Sales representative

Career path and progression

With experience and a good track record in sales, you could become an area or regional manager, supporting a sales team.

You could also move into marketing, or work in product and account management.

You might wish to specialise in a particular field, for example medical or pharmaceutical sales.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• the ability to sell products and services
• customer service skills
• persuading and negotiating skills
• persistence and determination
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• administration skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Business - Sales representatives need to understand how businesses operate, including how products reach customers, how pricing strategies work, and how companies compete in the market. They also need to understand concepts like profit margins, market share, and customer relationship management to sell effectively.
• Mathematics - Sales representatives work with numbers every day – calculating discounts, preparing quotes, tracking sales targets, and analysing performance data. They need to be comfortable with percentages, margins, and forecasting to manage their pipeline and hit their targets.
• English Language - Sales representatives rely heavily on clear, persuasive communication – whether writing emails, preparing proposals, or delivering presentations to clients. Being able to adapt their language for different audiences and craft compelling arguments is central to closing deals.
• Psychology - Sales representatives need to understand what motivates people to buy and how to build trust with customers. Knowledge of persuasion, decision-making, and human behaviour helps them tailor their approach to different clients and handle objections effectively.

Also relevant

• Economics - Sales representatives benefit from understanding supply and demand, market trends, and how economic conditions affect buying decisions. This helps them anticipate what customers need and position their products competitively.
• Modern Foreign Languages - Sales representatives who work for companies that sell internationally often need to communicate with clients in other countries. Speaking another language can open up new markets and help build stronger relationships with overseas customers.
• Accounting - Sales representatives prepare quotes, negotiate payment terms, and need to understand how their deals affect a company's revenue. A grasp of financial concepts like invoicing, budgets, and profit helps them have credible conversations with business clients.