Sales Representative.
Once you have gathered the applications, work through these in order. Twelve questions across four areas, enough to tell your shortlist apart.
- How did you decide to pursue a career in sales?
- Could you provide us with a little more information about your educational history?
- What are your greatest personal traits?
- What do you think makes you a good Sales Representative?
- How have you heard about this open position?
- Do you prefer working face-to-face with customers or via phone calls?
- What do you find most challenging when it comes to sales?
- What keeps you motivated at work?
- How do you stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices?
- What sales management software are you familiar with?
- How do you conduct market analysis? What parameters do you most pay attention to?
- How do you prepare for a sales presentation with important business clients? What information do you collect?
How much to pay when hiring.
Annual pay by percentile. Where you land depends on the size of the cycle they will own, and the 25th percentile is usually where a first analyst hire sits.
Hourly equivalents run from $7 at the 10th percentile to $40 at the 90th.
Candidates may apply under a different name.
Post the title your industry uses and keep the rest of the description. These three roles overlap enough that the same posting usually reaches all of them.
Three titles, one description.
Search behavior varies by industry, so the same job is advertised under several names. If you are unsure which one your candidates search for, run two titles and see which fills.
Sales Consultant
A Sales Consultant is a professional who advises clients on products or services to help them make purchasing decisions that meet their needs.
$66,210 medianSales Manager
Sales managers work for companies in a variety of sectors to assist them to accomplish their revenue goals.
$69,391 medianFrequently asked questions.
What are the industries Sales Representatives work in?
Every industry essentially needs Sales Representatives.
Some industries that Sales Representatives can work in are retail, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, finance, technology, engineering, etc.
What is the difference between inside and outside Sales Representatives?
Inside Sales Representatives work directly from their office or home desk and sell products by interacting with customers over the phone.
On the other hand, outside Sales Representatives travel a lot and encounter customers face-to-face via meetings, conferences, trade shows, and events.
Who do Sales Representatives report to?
Sales Representatives directly report to Sales Department Managers.
They set sales targets for Sales Representatives and help them provide the best sales experience and achieve customer satisfaction.
What is the average annual salary for Sales Representatives?
Sales Representatives typically earn between $14,500 and $83,500 per year.
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