1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Sales representative

Sales representative

Alternative titles for this job include Salesperson, sales rep, sales executive, field sales executive

Sales representatives meet or ring customers to persuade them to buy products or services.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£52,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a sales representative

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You may need to do a degree in a subject related to your area of sales, especially if you're selling specialist products or services, for example pharmaceuticals.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

The apprenticeship route you take will depend on the kind of products or services you want to sell. You could do a:

  • Level 3 IT technical salesperson higher apprenticeship
  • Level 4 Sales executive higher apprenticeship
  • Level 6 Business to business sales professional degree apprenticeship

Apprenticeships in retail, customer service or marketing may also give you useful experience for getting into this role.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as an administrator in a sales office. Experience in a retail or customer service role may help you to become a sales rep. You'll also need a good standard of English and number skills.

More Information

Career tips

It will help if you have experience or a background in what you're selling.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in sales from the Institute of Sales Professionals.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to sell products and services
  • customer service skills
  • persistence and determination
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You may:

  • contact new and existing customers
  • make presentations to promote new products
  • agree sales, prices and delivery
  • manage customer enquiries and issues
  • record orders
  • go to conferences to understand industry trends
  • meet sales targets

Working environment

You could work in an office, from home, in a contact centre or at a client's business.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a sales team leader or an area sales manager.

The Institute of Sales Management (ISM) could help you develop your career.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Account Manager and Sales Executive Apprentice

  • Wage: £24,000.00 Annually
  • Location: Jays Close, Viables Industrial Estate, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Business Growth Apprentice

  • Wage: £17,500.00 Annually
  • Location: Room 102, Sunderland Road, Gateshead

Courses In England

Business, Sales and Marketing Level 3

  • Provider: BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE
  • Start date: 02 September 2024
  • Location: Bournemouth

Diploma in Skills for Business: Sales and Marketing

  • Provider: PRIOR PURSGLOVE AND STOCKTON SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2024
  • Location: Guisborough

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.