Salesman Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post presents complete information on the salesman job description and career, including the key tasks, duties, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It presents ideas on how to become a salesman, and the requirements you might be asked to fulfill to be hired for the salesman’s job.

What Does a Salesman Do?

A salesman or salesperson is the one who has the responsibility for selling a company’s products or services to the public.

Whatever the product type, the role of the salesperson in the firm is to interact with customers and ensure they make an order.

According to Onetonline, the salesman job, which is similar to that of the retail salesperson, involves greeting customers and finding out what they want, as well as helping them to select and locate the right merchandise.

Company’s involved in the production and sales of items such as computers, cars, vans, tires, and commercial real estate require the position of the salesman to be set up in the organization to be responsible for producing sales for the company.

The salesman works under the supervision of the sales manager and report to him or her.

To succeed as a salesman, you should have a personality that is trustworthy. This will make customers to rely on you to make their purchasing decision.

You should be able to understand what your customers actually desire by interacting and asking them relevant questions.

The salesman job description involves all tasks and activities that enable the individual to sell the company’s products effectively.

There may be some variations in the job description from one industry to another; however, they are basically the same.

Salesman Job Description Sample/Example/Template

Here are some duties, tasks, and responsibilities a salesman will be expected to perform as part of his/her job description:

• Maintain and develop friendship with the company’s existing customers by ensuring regular contact with them through meetings, speaking with them on the phone, and also communicating with them by email.
• Pay visit to prospective customers in assigned locations to answer their questions and resolve whatever issues they may be having about the company’s products, and to ask for new orders.
• Compile customer and market information useful for planning and executing sales.
• Build prospective customer list from business directories, colleagues in the industry, and industry contacts, to use as lead in recruiting new customers and making new sales.
• Negotiate issues such as price variation, product delivery and specifications with managers.
• Discuss special promotions with managers and provide advice on upcoming product design and development.
• Collaborate with product suppliers to ensure existing orders are delivered.
• Ensure goods on display in the showroom are of good quality.
• Document all order information and purchases and send copies to the Manager at the close of work.
• Periodically review sales achievements for the purpose of improving future performance.
• Strive towards having better understanding of customers and their requirements so as to be able to advice them in making better purchasing decision.
• Ensure cost calculations are accurate and provide quotations, and credit terms to customers.
• Introduce company’s products to customers while emphasizing products’ strongest features.

Download this job description template.

Salesman Job Description for Resume

A resume for seeking the position of salesman can be written by using information from the job description example above in making the job history section of the resume, and other sections.

Salesman Requirements: Skills, Abilities, Knowledge for Career Success

To perform the duties of salesman effectively, the individual is required to have certain qualifications and qualities.

To qualify for the position, the individual may be required to possess a degree. However, this is not always the case as the qualification demanded by the employer depends on the peculiarity of the position with each employer.

Some employers may require a high school diploma or its equivalent.

To be effective on the job, the salesperson should possess excellent skills in communication and the ability to relate cordially with other people so as to be able to negotiate with potential buyers and close sales, relate with contractors, consultants, and other people that are important to selling the company’s products.

They should also have excellent skills in planning and organizing events, and keeping their work environment clean and tidy.

They should possess thorough knowledge of the company’s products, design and usage. This will enable them to answer potential customers’ questions convincingly at anytime.

The salesman should be able to make simple calculations, such as interest, discounts, percentages, and proportions.

These kinds of figures are usually encountered in the course of selling items.

Customers may want to know what their discounts will amount to and how much they will actually be charged if the company is offering a certain percentage discount on a product.

The ability to quickly perform the calculation and provide the answer will be greatly needed.

Salesman Employment

The 2023 employment figure for retail salespersons, including salesman, is 3,684,740 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.

The top industries for employment for retail salespeople were general merchandise retailers, 621,100, clothing and clothing accessories retailers, 492,610, and building material and supplies dealers, 423,960.

Salesman Salary

The average salary for retail salespersons in 2023 according to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics report, is $17.64 per hour and $36,690 annually.

Also, according to BLS, motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing ($34.25 hourly,  $71,240 yearly), automobile dealers ($29.99 hourly, $62,380 yearly), and motor vehicle parts manufacturing ($29.60 hourly, $61,570 yearly) are some of the highest paying industries to retail salespersons, including salesman in the United States in 2023.

Salesman Career Opportunities

There are various career opportunities opened to individuals with salesman work experience, tey include:

1. Business Development

A salesman who wants to advance in their career and learn about stocks, bonds, etc., can consider training at a business development school.

These schools are very helpful in providing the knowledge necessary to become a successful independent salesperson.

2. Sales Engineer

Salesmen who want to go into the field of engineering and design may want to enroll in a sales engineer school.

They can be hired by companies who need assistance with their engineering projects. They will also be able to make contacts for new clients for future sales opportunities.

3. Sales Manager

Sales managers are responsible for making sure that sales are being made within the company they represent.

These can be small companies or large manufacturers. They are looking to make sure that the salesmen in their department are earning the highest revenue possible.

Sales managers may also want to consider going back to school if they do not hold a Bachelor’s degree.

4. Retail Sales Manager

If you are interested in working for a retail store, you should consider going to a retail sales manager school.

These schools provide the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective manager.

They can also help advance your career in the sales field by becoming a manager for the store you work for now.

5. Outside Sales Representative

Some local salesmen may want to go out into their area and make contact with potential clients to sell their products.

They can get referrals from their managers or even from the company that they work for.

They will want to make sure to have sales materials on hand if they are going door-to-door.

6. Product Specialist

If you have been working in sales for a while, you may want to become a product specialist.

This means that you will be dealing with the company’s most expensive products.

You will not only make more money, but the company will be more likely to trust and use your expertise.

7. Sales Representative

A sales representative works for one company and makes sales for that company alone. This is a great job for those people who do not want to work as an independent contractor or field sales representative.

8. Territory Manager

A territory manager is in charge of a specific area. They work with clients and make sales within that territory.

They will be in contact with many salespeople while they are working on their duties. If they are successful, they may have the chance to move up within their company.

9. National Account Manager

National account managers also work with clients, but they deal with larger companies such as Walmart.

They make sure that the company is getting revenue and helping the client to increase their revenue.

10. Director of Sales

If you have been working as a salesman for years, you can move into the director of sales position.

This position works directly with the president of the company and makes sure that all sales are being made.

If a salesman has advanced in their career, they may be able to move up to this position.

They will be rewarded for their experience and knowledge with more pay and perks while still enjoying their job as a salesman.

Challenges faced by Salesmen on the Job

The major challenges faced by a salesman on their job include:

1. Time Effectiveness

In order to make sales, product knowledge is essential. However, there are only 24 hours in a day, and so it can be hard to learn enough about every product in a company’s portfolio.

2. Persistence

To avoid rejection, salesmen may try to make their pitch quickly and then move onto the next prospect.

This can result in the salesman missing important objections or questions, and so being unable to close the sale.

3. Negotiation Skills

Often, salesmen operate on a commission-only basis. In order to earn more money, they will try to make sales even if the product is unsuitable for the customer.

This can lead to dissatisfaction with a company’s products which may result in bad word of mouth publicity and ultimately lost business.

4. Selling Skills

Facing possible rejection can make salesmen feel anxious, which can in turn lead to mistakes when trying to close a sale.

Additionally, for one to be successful at sales, it is imperative that you maintain good relationships with all the major sales channels, including customers, dealers, distributors, and wholesalers.

Salesman Job Satisfaction

The salesman job is not satisfactory, says a survey conducted by CareerExplorer.

CareerExplorer interviewed thousands of salespeople, including salesman on their satisfaction in their career and their rating was 2.3 over 5 stars.

The respondents were asked specific questions to gauge their satisfaction for their job, including if they were happy with their salaries, if they found their job meaningful, how well their personalities fitted the tasks they do daily, how enjoyable their work environments are, and if they were utilizing their skills and abilities fully.

The responses and rating they gave to these questions summed up to the overall rating of 2.3 over 5 for their satisfaction as a salesman.

How to Become a Salesman

To become a salesman, here are the steps you need to take:

1. Research the Job Field and Duties

A salesman’s primary responsibility is to persuade businesses and other buyers to purchase the products they represent.

They may show products, provide information, and answer questions. These responsibilities necessitate a thorough understanding of the products being sold.

Salesmen negotiate sales terms as well. They devote a significant amount of time to generating leads for new customers and following up on those leads.

Educational degree qualifications are not always required to enter the salesman career, but they may help you get ahead of the competition.

2. Receive Formal Education or Training

Training is usually required for sales positions. Some people can get training while working in entry-level sales positions or for wholesalers and manufacturers.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an increasing number of salesmen are obtaining college degrees.

Marketing, consumer behavior, sales management, business, and psychology coursework can be beneficial to a salesman.

3. Look for Work

Salesmen can work in either inside or outside sales. Inside sales entails a great deal of phone work and little face-to-face interaction.

Outside sales generally necessitate travel to meet with individual clients.

Some salesmen work for wholesalers and manufacturers directly.

Others work for independent sales agencies that have sales contracts with wholesalers and manufacturers.

The BLS anticipates that employment for wholesale and manufacturing salesmen will grow at a slower than average rate of 5% between 2020 and 2030.

4. Think about Certification

Salesmen who complete training programs and pass certification exams can earn optional certification from professional organizations such as the Manufacturers’ Representatives Education Research Foundation.

Becoming a Certified Professional Manufacturers’ Representative or Certified Sales Professional may demonstrate a higher level of professionalism and industry knowledge to both potential employers and customers.

5. Professional Development

Salesmen who work for wholesalers or manufacturers may advance to positions of greater management responsibility or serve as trainers for newcomers to the field.

Some people start their own sales companies. They advance by gaining more clients and expanding their business.

Major Benefits of a Salesman Career

The sales person career can be the route to a great life with many benefits. There are several benefits of being a salesman:

1. A steady income, such as a wage working as a salesman can reach up to $35,000 per year and more in terms of net profit. Most salaried positions offer retirement benefits such as paid vacations and health insurance as well.
2. Salesmen have the opportunity to expand their business, either by directly buying products in the company’s name or installing themselves as wholesalers who then sell the product for them.
3. A sales person career can be a great field to self-employment and entrepreneurship.
4. Low social barriers in terms of gender and race, as there is no gender discrimination in the field.
5. It is a job with little social stigma because most people are sales people for a living.
6. They work in an environment that is both physically and psychologically stimulating.
7. There is no age limitation for sales people as their job typically does not require any higher education or expertise, so there is no upper age limit for retirement.
8. Salesmen have the opportunity to develop their skills for more sophisticated roles, such as management of a team and improving the efficiency of their departments.

Conclusion

The salesmen career can lead to a great life with many benefits. It is engaged in by many people in the United States and all over the world as a way of making money.

The different positions of a salesman have different duties and responsibilities that anyone who is considering employment would have to take into account to be sure they have the right expertise and experience.

References:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
O*NET OnLine