Career Details

41-4011.00 - Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

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.

Key Facts

Bright Outlook

Career Details

Green Job

Career Details

Current Employment

347,800

Estimate

Forecasted Employment

371,700

Estimate

Change in Employment

+23,800

Estimate

Change in Employment %

+6.9%

Estimate

Tasks

The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.

Core

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

Supplemental

Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs.
Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.
Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products.
Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations.
Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales.
Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal.
Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products.
Research and convey information to customers about tax benefits or government rebates associated with energy-efficient scientific or technical products, such as solar panels.
Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.
Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.
Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products.
Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations.
Verify accuracy of materials lists.
Verify customer credit ratings.
Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values.

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.

Customer and Personal Service

Sales and Marketing

English Language

Administration and Management

Mathematics

Production and Processing

Computers and Electronics

Clerical

Engineering and Technology

Education and Training

Psychology

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Tools

The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.

Computers

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Technology

The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.

Data management and query software

Networking software

Business function specific software

Development software

Information exchange software

Industry specific software

Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software

Content authoring and editing software

Operating environment software

Security and protection software

Network management software

Network applications software

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Certifications

FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward

The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.

IBM Certified Specialist - System Storage DS8000 Technical Solutions V3
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Technical Sales Expert - Power Systems with POWER7 -v2
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - System x Server Family Sales V1
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Retail
Microsoft Corporation (MS)
One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
IBM Certified Specialist - Retail Store Solutions Sales V4
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Expert - PureFlex Sales V1
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - PureFlex Systems Sales V2
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - Enterprise Storage Sales V3
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - XIV Storage System Technical Solutions V4
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Technical Sales Specialist - Power Systems with POWER7 and AIX & Linux -v2
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - Storwize V7000 Technical Solutions V2
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - Midrange Storage Technical Support V3
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - Midrange Storage Sales V1
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - System z Security Solution Selling
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - System z Business Analytics Solution Selling
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - System z Cloud and Linux Solution Selling
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - System z Business Resiliency Solution Selling
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - System z Technical V5
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
IBM Certified Specialist - System z Sales V6
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
HP Sales Certified - Service and Portfolio Management Solutions [2015]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
HPE Sales Certified - Information Governance Solutions [2016]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
HP Sales Certified - Fortify Security Solutions [2014]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
HP Sales Certified - ArcSight Security Solutions [2014]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
HPE Sales Certified - SMB Solutions and Services [2016]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
HP ASC - Storage Solutions [2011]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
APC - HP Superdome 2 Solutions [2011]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
HP Sales Certified - Imaging and Printing Solutions [2012]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
APS - HP Desktops, Workstations and Notebooks [2010]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
IBM Certified Technical Sales Specialist - Power Systems with POWER7 and IBM i -v2
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
Sales Certified - Vertica Big Data Platform [2016]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
IBM Certified Sales Specialist - Power Systems with POWER7 and AIX & Linux -v2
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
HP APP - Network Security [2011]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
APS - HP P2000 StorageWorks Solutions [2010]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
APS - Networking [2010]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
APS - HP Retail Point of Sale [2010]
Hewlett Packard Certification and Learning (HP)
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
IBM Certified Sales Expert - Power Systems with POWER7 -v2
IBM Corporation (IBM)
1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)
CompTIA IT for Sales Certification
Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) (CompTIA)
1815 S. Meyers Road Suite 300 Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-5228

Core

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Licensing

The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.

No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.

Related Programs

Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.

INSTITUTION

PROGRAMS

Bridgewater College

Programs

Business Administration Major - BA

Bachelor of Arts

The George S. Aldhizer II Department of Economics and Business Administration offers two majors—economics and business administration—that prepare students to pursue managerial and other professional careers as well as graduate education. We build on the liberal arts foundation provided by the College’s general education program and give each student the knowledge, skills and experience to become a successful and ethical leader, capable of making valued contributions to his or her workplace, society and self. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, case analyses, team projects and presentations, and other in-class activities, courses are designed to integrate economic and business theory and practice; encourage independent and critical thinking using both qualitative and quantitative reasoning; and develop skills in decision making and implementation, teamwork and collaboration, and all forms of communication. Experiential learning opportunities abound through internships, study abroad programs and participation in student organizations, to supplement classroom learning. The economics major consists of 14 courses in economics and mathematics. Economics majors may choose among three tracks: business, government policy and preparation for graduate school via additional mathematics courses. Economics majors can also earn an emphasis in financial economics. The business administration major consists of 15 courses in business, economics and mathematics. To gain greater depth in a particular area of business, many students pursue one of the four concentrations we offer in the business administration major: accounting, finance, marketing and organization management. By taking additional courses, in one of these areas, students build specialization on the solid foundation provided by the business administration major. In addition to the previously mentioned majors, the department also offers minors in business administration, certified financial planning, and economics.

Randolph-Macon College

Programs

Business - Finance (BA)

Bachelor of Arts

A major in business offers students the opportunity to explore theories and concepts from accounting, business, and economics. Students study in an active learning environment and begin to understand and appreciate the complex nature of business organizations through applied economic theory. A major in business prepares students for a career in all business environments and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in such fields as business and law. The major in business requires a common core of courses plus one of three concentrations: Finance, Management, or Marketing. All courses in the core and in each concentration must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

Business - Management (BA)

Bachelor of Arts

Business - Marketing (BA)

Bachelor of Arts