Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Work Activities
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Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
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Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
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Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
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Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.
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Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
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Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
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Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
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Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
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Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
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Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
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Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products.
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Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs.
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Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.
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Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.
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Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.
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Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.
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Identify prospective customers, using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.
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Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.
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Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.
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Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations.
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Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.
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Provide customers with ongoing technical support.
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Advise customers on product usage to improve production.
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Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations.
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Verify accuracy of materials lists.
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Verify customer credit ratings.
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Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values.
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Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products.
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Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.
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Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products.
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Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.
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Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.
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Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales.
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Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products.
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Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal.
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Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
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Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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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.
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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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.
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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.
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English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Currently Employed
13,720
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Yearly Projected Openings
1,450
- Education
Bachelor's degree
- Work Experience
No work experience
- Training
1 to 12 months on-the-job training
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Looking for technical training programs?
Check out these programs:
Enterprising:
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
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Integrity
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Initiative
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Cooperation
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Dependability
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Persistence
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Stress Tolerance
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Tablet computers
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Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
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Personal computers
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Notebook computers
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Enterprise resource planning ERP software
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Electronic mail software
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Data base user interface and query software
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Customer relationship management CRM software
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Analytical or scientific software
