How to write a Sales Representative job description
Your job description is the first touch-point between your company and your new hire. With millions of people searching for jobs on indeed each month, a great job description can help you attract the most qualified candidates to your open position. To get you started, here are some tips for creating an effective job description.
Sales Representative job title
A great job title typically includes a general term, level of experience and any special requirements. The general term will optimize your job title to show up in a general search for jobs of the same nature. The level of experience will help you attract the most qualified applicants by outlining the amount of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if your position is specialized, consider including the specialization in the job title as well. But avoid using internal titles, abbreviations or acronyms to make sure people understand what your job posting is before clicking.
Examples of Sales Representative job titles
- Sales Representative
- Senior Sales Representative
- Commercial Sales Representative
- Sales Representative (Part-Time)
- Sales Agent
Sales Representative job summary
A great job description starts with a compelling summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is a good fit.
Example of a Sales Representative job summary
Our growing retail business seeks an experienced, motivated Sales Representative to greet customers, help them find what they need and upsell new products. We’re looking for a professional who can quickly absorb and retain product knowledge. The successful candidate will receive on-the-job training for two weeks, then take over management of the floor. On average, 200+ customers visit our store each day, so the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment is a must. If you love a challenge and have a working knowledge of tech products and gadgets, we can’t wait to see your resume.
Sales Representative responsibilities and duties
The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and who the job reports to.
Examples of Sales Representative responsibilities
- Greet and assist customers as they shop for new products
- Suggest applicable and relevant upsells to help customers walk out the door with everything they need
- Meet weekly, monthly and quarterly sales quotas
- Learn how products work and how to troubleshoot issues with customers
- Prepare and submit weekly sales reports to management
- Assist other team members with transactions when necessary
Sales Representative qualifications and skills
Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful hire. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.
Examples of Sales Representative skills
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- 2+ years’ direct or inside sales experience
- 4+ years’ retail experience a plus
- Ability to translate complicated technical jargon for the average consumer
- Experience working with sales volumes greater than $200,000
Willingness to work from alternate store locations when needed