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Business sales associate skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Jonathan Byers,

Anthony McMullen

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical business sales associate skills. We ranked the top skills for business sales associates based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.3% of business sales associate resumes contained business sales as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a business sales associate needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 business sales associate skills for your resume and career

1. Business Sales

Here's how business sales associates use business sales:

Scheduled and completed business-to-business sales calls targeting decision makers.
Assisted the business sales team in reaching and exceeding sales objectives via internal/external customer support and contributing to add-on sales.

2. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is the skill of having better information and knowledge about the product you are selling. Product knowledge is essential for the employees of the companies so they can communicate and inform the customers about the product. Having great product knowledge is essential for a better sales pitch and to give the customer a better and complete idea of the product that will influence him to buy the product eventually.

Here's how business sales associates use product knowledge:

Developed sales materials and maintained current product knowledge.
Greet guests as they entered the store, give exceptional customer service through relationship building, and share product knowledge.

3. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how business sales associates use customer satisfaction:

Established and developed positive customer relations through immediate follow-up and exceptional service resulting in strong customer satisfaction and repeat business.
Analyzed daily business operation reports in order to determine best practices for customer satisfaction and optimum productivity.

4. CRM

CRM stands for Customer relationship management and it is a complete process through which a business or organization monitors and administers its interactions with the customers. A process in which large amounts of data are collected through marketing via a company's website, polls, surveys, and other social media applications. The basic goal of CRM is to target the right audience for their product, and then fulfill their needs, to increase the sales and revenue of the company.

Here's how business sales associates use crm:

Developed in-depth knowledge of Signpost's CRM software which was integral to performance.
Supervised customer experience and satisfaction with business accounts and returning customers through newly developed Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Program.

5. Sales Process

Here's how business sales associates use sales process:

Participate in corporate office orientation of new sales processes and support requirements.
Focus on all aspects of the sales process including generating leads, campaign planning, coordinating production and installation.

6. Customer Support

Here's how business sales associates use customer support:

Facilitated inter-department communication to effectively provide customer support.
Provided sales/customer support for high-volume engine designer/manufacturer.

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7. Sales Associates

Here's how business sales associates use sales associates:

Managed sales associates in a pooled environment to insure company policy and procedures are followed to achieve company expectations.
Collaborated with other sales associates to maintain electronics inventory.

8. Account Management

The process of strengthening the relationship between a company and client is called account management. Effective account management has two key objectives, one is to retain loyal customers and the second one is to help the company grow by creating connections with new customers.

Here's how business sales associates use account management:

Educated by the best account management and business management professionals in industry.
Compiled/interpreted market research data which enabled enhancements to online account management tool.

9. Inbound Calls

Here's how business sales associates use inbound calls:

Received inbound calls to establish professional small to medium business service including video, high speed internet and digital voice accounts.
Handle inbound calls from customers and prospects, while responding to requests from field sales staff and customers for information i.e.

10. Sales Quota

Here's how business sales associates use sales quota:

Consulted on electronic security solutions within assigned territory maintaining assigned sales quota and following established guidelines.
Meet and exceed monthly sales quota objectives by acquiring and retaining new business and repeat business of National Account employees.

11. Customer Retention

Customer retention is the act of dissuading customers from switching to another product or company or the actions a company takes to encourage customers to stay longer and spend more with the company during their lifetime. It's about increasing the number of repeat customers, increasing the profitability of each existing customer, boosting the company's sales, and also helping to build amazing relationships with customers.

Here's how business sales associates use customer retention:

Generated 95% customer retention rate based on ability to provide outstanding, ongoing client service.
Improved customer retention in one year by 30%.

12. Outbound Calls

An outbound call is made by the call center representative to the customers on behalf of the company. Such calls help increase sales and generate revenue for the organization.

Here's how business sales associates use outbound calls:

Completed outbound calls for multiple perspective clients, trained new hires, performed data analysis and entry.
Place a minimum of 90 outbound calls each day.

13. Customer Accounts

Here's how business sales associates use customer accounts:

Staff Accountant Performed all cash applications to customer accounts, bank reconciliations, investment tracking and development of borrower's certificate.
Manage business customer accounts to ensure that the account is best for the business based on productivity and usage.

14. Cold Calls

Cold calling is a kind of business solicitation from customers who didn't express interest in their product and services before. In this technique, a salesman conducts a call with potential customers with whom they haven't had a prior interaction. Cold calling can include phone calls or telemarketing. However, in-person visits like door-to-door marketing are also a type of cold calling

Here's how business sales associates use cold calls:

Developed referrals utilizing existing customers as well as through cold calling techniques.
Focused on lead sourcing and tracking on online communities, cold calling, merchant management, and client relationship management.

15. Sales Objectives

Here's how business sales associates use sales objectives:

Exceeded sales objectives by prospecting new customers and retaining existing customers; year over year at 170%+.
Awarded Pinnacle Club membership, meeting company's top 10% performance sales goals Consistently exceeded sales objectives

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What skills help Business Sales Associates find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on business sales associate resumes?

Jonathan Byers

Assistant Director, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

- Professional skills related to career development competencies such as strong oral & written communication, teamwork & collaboration, leadership, problem-solving ability & creativity, and professional integrity, but we recommend that applicants do not just list these skills. They should provide evidence of how they have used them in their work experience, volunteer experience, academic experience, etc.
-The ability to use technology effectively to solve problems or improve collaboration; this could relate to social media management, computer hardware or software skills, proficiency with general programs like Microsoft Office Suite (also being able to demonstrate the use of these skills in various experiences).
-With diversity, equity, and inclusion becoming more important in 2020, the ability to appreciate different points of view, accept and appreciate different cultural backgrounds & types of identities, and increased awareness of one's own cultural biases and assumptions can also be important to market on a resume.

What soft skills should all business sales associates possess?

Anthony McMullen

Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics, v, University of Central Arkansas

Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the phrase "soft skills" v. "hard skills," as some might take such phrases to imply that soft skills are not as important or are easier to obtain. That being said, to answer the question, communication and critical-thinking skills are essential to a successful career. Communication skills (both oral and written) are necessary to convey messages. It does not matter how much technical expertise someone has if that person is unable to convey that expertise to others. Critical-thinking skills are important because skilled workers need to know how to think through problems. The answer will not always be readily apparent. And even when it is, workers need to ensure that they can analyze it to ensure that it is trustworthy. Maybe the information found is outdated, doesn't apply to the situation, or is just flat out wrong, and a skilled worker needs to be able to make that determination.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, adaptability is also necessary to be successful. So many jobs have changed (and will continue to change). Many people left their respective industries during the pandemic because they couldn't (or did not want to) adapt to change. Those who can, or at least try, will find more opportunities in the workplace.

What hard/technical skills are most important for business sales associates?

Anthony McMullen

Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics, v, University of Central Arkansas

Generally, the most valuable hard skills are going to depend on your field. So, it is hard to identify a specific "hard skill" that is most important. The current "buzz words" in business education is data analytics, or the ability to use tools to analyze and present data. Our society is increasingly data-driven. How do people wade through all of this information and provide something useful? Those who can do this well will have the upper hand.

What business sales associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Matthew Nagler

Professor and Chair, The City College of New York

A gap year might be the right move for some students, especially if the online environment is not for them. Fortunately, I know of students who have obtained great online internships, jobs, and other opportunities that allow them to grow their experience during the pandemic. Many companies are seeking online talent to build out products and marketing strategies.

What type of skills will young business sales associates need?

Jim Drinkwine

Professor, Whatcom Community College

Employers consistently say they want graduates with strong people skills. While technical skills are good, being able to work effectively in group settings is more important. I hear from students all the time about how much they dislike group projects for several reasons. However, the topic of the group project isn't as crucial as the teamwork skills you develop as a part of this type of learning. Take every opportunity you can to develop strong skills in interpersonal communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.

What technical skills for a business sales associate stand out to employers?

Dr. Matteo Cantarello Ph.D.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies, William & Mary

Programming has become an asset within the humanities, too. Even though hires of digital humanists are still limited in number (at least within my discipline), they are probably destined to increase in the near future. Also, flexibility and versatility with respect to teaching are also highly marketable. Any candidate who has experience with in-person, hybrid, and online courses and who has degrees, titles, and certificates that demonstrate that is extremely appreciated on the academic job market.

Do you want to know more?

List of business sales associate skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a business sales associate resume and required skills for a business sales associate to have include:

Business Sales
Product Knowledge
Customer Satisfaction
CRM
Sales Process
Customer Support
Sales Associates
Account Management
Inbound Calls
Sales Quota
Customer Retention
Outbound Calls
Customer Accounts
Cold Calls

Sales Objectives
Trade Shows
Business Development
Sales Techniques
Customer Issues
POS
Customer Relations
Business Accounts
Business Clients
Business Solutions
Windows
Sales Presentations
Customer Inquiries
Customer Service

Billing Issues
PowerPoint
Account Maintenance
Corporate Accounts
Customer Training
Sales Revenue
Inventory Control
Customer Complaints
DSL
Local Businesses
Wireless Phones
Telecommunications Products
ADT

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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