Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing

A sales representative is someone who showcases and sells a technical or scientific product for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, organizations, and government agencies, rather than selling directly to consumers. Scientific and technical products include pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, and industrial equipment.

These sales representatives contact customers, negotiate prices, explain complex products to potential customers at conventions or present new products to existing customers, and answer questions about the products they sell. They identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, and attending trade shows and conferences. They help customers select products to meet their customers’ needs, product specifications, and regulations. After negotiating prices, terms of sale, and service agreements, they prepare sales contracts and submit orders for processing.

Sales representatives are usually ambitious, assertive, extroverted, enthusiastic, confident, persuasive, and do not give up. They also tend to have a friendly personality and a talent for demonstrating value.

Sales jobs typically involve travel. Some salespeople may meet dozens of potential customers every day, while others spend their days maintaining and strengthening existing client relationships or engaging in recreational activities, such as treating clients to dinner, in order to improve the client's relationship with the company.

People in this profession typically must have at least a bachelor’s degree in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, or electronics.