Job Description for Sales Associates
- Inside sales-associate duties include selling in a store or office where customers come in for information or to buy the product or service. Inside sales associates are expected to be knowledgeable about the products in the store, or the service that the company offers.
Inside sales associates may not need sales experience to be hired, but good people skills and ability to relate to a diverse customer base are helpful. - Outside sales requires driving to sales calls.driving 4 image by Andrzej Borowicz from Fotolia.com
Outside sales duties include selling the product or service out in the field, or outside of the office. Sometimes prospecting is required for this position. Many companies provide leads and prospects for their outside sales associates by outsourcing or through an in-house telemarketing or mail marketing division.
Experience as a closer is often required for this position--new hires will need to be trained only in product knowledge. However, many sales managers prefer to hire inexperienced sales associates so they can train new people on everything, including sales skills specific to the company's industry. - A friendly phone voice is helpful.woman with headset image by Valentin Mosichev from Fotolia.com
Telemarketing sales associates take orders over the phone, with duties involving either calling out or receiving calls from customers. Product or service knowledge is very important for this position.
Experience for this sales job ranges from very experienced closers to people with no previous experience but who have a friendly phone voice and presence. Excellent communication skills are needed for this job. - Professional attire is required for B2B sales jobs.professional image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
The duties of a business-to-business sales associate usually involve prospecting for new business, writing contracts for the product or service by building a relationship with prospects after multiple contacts and meetings, and developing a strong referral base.
Requirements for this job almost always include strong closing skills, strong presentation skills, good listening skills and good interpersonal skills. This sales position requires individuals with high self-esteem and strong personalities who are self-starters and well organized. - Compensation for a sales job depends on performance.100 image by kaleff from Fotolia.com
Compensation varies depending on the company and the type of sales associate. Regardless of compensation offered, retaining the sales position requires that established measures of productivity be reached.
Many outside sales jobs are commission only, or base pay plus commission. The commission is sometimes negotiable.
Most inside sales jobs are hourly positions. Some inside sales associates earn hourly pay plus bonuses for high sales volume, or for upselling products or services. Upselling involves selling additional services or a larger product size, or selling an upgraded or more expensive model.
Business-to-business sales associates often make a base salary plus commission, depending on the industry. Performance quotas are required to retain the position.
