Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

• Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
• Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
• Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
• Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
• Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
• Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
• Emphasize product features based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
• Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
• Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.
• Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.
• Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.
• Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.
• Identify prospective customers using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.
• Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.
• Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.
• Provide customers with ongoing technical support.
• Advise customers on product usage to improve production.
• Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products.
• Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.
• Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products.

• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• 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.
• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products.