Job Description - Sales Representative

Sales representative job description

Within a sales team, the sales representative works in conjunction with additional resources, sales managers and the production department in order to offer solutions adapted to each customer. All this in order to increase revenue, customer acquisition rate and business profitability. Its constant proximity to customers allows the company to constantly improve its offers and to stand out from the competition.

A salesperson is an intermediary between the company and its customers. He must maintain contact, sell a lot more services or products, retain existing customers and set out to conquer new customers. Chez Akimbo, we specialize in accelerating the careers and performance of salespeople.

Missions and responsibilities of the sales representative

The sales representative must stick to a schedule and specific goals to be achieved in terms of sales and the conversion of potential customers.

1. Selling a service or a product

The primary task of a sales representative is to successfully sell a service or product to a customer. He must be able to convince the latter with evidence on the technical usefulness, effectiveness and quality of the product in order to get the customer to place the order. The value for money of the product or service must obviously be in accordance with the budget of the potential customer.

Once the order has been placed, the sales representative must provide all the information relating to after-sales service, give details of the content of the offer.

2. Define sales strategies

Before coming into direct contact with his customers, the sales representative must establish with his line managers, a set of commercial strategies to ensure the efficiency of his work and a significant conversion rate. Once at the customer's home, he must, using specific arguments, succeed in selling products or services and promoting them in order to convince prospects.

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3. Do a market survey

The sales representative is responsible for carrying out a market analysis and prospecting in order to know the needs of potential customers and to define the target. He should take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about competitors in order to help his business stand out.

4. Analyze the results obtained

Based on the sales made, the salesperson is responsible for drawing up an analytical report that processes data such as cost, benefits, and the needs of existing customers and prospects. This will allow it to better assess the demand and to propose appropriate formulas in order to better respond to it.

5. Take part in work meetings

The sales representative must be present at all meetings set by his hierarchy. He will be able to learn about the sales objectives set for him, the deadlines and the extent of his commercial activity. He will be able to take the opportunity to share his difficulties in the field, the needs of customers and help define a more effective sales strategy.

6. Contribute to the improvement of the services and products offered

Using the results of the analyses, the sales representative will also be able to inform management about the needs of the company and the new services offered by the competition. By providing continuous feedback to the various managers of the company, the sales representative helps the company to improve its products and the services offered.

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7. Keep in touch, and build customer loyalty

The sales representative must develop strategies in order to maintain and maintain business relationships between the company and its main customers. For this purpose, he must maintain contact with customers (courtesy visits, telephone calls, special offers, etc.). This role is increasingly delegated to the marketing team.

8. Advise and ensure customer satisfaction

The sales representative must guide and help his client choose the products or services adapted to his needs. He can take the customer's opinion and offer him a special offer to build customer loyalty.

In order to show positive customers that the company cares about their satisfaction, the sales representative ensures the rapid resolution of the problems and complaints raised by the customer. The salesperson must be in a position to offer personalized support and follow-up on the order made through various communication channels.

9. Manage customers

Customer management is a tedious task that requires the sales representative to be there for customers without annoying them. The sales representative may have to cover a specific geographic area, go door-to-door or do telephone canvassing in order to sell a product or service. He can also use other tools such as social networks, email and other communication platforms to be close to the company's customers.

10. Stay up to date on trends

Finally, the salesperson needs to stay up to date on the latest promotional trends and best practices. He will thus be able to better convince prospects and refine the commercial strategies he will have put in place.

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The qualities and requirements of the position of sales representative

A sales representative must have several strings to his bow in order to achieve the goals set by the company in terms of selling products or services.

Technical skills

- Good professional experience in the field of sales,

- Mastery of customer management tools, GRP, CRM and MS Office,

- Good knowledge of office tools (Excel...),

- Skills in logistics organization,

- Good knowledge of commercial law,

- Excellent mastery of commercial prospecting methods, communication techniques and after-sales service processing,

- Proficiency in several languages depending on the company (English, French...).

Personal qualities

- Demonstrate creativity, charisma, presence and sociability

- Have a sense of communication or the art of negotiation

- Be motivated and focus on your goals,

- Have a sense of organization,

- Know how to manage your time well,

- To be able to adapt to circumstances and to its audience,

- Have a team spirit, openness to feedback,

- Have a good ability to manage relationships,

- Have a great power of persuasion,

- Be attentive

- Have a good physical condition to go door to door, discuss and negotiate for a long time,

- Be able to manage stress, the unexpected and difficult customers.

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Professional qualifications required for the position of sales representative

To apply for a sales representative position, several paths are possible. A person may as well have a BTS, a DUT or a license in commercial action, sales force, marketing techniques or sales promotion.

What is the salary for a sales representative?

The remuneration of a sales representative depends on many criteria including years of experience in the field, the size of the company or the prospecting or sales area covered by it. In addition, the salesperson can be paid a fixed salary or as a commission on sales made, either through a combination of fixed salary and sales commissions.

According to INSEE, the salary of a sales representative with a BTS is 2,290 euros on average per month.

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