Top Sales Representative Job Description Template for Effective Hiring

Who Are Sales Representative? What Should I Look For When Hiring One?

To create an effective sales rep job description, it’s important to recognise the core responsibilities of a sales representative. Sales isn’t only about closing deals; it’s also about building relationships and understanding clients’ needs.

For an outbound-oriented salesperson, seek candidates skilled in lead generation. This includes proficiency on platforms where potential customers can be found and the ability to acquire referrals from existing clients. Cold calling is also a valuable skill, requiring a unique approach to engage prospects effectively.

Strong interpersonal skills are essential for both inbound and outbound sales. Beyond closing deals, sales reps often serve as customer service liaisons, hearing client complaints and fostering strong relationships. The best sales reps handle complaints effectively and proactively nurture customer satisfaction.

Sales representatives should also be comfortable with public speaking. This is particularly relevant for sales presentations and product demonstrations, where they showcase the company’s offerings to potential clients.

Effective communication within the sales team is just as important. Although sales might seem like an individual role, teamwork is crucial. Collaborating with other salespeople to close deals, share product knowledge, and stay informed about industry trends strengthens the sales process.

Sales reps also provide valuable insights into business development opportunities. They are instrumental in crafting strategies to boost brand awareness and uncover new market trends.

Successful sales reps keep pace with the latest sales techniques, industry trends, and competitors’ strategies. Staying educated on these fronts allows them to remain effective in a competitive market.

Essential Skills to Look for in a Sales Representative

Focus on the specific skills that contribute to success in this role to craft an ideal sales representative job description.

The most critical trait for any salesperson is a proven ability to convert leads into sales. Various sales techniques exist, but a demonstrated record of meeting or exceeding targets is a solid indicator of future performance.

Other valuable attributes centre around a salesperson’s interpersonal skills. Sales is often about problem-solving for the client, which means sales reps must work closely with clients to achieve shared goals. Strong communication skills are essential for understanding and fulfilling customer needs.

A good sales representative maintains consistent contact with clients, building long-term relationships that feel almost like a partnership. Look for candidates who can share examples of their problem-solving abilities. Since clients may not always understand the products or services, the sales rep should identify the best solutions to meet client-specific needs.

Another key skill is a thorough understanding of the sales process. Familiarity with CRM systems, inside and outside sales, and different sales phases allows a sales rep to use the right sales tools and manage follow-ups and deadlines effectively.

While education should not be the primary focus in a sales rep job description, a bachelor's degree in a business field can be advantageous, particularly for new graduates. Degrees in marketing, communications, or business administration indicate that candidates understand business fundamentals and are committed to the field.

For technical products, it may be worthwhile to prioritize candidates with relevant educational backgrounds. If you’re selling financial services, for instance, a background in accounting or finance can be an asset. For software products, candidates with a degree in computer science or IT may be well-suited to understand and convey product benefits to clients.

Average Salary for a Sales Representative

Knowing what salary to put for your prospective sales representatives requires some research about your regional cost of living and standard rates for sales in your industry.

Generally, a salary of $40,000-$80,000 is rather atypical. The former is more for entry level employees or those living in low cost of living, the latter is more of what you may expect in New York City or Los Angeles.

Commissions and bonuses are major incentives for sales representatives. Again, they depend heavily on the price of the product and the industry you're working in, but these are major factors that determine a sales representative's overall income.

7 Sales Representative's Job Description Templates

Let's review what job descriptions for sales representatives in different industries should look like.

Tips for Writing a Great Sales Job Description

When crafting your sales job description, incorporating the right keywords is essential for optimizing your listing for relevant searches. Consider including terms like:

• "Sales Representative"
• "Sales Process"
• "Customer Relationship"

Think about the keywords that job seekers might use when searching for positions and align them with the type of candidates you want to attract.

1. Describe Your Company Culture

Brilliant sales representatives may be willing to take a slight pay cut to work for a company where they feel comfortable. Be specific about your company culture:

• Are your sales representatives more teamwork-oriented or do they work autonomously?
• Are departments isolated, or do you encourage collaboration through ad-hoc projects?
• Is your workplace casual and laid-back, or is it more traditional and fast-paced?

2. Use an Inviting Tone

Regardless of your company’s formality, aim for an inviting and conversational tone in your job description. A dry, robotic tone can intimidate potential candidates. Instead, give insights into the personality of your company and its employees to make the opportunity more appealing.

3. Detail Daily Responsibilities

Employers often focus too much on the big picture in job descriptions and forget to include the daily activities involved in the role. Help candidates visualize their responsibilities to determine if they’re a good fit. Include specifics about what they will be doing day-to-day, as this clarity can attract the right candidates.

4. Include Key Information

Do not omit essential details such as benefits, perks, and work hours. Just like salary and commission, these elements demonstrate the value your position offers to potential sales representatives. Highlight what makes your company an attractive place to work.

5. Emphasize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Clearly state your company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Avoid any language that could alienate potential candidates. Modern businesses recognise the importance of DEI, and doing so will help attract a broader pool of prospective sales representatives.

Conclusion

Once you understand the different tasks a sales representative can do and what your company needs, creating a sales representative job description becomes rather easy. State what they will do and what skills they'll need to be considered, and make sure to supply relevant information that makes them want to join you. Sales is one of the most varied roles, so you can customize the description as you see fit. To learn more about other highly diverse roles, you can read more articles on Cake!

— Originally written by Christopher Grudge —