sales representative.

The very best way to increase your salary as a sales representative is to sell more products or services. The more you sell, the more the company will earn, which means you become an important person for the company.

Some salespeople also work with a commission model. The more you sell, the higher your salary for that month. In some cases, the salary is entirely commission-based, but most commonly, salespeople have a monthly salary and, in addition to that, receive commission based on how much they sell.

It is also common for salespeople to work with bonuses. As a sales representative, you are expected to achieve, according to the budget, a certain number of completed deals with customers to receive a bonus. Bonuses can be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on how the employer has decided.

As mentioned, work experience is an important factor that can increase your salary as a sales representative. With more years in the workforce, you are not only a better sales representative who has learned more sales techniques, but you are also more attractive to employers.

At entry level, salespeople usually do not earn as much, and the commission is not so high. By being able to point to a strong sales record over a long period, you also qualify for more challenging sales jobs, where the margins are better and the opportunities to earn more in salary are also better.

Also remember that different sectors and industries pay differently. For someone working as a shop sales representative, the salary is for example lower than for someone working with products or services sold to large companies. There, a deal can be worth millions of kronor and take a long time to finalize.

If you work as a sales representative in the manufacturing industry, you will be responsible for selling manufactured goods to wholesalers, shops, and companies. It is your job to keep track of the market, spot new opportunities, launch new products, and make sure outlets have the products in stock to boost sales. It is not uncommon for a large part of the salary to be commission-based in this type of sales job.

As a sales representative at a wholesale company, your job is to sell products to retailers or individual shops. The important thing is to ensure and meet the retailers' needs for products, so their sales can continue smoothly. You are also responsible for finding new potential retailers.

In this role as a sales assistant, you encounter them daily in various shops and stores across the country. In addition to being the face of the company they work for, a sales assistant is also responsible for creating good dialogue with new potential customers. As a sales assistant, you have daily conversations with customers who come into the store, to help and support them in choosing the products and services they wish to buy.

If you work in external sales, you won't be sitting in an office, but rather you'll be on the move, visiting different clients at their workplaces or in other settings. The goal is to build relationships that will eventually lead to agreements or sales.

As an inside sales representative, you are mainly responsible for maintaining relationships with existing customers. This should ultimately lead to more sales and continuity in the collaboration. In such a sales role, you primarily contact customers by phone and email.

Some common tasks for a sales representative are:

• Conduct research on the company's target groups and markets: as a sales representative, you need to understand the market that is relevant for the products or services you sell. This includes demographics, but also economic factors that can affect sales. With the help of research, you can find new openings in the market where there is a need to fill, as well as discover new market niches for your products.
• Assist in sales and marketing: as a sales representative, you are responsible for helping the company make a profit and earn money. To succeed in sales, you need to be involved in marketing efforts. This may include participating in various trade fairs or events, as well as finding new potential target groups to increase sales.
• Keeping customers satisfied: an important aspect as a sales representative is keeping your customers satisfied. Ensuring that customers receive what has been ordered as well as having good knowledge of the products. You conduct regular follow-ups and have conversations with customers to help with any issues, as well as being able to make additional sales to the same customer. This includes keeping the customer informed about lead times and product upgrades. Being available for questions is also an important part of ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Train other salespeople: if you work as a sales representative and have a senior position, it will be part of your job teaching new salespeople about the routines, sales, and products at the company you work for. Salespeople often work in some form of sales team where you need to make sure everyone can contribute.
• Putting together and presenting sales reports: as a sales representative, you also need to report your sales continuously. An important part is being able to create reports, so that together with other relevant departments in the company you can take necessary actions based on what the reports show. This may involve how the market and demand look, which products are performing best, and what type of customers have been most active in purchasing the products. It is then part of your job to compile all this and present it in sales reports.

A sales representative may need to get used to a varied work environment and it is the employer and the type of sales role you have that determines this.

Many salespeople spend most of their working hours indoors, in a traditional office environment. But there are also salespeople who both receive customers and are constantly on the move to meet clients in their own settings. Some salespeople also work outdoors or directly adjacent to a factory. The products and services being sold will determine where the employer needs to have their sales staff. 

In some sales jobs, you also need to work on public holidays and during celebrations or weekends, since that is when customers are most active. 

The job as a sales representative is largely based on having ongoing dialogue and communication with your customers. Salespeople can spend large parts of the workday on the phone with customers, answering emails, or in face-to-face meetings. You may also need to handle customers who have complaints or who are not satisfied with the products they have purchased.

Salespeople can be found in many industries. This means your colleagues can have all kinds of roles, but sales managers, account manager, human resources administrator, product owner, sales assistant and customer service representative are two colleagues that many salespeople need to work closely with. It is also not uncommon for salespeople to work closely with, for example, PR managers within marketing.

There are many different sales jobs and therefore the conditions can vary when it comes to working hours for a sales representative. 

Some salespeople, such as shop salespeople, usually work during the hours when the shop is open. Often all weekday, evening and weekend work is also common for this role. 

A sales representative is also a job that can involve several different types of employment. A sales representative who works full-time usually works up to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday and regular office hours. But for some roles, such as a sales representative out in the field, it is not uncommon to have flexible working hours, where evening and weekend work can also occur.

Since many salespeople work on commission, you need to perform well yourself to get the best monthly salary possible. Prioritizing and planning your working hours to benefit sales is therefore an important part of the job.

There are also salespeople who work part-time or who have a sales job alongside their studies or another main occupation.

As a sales representative, you have many career paths to choose from, and it's not uncommon for a sales job to be the first step toward a successful career within a company. 

You can specialize in certain areas of the sales profession and, for example, work on a more strategic level. An experienced and qualified sales representative can also become a supervisor or sales manager for an entire department. It is also possible to work in marketing, which in some ways is a professional field closely related to sales.

There are many advantages to finding an open job as a sales representative through Randstad.

• various development and career opportunities

• an experienced contact person who can help you when needed

• many open jobs within your area

• full-time or part-time work depending on the job/assignment 

Do you want a permanent position as a sales representative? A temporary position or substitute job as a sales representative is often a good first step towards a permanent job. Every year, many people get a permanent position with employers thanks to a temporary job that has come through us at Randstad. In addition, many companies recruit their permanent employees directly through Randstad.

Those with academic qualifications will have greater opportunities to advance later in their careers, but there are no specific educational requirements to become a sales representative. At the academic level, you can study either economics, psychology, marketing, or business administration.

Gaining practical experience is important in many roles and professions, but as a sales representative it is especially important. Combining theoretical education with practical experience in working life is a good way to become a successful sales representative.

No matter what level you work at as a sales representative, work experience is an advantage when applying for jobs. Those who have worked in sales early in their career will benefit from the experience in many jobs. It is also good to try many different sales jobs to learn different techniques.

Some important skills for a sales representative are:

• Knowledge of calculations or financial planning: As a sales representative, you need to have a good grasp of finances. Your job is fundamentally about generating profit for the company you work for. Therefore, you need to balance costs against revenue.
• Marketing skills: As a sales representative, you will market products and services as part of your effort to increase sales. You will also research potential markets and target groups.
• Relationship building: Building relationships to increase sales is an important part of being a sales representative. Constant customer contact and the ability to maintain relationships over time are important parts of the job. Being service-minded is therefore a good quality for a sales representative.
• Research: Being able to do research is important for yourself, but also to assist the employer with information that can be useful in planning. With this help, you can also know which customers to target and what the customers are looking for. Having the ability to do research is therefore useful to have.

A sales representative is a job that is needed in many different industries and companies. This means that a job as a sales representative can look very different. But at its core, it’s about building strong relationships, identifying the buyer’s needs, and closing a deal.

A sales representative needs to be good at communicating and negotiating to make deals with customers. You also need to be skilled at doing research to find new markets and target groups, as well as good at marketing to sell products.

Yes, it can be challenging and stressful to work as a sales representative. There are often clear goals, a budget, and in many cases the salary is partially or entirely commission based. The more successful you are, the higher salary you earn.

It's easy to apply for a job as a sales representative. Search among our open jobs in your area. Then submit your CV and your personal letter or apply via LinkedIn.

If you need help with your job application, you can read all our guides job tips here! 

Here you can find more information about the role sales representative (b2b).

You can also read more about the role as shop assistant.