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Manufacturer's representative skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Jonathan Byers,
Kaustav Misra Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical manufacturer's representative skills. We ranked the top skills for manufacturer's representatives based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 21.7% of manufacturer's representative resumes contained product line as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a manufacturer's representative needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 manufacturer's representative skills for your resume and career

1. Product Line

Product line is a collection of similar or related products that may be under a single brand manufactured by the same company. It may include different varieties of a specific product of a brand which comes in different categories. In other cases, the product line may differ in some characteristics despite being from the same manufacturer.

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use product line:
  • Leveraged this narrow market segment to maximize profitability for the company's 50-plus commodity product lines through highly effective packaging techniques.
  • Train contractors and wholesale distributor staff on sales techniques, design, installation/service fundamentals, and features/benefits of product lines represented.

2. Trade Shows

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use trade shows:
  • Orchestrated regional merchandising trade shows involving key manufacturers.
  • Represent manufacturers at regional and national trade shows.

3. Distribution Channels

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use distribution channels:
  • Represented quality manufacturers through identifying the needs and creating solutions that will promote growth for various distribution channels.
  • Performed Distribution Manager function to maintain positive and favorable relationships with our Distribution Channel Partners.

4. General Contractors

A general contractor is a person who has the job of overseeing a construction project after a contract has been signed between the property owner and the contractor. A general contractor is also called a direct contractor and provides all of the labor, material, equipment like tools, and transport. Most of the time, a general contractor also hires multiple subcontractors to do all or different parts of the construction work.

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use general contractors:
  • Assisted general contractors and commercial developers in design-build opportunities.
  • Represent residential and commercial General Contractors in the Ohio and Kentucky focusing on garage, pole building and remodeling.

5. OEM

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and is a term for a company that produces and markets the parts of equipment for another company after having received the go-ahead to do so. The company can also produce devices from the combination of parts from different companies while in partnership with these companies. This is common in the computer hardware industry and is popular in the automobile and computer industries.

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use oem:
  • Promoted 12 principal manufacturers of electronic equipment to major OEM customers and distributors.
  • Represented leading electronic component manufacturers and manufacturing service providers to regional OEM accounts.

6. State Territory

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use state territory:
  • Represented contract furniture manufacturers to architects and interior designers in five-state territory.
  • Developed professional relationships with key decision makers in a three state territory.

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7. 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 manufacturer's representatives use product knowledge:
  • Conducted nationwide product knowledge classes annually for all Home Depot divisions nationally.
  • Train distributor sales representatives in product knowledge and cost/benefit.

8. Electronic Components

Electronic Components refer to the structure of a circuit that controls and directs electric current to perform various tasks. These functions include signal computation, amplification, and data transfer. It includes several components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, or diodes and connected using conductive wires or traces. Though, a circuit is complete only when it forms a loop.

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use electronic components:
  • Introduced various board level electronic components to the customers engineering community.
  • Answered technical questions regarding electronic components.

9. Territory Sales

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use territory sales:
  • Retail Territory Sales /Merchandiser Calling on, selling, and merchandising Independent C-stores and Mom & Pop areas for Diamond Foods.
  • Increased territory sales threefold in first two years Pioneered first installed pilot plant filling system into the J.M.

10. Dealer Network

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use dealer network:
  • Systematized interaction with dealer network through communications, to strengthen relationships and increase sales.
  • Prepared and implemented authorized dealer network distribution within a five state area.

11. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use business development:
  • Partnered with a regional entrepreneurial company focused on new business development and account consultation for durable label product applications.
  • Utilized knowledge of emerging market trends to implement business development initiatives, capitalizing on consumer needs.

12. HVAC

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use hvac:
  • Assisted management in contacting present and future clients to inquire about retrofitting HVAC applications with Variable Frequency Drives
  • Recognized as the top grossing national sales rep for Emerson Industrial Automation's HVAC division.

13. Sales Presentations

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use sales presentations:
  • Developed exceptional sales presentations to deliver competitive research analysis, new targeted markets, and sales forecasts to senior management.
  • Designed developed and delivered sales presentations tailored to individual accounts ensuring conversion to, and use of K-C disposable products.

14. 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 manufacturer's representatives use account management:
  • Leverage proven account management abilities to support business generation programs in my territory while successfully managing +50 distributor accounts.
  • Utilize solution selling and account management techniques to maximize the business relationship and opportunities within my targeted territory.

15. Product Training

Product training ensures that all employees fully understand their roles and improve their skills to communicate with customers about the organization's products or services.

Here's how manufacturer's representatives use product training:
  • Created written technical specifications and conducted new product training for architectural firms within Utah/Idaho sales market.
  • Created additional sales and solidified customer relationships through effective in-services and product training.
top-skills

What skills help Manufacturer's Representatives find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on manufacturer's representative resumes?

Jonathan ByersJonathan Byers LinkedIn profile

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 manufacturer's representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kaustav Misra Ph.D.Kaustav Misra Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Dean, Central Connecticut State University

This pandemic taught us many things and one important thing that we have an efficiency gap.

The way of doing business will be much more technology orientated. Hence graduates should be ready to unskill and upskill their credentials. This time it is necessary to forget the old way of doing business and learn new skills to get a job or stay in a current job. Soft skills have become much more important than before, but a different soft skill set would be essential to interact with future market participants. Thus, a gap year should be utilized to unskill-upskill and enhance relevant credentials by getting into short-long term programs, training, and workshops would be highly recommended.

What type of skills will young manufacturer's representatives need?

Dr. Vallari ChandnaDr. Vallari Chandna LinkedIn profile

Chair and Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Critically, for all graduates, expertise or interests, in sustainability will be important. The reason behind this is the shift in looking at sustainability holistically and not just as something one-person does. This would also give an edge to those with degrees, specifically in sustainability. Graduates with degrees related to sustainability will often be asked to oversee or manage these across-the-board sustainability endeavors. Also, soft skills are highly desired. The ability to be better at time management, work in teams, and have a strong work ethic, will be more desirable. These are all interconnected with remote work as well. Employees who "thrived" in the pandemic were those able to manage their work-life balance, work remotely in teams, all the while performing well. The skills are thus "transferable" to both modalities of work in this way.

What technical skills for a manufacturer's representative 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.

What soft skills should all manufacturer's representatives possess?

John Cicala Ph.D.John Cicala Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Digital Marketing, University of North Alabama

The ability to write for reading and not to write as if they are simply transcribing an internal conversation with the paper or whatever media is being used to communicate. They should also possess the ability to interact and to converse with others in person and to actively listen.

List of manufacturer's representative skills to add to your resume

Manufacturer's representative skills

The most important skills for a manufacturer's representative resume and required skills for a manufacturer's representative to have include:

  • Product Line
  • Trade Shows
  • Distribution Channels
  • General Contractors
  • OEM
  • State Territory
  • Product Knowledge
  • Electronic Components
  • Territory Sales
  • Dealer Network
  • Business Development
  • HVAC
  • Sales Presentations
  • Account Management
  • Product Training
  • Sales Growth
  • Increase Sales
  • Sales Volume
  • Cold Calls
  • Sales Training
  • Product Sales
  • Customer Relations
  • Business Relationships
  • Capital Equipment
  • Sales Strategies
  • Training Seminars
  • Sales Support
  • Product Development
  • Inventory Control
  • Retail Store
  • Market Penetration
  • Product Demonstrations
  • PowerPoint
  • Client Relationships
  • Engineering Firms
  • Sales Quota
  • Customer Support
  • Depot
  • Mid-Atlantic
  • Product Placement
  • Retail Accounts
  • Joint Sales

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.