What Do Technical Products Sales Reps Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Technical Products Sales Reps sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of post-secondary education. They also negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.

Other tasks include:

• Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
• Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
• Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.
• Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
• Answer customers’ questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
• Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.

We asked Technical Products Sales Reps how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 38% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Technical Products Sales Reps advise customers on product usage to improve production. They inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.

A typical day for a Technical and Scientific Products Sales Representative will also include:

• Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.
• Answer customers’ questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
• Compute customer’s installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
• Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
• Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.

We asked some Technical Products Sales Reps a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	40% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	76% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	64% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	15% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	83% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Technical Products Sales Reps also complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork. They may also appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Technical Products Sales Reps Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products. They might also Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.

In addition, they Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.

To some Technical Products Sales Reps, it is also their responsibility to Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Technical and Scientific Products Sales Representative, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/sales/wholesale-and-manufacturing-sales-representatives.htm

http://www.manaonline.org/

http://www.mrerf.org/