Do you qualify for a sales job

Working hours can be long and irregular, and usually depend on meeting targets for appointments or sales. Administration work is usually carried out between appointments or at home at the end of the day. It may be possible to work part time.

Sales representatives visit customers at their homes, offices or factories, which requires a lot of driving. If they cover a large area, they may spend most of the week travelling and staying in hotels. When not on the road, they are likely to work in the company's office or at home.

A full, clean driving licence is highly advantageous and may be essential in some jobs.

Depending on the employer, some overseas travel may be required.

Salary and other benefits
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

Starting salaries may be from around £15,000 a year.
Experienced sales representatives may earn up to £35,000 a year.
Top salaries, including commission, may be £50,000 or more.
Most sales representatives get a basic salary plus commission. This commission basis is usually shown as an OTE (on-target earnings) figure in job adverts. They may receive a petrol allowance and a company car.

Skills and personal qualities
A sales representative should be:

enthusiastic, ambitious and self-confident
a natural extrovert and good at networking
persuasive and good at negotiating
able to take rejection
smart in appearance and polite in manner
knowledgeable about the company's products and those of their competitors
able to work alone and on their own initiative
able to plan a schedule and keep to it
quick at calculations.
Interests
It is important for a sales representative to have an interest in:

meeting new people
the specific products or services they are selling.
Getting in
Sales representatives work for manufacturers and wholesale distributors in every sector - from foodstuffs and machinery to pharmaceuticals and printing services. About 14 per cent of sales representatives are self-employed or work freelance, often on a commission-only basis.

There is always a need for skilled sales representatives and there are opportunities throughout the UK and abroad.

A number of recruitment agencies specialise in sales positions, many in specific sectors, and there is a huge range of sales jobsites that advertise and recruit for sales jobs. Posts may also be advertised in magazines and newsletters relevant to the particular sector, as well as in Jobcentre Plus offices and local and regional newspapers.