How to Find an Outside Sales Position?

Answer 1

Outside sales reps call on people outside their offices. Their customers may include consumers, businesses, institutions like hospitals and schools or organizations. These professionals may split their time between existing customers and new business, which requires cold calling. Outside sales reps sell many different products and services, including consumer products, office equipment, industrial products, food, restaurant supplies and pharmaceuticals. Most of these professionals are required to have college degrees plus a few years experience. Companies also like hiring self-starters with strong communication, organizational and analytical skills.

Outside sales jobs fall under several different titles, including account executives, account reps, marketing reps, territory managers and customer representatives. Some of these titles are more common in certain industries. For example, territory manager titles are often used by companies selling industrial products or parts. Account reps and executives may handle specific customers or companies. And marketing reps are common in the insurance industry.

Pay for outside sales positions vary. Some of these workers earn 100 percent commission, which gives them the opportunity to make more money. However, those paid on commission often have large numbers of existing clients. Other outside salespeople make a combination of salaries and commissions or salaries and bonuses. Bonuses often fall in the 1 or 2 percent range, while commissions can be equal or higher than an outside sales reps' salary. Most outside sales reps earn between $29,000 and $96,500 annually, including commissions and bonuses, per PayScale.com. The average salary is about $61,000. Most people who work in outside sales can expect starting salaries in the $30,000 to $40,000 range.

Outside positions are everywhere. Those who want these types of positions should first determine the types of products they want to sell. It is important for sales reps to have passion for what they sell. Also, the more interested a person is in a product, the greater their product knowledge. In other words, they can sell the products with more conviction. Companies usually advertise outside sales positions on the internet on job sites like Simplyhired.com or Monster.com. Individuals may also try checking job classified listings in their local papers. Often, some of the best positions are not advertised. The aspiring sales rep may have to network with people or join professional associations to find them.