Sales Representatives
Sales representatives build relationships with clients to sell products and services across diverse industries including advertising, insurance, financial services, travel, and general business services. These professionals identify customer needs, present solutions, negotiate terms, and maintain ongoing client relationships to meet sales targets. They work in offices, meet with clients at various locations, and often travel to develop new business opportunities.
🎬Career Video
🤖AI Resilience Assessment
AI Resilience Score
Score 2/6: high AI task exposure indicates this career is being transformed by AI
How we calculated this:
56% of tasks can be accelerated by AI
+2% projected (2024-2034)
EPOCH score: 16/25
📋Key Responsibilities
- •Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
- •Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
- •Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
- •Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
- •Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
- •Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
- •Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer.
- •Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts.
💡Inside This Career
Sales representatives spend their days building relationships and connecting clients with solutions that meet their specific needs. A typical morning might begin with reviewing market trends, updating client information, and preparing for scheduled presentations or meetings. They dedicate significant time to prospecting—researching potential clients, making cold calls, and following up on leads through various channels. Whether working from a traditional office, meeting clients at their locations, or operating from a home-based setup, sales representatives must be adaptable and self-motivated to manage their diverse responsibilities.
Client interaction forms the core of their daily activities, involving needs assessments, product demonstrations, and proposal presentations tailored to each prospect's unique situation. Sales representatives frequently collaborate with internal teams including marketing specialists, technical experts, and customer service personnel to develop comprehensive solutions and ensure smooth implementation. They maintain detailed records of client communications, track sales pipeline progress, and analyze performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement. Time management becomes crucial as they balance immediate sales activities with long-term relationship building.
The variety in their work extends beyond direct selling—sales representatives often attend industry conferences, participate in training sessions to stay current with product developments, and engage in networking events to expand their professional connections. They may work with individual consumers seeking personal solutions or corporate decision-makers requiring complex, multi-faceted proposals. Success requires adapting communication styles to different audiences, from technical presentations to relationship-focused conversations, while consistently following up on commitments and maintaining the trust that drives repeat business and referrals.
📈Career Progression
What does this mean?
This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.
📚Education & Training
Requirements
- •Entry Education: Associate's degree
- •Experience: One to two years
- •On-the-job Training: One to two years
- !License or certification required
Time & Cost
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Find jobs and training programs for sales representatives- Median salary: $65K/year
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💻Technology Skills
⭐Key Abilities
🏷️Also Known As
📑Specializations
This career includes 5 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.
| Specialization | Median Pay | AI Outlook | O*NET Code | Find Jobs | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $76,900 | 🟠 | 41-3031.00 | View details | ||
| $64,600 | 🟠 | 41-3091.00 | View details | ||
| $61,270 | 🔴 | 41-3011.00 | View details | ||
| $59,080 | 🟠 | 41-3021.00 | View details | ||
| $47,410 | 🟠 | 41-3041.00 | View details |
🔗Related Careers
Other careers in sales
🔗Data Sources
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