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Sales Representatives represent companies to sell their goods and business services to wholesale and retail establishments.
Represents their company in selling builders' timber, and building and plumbing hardware and supplies to wholesale and retail establishments.
Represents their company in selling financial, advertising and other business services.
Specialisations: Sales Representative (Advertising), Sales Representative (Printing)
Represents their company in selling motor vehicle parts and accessories to wholesale and retail establishments.
Represents their company in selling consumer goods, such as toys, sporting goods, books, stationery, hardware, floor coverings, furniture, textiles, clothing, footwear, toiletries and groceries, to wholesale and retail establishments.
Includes Sales Representative (Jewellery and Watches), Sales Representative (Musical Goods), Sales Representative (Photographic Equipment and Supplies)
Earnings are for full-time workers before tax, excluding superannuation. Earnings are a guide only and can vary greatly.
Likely change in the number of jobs over the next 5 years, based on the Department of Jobs and Small Business projections.
Skill Level is the education or training usually needed to do well in this job. Relevant experience is sometimes viewed just as highly.
Employment Size is the number of people who work in this job in Australia.
An above average unemployment rate shows people who do this job are more likely to be out of work than people who do other jobs.
Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more a week (in all their jobs combined).
This is a very large occupation employing 86,800 workers. The number of workers has fallen over the past 5 years. Over the next 5 years (to May 2022) the number of workers is expected to stay about the same at 84,600. Around 69,000 job openings are likely over this time from workers leaving and new jobs being created.
A Certificate II or III, or at least 1 year of relevant experience, is usually needed to work in this job. Around one in four workers have Year 12 as their highest level of education. Even with a qualification, sometimes experience or on-the-job training is necessary.
If you are interested in this style of work, there are a wide range of training options available that could lead to this or a similar job. The pathway that is right for you will depend on your skills and interests.
It is a good idea to speak to industry bodies, employers, and workers to learn more about the skills and qualifications you will need.
Employers look for Sales Representatives who have good interpersonal and communication skills, can provide good customer service and are well presented.
The topics, subjects, or knowledge areas workers rate as most important are shown below.
Showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Customer and personal services. This includes understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Planning and coordination of people and resources.
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
Skills can be improved through training or experience. The skills workers rate as most important are shown below.
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Talking to others.
Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
Understanding why people react the way they do.
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
The physical and social abilities workers rate as the most important are shown below.
Listen to and understand what people say.
Communicate by speaking.
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
Read and understand written information.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.The importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 41-4012.00 - Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products.
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
The work activities workers rate as most important are shown below.
Convincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
Communicating with customers, the public, government, and others in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Building and keeping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
Giving information to supervisors, co-workers, and staff by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
How often do you talk on the telephone?
How often do you use electronic mail?
How much do you have contact with people (face-to-face, by telephone, or any other way)?
How often do you talk with people face-to-face?
How much freedom do you have to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals?
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants, animals, and materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.