What does an outside sales do?
An outside sales representative is responsible for generating the company's sales and revenues by offering goods and services to existing and potential clients, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the products, and researching on possible leads. Outside sales representatives monitor the current industry trends to identify new business opportunities that would help the business adjust to market changes to achieve profitability goals. An outside sales representative must have excellent communication and customer service skills, immediately resolving complaints and assisting on marketing promotions to gain sales prospects.
Outside sales responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real outside sales resumes:
- Plan logistical outside sales route, planned/schedule sales calls with web-base CRM program, manage various sales cycles.
- Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
- Perfect the craft of upselling customers.
- Prepare material estimates/bids for houses, windows, doors, trusses, etc.
- Increase existing customer base and generate new dealer and customer relationships within the HVAC equipment and sales.
- Estimate, price, bid and follow up to all mechanical HVAC and plumbing plan and spec projects.
- Deliver timely and accurate business information to independent distributors, and retailers.
- Train multiple independent distributors in corporate policy and in the use of automate ordering and distribution systems.
- Document all activities in CRM to increase efficiency in your daily time management and provide management visibility and reporting.
- Provide merchandising assistance to customers by building displays, negotiating placement, replenishing permanent secondary displays and using POS materials effectively.
- Answer customers' questions regarding products, prices and availability .. DSR
- Utilize specific networking partners including CPA's, personal bankers, current clients and insurance agencies to partner with and obtain referrals
- Develop and execute marketing programs and general business solutions resulting in increase company exposure, customer traffic, and sales.
- Focuse on increasing sales depth with establish customers, leveraging key decision makers in order to develop and accelerate up-sell opportunities.
Outside sales skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Outside Sales are proficient in Customer Service, Product Knowledge, and Ongoing Support. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Interpersonal skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Outside Sales that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 30%
Delivered excellent customer service by coordinating with vendors to troubleshoot customer issues, and assisting dispatchers with scheduling on-time deliveries.
- Product Knowledge, 9%
Provided customer satisfaction through extensive product knowledge, resulting in increased total store earnings.
- Ongoing Support, 4%
Worked closely with the Sales Managers to consistently exceed established quotas while providing superior ongoing support to existing commercial clients.
- Work Ethic, 4%
Promoted 4 times over 5 years due to outstanding performance, high productivity and a consistent work ethic.
- CRM, 4%
Assisted in maintaining Sales leads in CRM, and managed the shipment of marketing materials, new products, and samples.
- Flyers, 4%
Enhanced marketing by creating flyers, industry specific line cards, and promotional campaigns.
"customer service," "product knowledge," and "ongoing support" are among the most common skills that outside sales use at work. You can find even more outside sales responsibilities below, including:
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for an outside sales to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what outside sales do because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale." Additionally, an outside sales resume shows how outside sales use customer-service skills: "identified new product lines through customer needs-analysis. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling outside sales duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to work well with many types of people." According to an outside sales resume, here's how outside sales can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "used excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build and maintain relationships with people across a variety of demographics. "
Physical stamina. This is an important skill for outside sales to perform their duties. For an example of how outside sales responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are often on their feet for a long time and may carry heavy sample products." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an outside sales: "maintained excellent rapport with accounts through consistent follow-up by phone and physical visits to ensure sales growth. ".
Self-confidence. A big part of what outside sales do relies on "self-confidence." You can see how essential it is to outside sales responsibilities because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical outside sales tasks: "maintained accounts * opened new accounts * provided customer service which enabled vendors to sell products with confidence. "
The three companies that hire the most outside saless are:
- Mac Tools1,298 outside sales jobs
- Hi-Line163 outside sales jobs
- Gypsum Management and Supply32 outside sales jobs
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Compare different outside sales
Outside sales vs. Sales development representative
A sales development representative qualifies leads at the sales funnel's initial stages. Sales development representatives need to conduct research for prospective clients and qualify the leads before handing them to the sales team. They develop sales strategies to attract buyers or solicit potential customers. They need to build relationships with their customers to determine their needs and qualify the viability of interests to drive sales. Also, they collaborate with the sales executives making certain that corporate targets and goals are met.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, outside sales responsibilities require skills like "first hand," "ongoing support," "work ethic," and "crm." Meanwhile a typical sales development representative has skills in areas such as "sdr," "lead generation," "account executives," and "linkedin." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Sales development representatives tend to make the most money working in the start-up industry, where they earn an average salary of $54,512. In contrast, outside sales make the biggest average salary, $83,118, in the manufacturing industry.On average, sales development representatives reach similar levels of education than outside sales. Sales development representatives are 0.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Outside sales vs. Sales professional
A sales professional is an employee who is responsible for the management and assessment of the effectiveness of a company's sales representatives and sales team. By setting sales goals, sales professionals work with other departments to learn more about the company's products and services while developing strategies for acquiring new clients. They analyze the company's track sales and status reports and present them to the top management to continually keep improving. Employers may require their sales professionals to have a bachelor's degree with working experience.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, outside sales responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "first hand," "ongoing support," "flyers," and "hvac." Meanwhile, a sales professional has duties that require skills in areas such as "pos," "sales techniques," "real estate," and "lead generation." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Sales professionals earn similar levels of education than outside sales in general. They're 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Outside sales vs. Medical sales representative
A medical sales representative, also known as a pharmaceutical sales representative, is an individual who is responsible for selling and promoting medications and medical equipment. Medical sales representatives set appointments with doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals so that they can promote their company's medical supplies. They are required to build and maintain relationships with their customers so that they can encourage repeat purchases. Medical sales representatives should obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing, pharmacy, life sciences, or a related field.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an outside sales is likely to be skilled in "first hand," "ongoing support," "crm," and "flyers," while a typical medical sales representative is skilled in "patients," "medical sales," "ventilation," and "durable medical equipment."
Medical sales representatives make a very good living in the pharmaceutical industry with an average annual salary of $82,458. On the other hand, outside sales are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $83,118.medical sales representatives typically earn similar educational levels compared to outside sales. Specifically, they're 3.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Outside sales vs. Sales consultant
Sales consultants are employees who work in the sales department of a company. They are usually more skilled than usual sales employees. As such, they are usually given more complicated products or services to sell because they will be able to explain the product or service to the customers better. Sales consultants have in-depth knowledge of the offerings of the company. They talk to customers, understand what the customers need, and match the customers' needs with company products that can address the needs. They should also be updated on trends in the market and what is currently popular with the masses.
Types of outside sales
Updated January 8, 2025
