What does a sales representative do?
Basic skills needed to be a sales rep
Benefits of working as a sales rep
Is a sales representative career something I can study?

Have you ever thought of having a career as a sales representative? Perhaps you’re great with people and consider yourself someone who can sell ice to an Eskimo. It’s true, being a sales rep means you need to have great peoples skills, but, it’s also so much more than that. In this article, we’ll be taking you through all you need to know if you’re considering a career path in sales.

What does a sales representative do?

Essentially, a sales representative sells goods, services, or products to customers. They do this by engaging with various customers, finding out what they’re looking for, and working on ways the goods they’re selling can alleviate the issue for the client.

Sales reps need to be able to develop relationships with various clients, harness them and pay attention to them. In order to come up with sales strategies, sales reps need to understand the product or services more than anyone else. They need to be able to guide the customer on making an informed decision, ethically.

Basic skills needed to be a sales representative

As with any career, there are certain basic skill sets required to excel. The more skills you are able to master and use in the workplace, the more likely it is that you’ll have a successful career. There are plenty of skill sets needed to be a successful and effective sales representative, and we’re about to take you through some of the top-level ones. Ready? Let’s dive right in!

Benefits of working as a sales representative

Working in sales is much more than just a 9-5 job. This career path continually forces you to develop both personal skills and experience daily. There is a certain type of caricature attached to being a sales rep. Think of having to be a suave talker in a suit with a pretentious briefcase, but this is very far-fetched from reality. Let’s discuss some of the benefits you’ll experience working in the sales division.

Is a sales representative career something I can study?

Contrary to popular belief, you can in fact study toward becoming a sales rep! Having a successful career in sales requires a diverse range of skills, and at iQ Academy we offer a variety of courses that can fast-track your career in the field.

Learn about the entire ecosystem that drives sales performance and return on investment by taking one or even both of these courses:

• Fundamentals of Marketing Management Short Course
• Customer Relationship Management Short Course

Alternatively if you are more interested in progressing to a managerial or team leader sales role, you may want to consider one of these programmes:

• NQF Level 5: Higher Certificate in Business Management 
• Introduction to Business Management Short Course 
• Principles of Effective Leadership Short Course

We have courses to cater for all levels of experience, you can start working towards your goals no matter if you have any prior knowledge about sales or business. If you need help choosing the right course, feel free to contact us.