Two out of three companies now employ salespeople to promote their products or services. The work of a sales representative is a daily challenge that requires mastery of marketing techniques and customer relationship skills.
The commercial delegate plays a major role within companies. He exercises his skills alone or in collaboration with the members of a sales team. Travelling through appointments, he manages to land potential buyers. The sales manager is likely to sell different types of products depending on the agency that recruits him. These can be raw materials, equipment, consumable items or a particular service. The exercise of this profession requires a technical background and a good sense of interpersonal skills. Candidates for the position of delegate have many career opportunities. Now focus on the skills, salaries and qualities of the sales attaché.
Commercial Delegate: the definition
Still known as a commercial attaché, the sales delegate is a professional who operates in the field or remotely. Depending on the market of each company, The sales specialist may be required to manage wholesalers or retailers. Called upon to grow the turnover of the company in which he works, the salesman does a great deal of prospecting with consumers.
What is the role of a Sales Delegate?
The role of the commercial attaché is to promote the products of his employer. He is therefore responsible for the visibility of items in various points of sale. In other words, The commercial attaché is the ambassador or representative of the articles and brands developed by the company.
It is a profession that requires regular travel, but offers many advantages to determined, motivated candidates with good professional qualities.
What is the salary of a Sales Delegate?
The remuneration of salespeople varies from one sector to another. Delegates receive, in addition to their salary, bonuses and commissions on each of the sales they make.
But these amounts constitute a variable portion of their remuneration and depend on the capabilities of each employer. Some companies simply give their employees a fixed amount of money. In any of the above cases, as long as the delegate does his job well, great opportunities are available to him.
How much does a Sales Delegate earn?
CDI remuneration is subject to numerous criteria. In this case, it is about its level of training, the profile of the employer, namely the size and the sector of activity of the company.
The region as well as the visible results after the salesperson's work are also parameters that affect the monthly payment. Like many other commercial functions, an attaché's salary consists of a fixed portion (gross remuneration) and a variable portion (commission).
Junior Sales Executive Salary
At the beginning of a career, a permanent delegate receives approximately 24K € per year. The junior delegate must be much more efficient. He will have to accumulate several years of expertise and positive results in order to hope for a better salary.
Senior Sales Executive Salary
In France and other countries in the sub-region, a permanent senior attaché who has acquired at least 5 years of experience receives a monthly payment that is much higher than that of a junior attaché. So, in Paris or Lyon, The salary grid extends from €35K to €50K per year.
After ten or fifteen years, he can earn nearly €70K per year, or €5,000 per month. In addition to bonuses, some companies give sales representatives other benefits such as a company car, lunch or a smartphone.
Main missions of the Sales Delegate
The sales attaché presents the company's services to his prospects. This field professional must reach a contract using solid arguments. He needs to know the exact product that meets the expectations of each buyer.
The trade commissioner is required to answer questions asked by customers. In addition, he negotiates the prices as well as the conditions of sale of the items. Mainly responsible for identifying the needs of prospects, the delegate ensures the smooth running of the various transactions.
One of the missions of the commercial attaché is the establishment of methods and strategies that can contribute to the increase in the entity's turnover. It is also in charge of after-sales follow-up. The delegate works closely with the management of commercial activities, but also with the other departments of the company. He must report regularly to his line manager.
Qualities to have for this position
The very first quality of a commercial attaché is obviously the sense of contact. Perseverance, autonomy and a spirit of teamwork are qualities that define a delegate. It must be versatile, flexible when carrying out its duties.
The salesperson at the rank of delegate is required to work with different types of customers, for this, he must be able to adapt to any situation. To better promote the entity's articles, it is necessary to have a good knowledge of the field in which it operates.
The commercial attaché must be in a position to innovate by offering appropriate alternatives to buyers. He works for the development of his society and for that, it is essential that he can be responsive and that he works tactfully and strategy.
Talent as a speaker and communicate clearly and comprehensibly should be within the reach of any delegate. Good time management is an undeniable asset for candidates.
How do I become a Sales Delegate?
To work as a sales representative, candidates must have certain technical skills. In addition, this job requires specific training.
Skills needed to become a Sales Delegate
The salesperson at the level of delegate must master computer tools. In this case, this is software specific to the entity. It is important that these employees have knowledge in their field of activity. The trade commissioner must have a sense of initiative.
To carry out his missions successfully, he must persuasively defend the product put forward by the company. The marketing delegate must like working from home and the search for strategies that could bring added value to the entity.
The commercial attaché is an organized, mobile and very available professional. He must have notions in sales techniques and commercial marketing. Companies are more interested in profiles or candidates who know several languages.
For that, The delegate must understand English, German or Dutch. This linguistic knowledge allows him to attend numerous meetings, but also to communicate fluidly with his buyers and colleagues. Necessary to the exercise of his function, it is imperative that the delegate has a driver's license.
What training courses to become a Sales Delegate?
The bac level allows you to become a commercial delegate, but in recent years, recruiters have been prioritizing candidates who validate at least a bachelor's degree + 2. It is also possible to have a job after a BTS in commercial and operational management.
The DUT in marketing techniques and the BTS in negotiation and digitalization of customer relationships are diplomas preferred by business leaders. To acquire much more advanced notions in the field of commerce, it is recommended to have a professional technical-commercial license.
The DUT in marketing techniques and administrative management is also a diploma very popular with recruiters. These various degrees allow candidates to have the basics in business and negotiation;
What career developments are there for this position?
The trade commissioner profession offers great career prospects to employees who work hard and who give their best in the field. As he progresses in his career, He can occupy different positions in society. Depending on the profile of the employees, two types of development are adapted.
The first profile leads to managerial functions. These are the positions of commercial director or general manager. An alternative called “transversal evolution” is possible. The delegate can therefore become a product manager or research manager.
FAQ: Becoming a Sales Delegate
What baccalaureate to be a Sales Delegate?
To be a commercial delegate, You must have a bachelor's degree and a professional diploma accessible after a CAP. Bac + 2 or baccalaureate + 3 levels are also sought after by managers.
What are the appropriate retraining profiles?
The delegate has a wide choice of retraining according to his knowledge, but also his interests. Thus, he can choose a job as a sales manager or a sales consultant. Thanks to its technical expertise in marketing, He can consider the professions as an account manager or sales consultant.
However, for those who discover a passion for teaching, they can consider becoming marketing trainers. The sales delegate can also retrain as an account manager or manager in order to maintain a relationship with specific buyers.
To stand out from the crowd and face the competition, company managers are regularly looking for delegates. This profession is a springboard to a career that offers great opportunities for development. Indeed, this profession is characterized by easy access to the position of group leader, sales manager or sales area manager. With experience and many years of experience in this role, the commercial attaché can receive a very attractive salary. On the job market, This job is very popular with SMEs as well as SMIs. The sales representative works actively to develop a company's turnover and to maintain its client portfolio.