Career overview

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

O*NET-SOC 41-4011.00

Median pay / yr$100,070

OutlookBelow Average

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.

What it takes

The skills, knowledge, and credentials employers look for in Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products.

Skills employers look for

PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Active ListeningGiving 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.
NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Knowledge areas

Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge 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.
Sales and MarketingKnowledge 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.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.