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Job outlook for outside sales representatives in the United States
Outside sales representative job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected outside sales representative job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 63,300 new jobs for outside sales representatives are projected over the next decade.
Outside sales representative salaries have increased 9% for outside sales representatives in the last 5 years.
There are over 952,013 outside sales representatives currently employed in the United States.
There are 218,034 active outside sales representative job openings in the US.
The average outside sales representative salary is $60,443.
Are outside sales representative jobs in demand?
Outside sales representative job and salary trends over time
Outside sales representative jobs over time
Outside sales representative job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 952,013 | 0.28% |
| 2020 | 982,744 | 0.29% |
| 2019 | 1,035,997 | 0.31% |
| 2018 | 1,041,262 | 0.31% |
| 2017 | 1,073,379 | 0.33% |
Average outside sales representative salary over time
Outside sales representative salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,443 | $29.06 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $58,359 | $28.06 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $56,976 | $27.39 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $55,476 | $26.67 | --0.3% |
| 2021 | $55,642 | $26.75 | +2.5% |
Outside sales representative jobs by state
Most common states for outside sales representatives
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 506 | 48% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 322 | 46% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 245 | 39% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,626 | 38% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,137 | 37% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 3,212 | 36% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 481 | 36% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 381 | 36% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 4,487 | 35% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,403 | 34% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,819 | 33% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,037 | 33% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 619 | 32% |
| 14 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 3,521 | 30% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 293 | 30% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,432 | 29% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1,029 | 29% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 497 | 29% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,638 | 28% |
| 20 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 814 | 28% |
Most common cities for outside sales representatives
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glastonbury | 9 | 26% | $66,444 |
| 2 | Pasadena | 8 | 6% | $62,768 |
| 3 | Orlando | 15 | 5% | $51,516 |
| 4 | Denver | 19 | 3% | $60,625 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 14 | 3% | $59,775 |
| 6 | Tampa | 13 | 3% | $51,525 |
| 7 | Riverside | 10 | 3% | $62,460 |
| 8 | Indianapolis | 19 | 2% | $65,611 |
| 9 | Boston | 11 | 2% | $67,503 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 10 | 2% | $61,740 |
| 11 | Miami | 8 | 2% | $51,129 |
| 12 | Sacramento | 8 | 2% | $63,887 |
| 13 | Jacksonville | 12 | 1% | $51,684 |
| 14 | Phoenix | 9 | 1% | $58,900 |
| 15 | San Diego | 9 | 1% | $61,767 |
| 16 | Washington | 9 | 1% | $63,208 |
| 17 | Los Angeles | 19 | 0% | $62,735 |
| 18 | Chicago | 13 | 0% | $63,345 |
| 19 | Houston | 9 | 0% | $60,265 |
Outside Sales Representative job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of outside sales representative experts
Weber State University
University of Maryland - College Park
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Northwestern Ohio
University of Maryland - College Park
North Dakota State University
University of Akron
Nazareth College of Rochester
University of Akron
Washington College
University of San Francisco
Florida State University
Arizona State University
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Florida International University
Lloyd Wilson
Professor and Center DirectorWhat general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Lloyd Wilson: Be a strong communicator. Make yourself so valuable that the company will lose business if you decide to accept a position with another company. Show your value by being able to improve the company’s bottom line. Earn the company’s respect by earning the respect of the crop consultants, growers, extension agents, and specialists. Be willing to ask for pay increases once you have reached the point that you believe your knowledge separates you from the pack, so-to-speak. Be wiling to change jobs is necessary, but never burn bridges. Be willing to accept leadership roles, even if it means you have to relocate.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lloyd Wilson: If the graduate is just starting his/her career with a chemical company then the best advice I can give is to learn all you can about major factors that impact herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide efficacy. Reach beyond the products that the company sale and learn how the crop responds to the array of management inputs. Don’t be hesitant to say I don’t know about something but will get back to you on it. Do get back to them. Learn that when you don’t know something, ask the opinion of the consultants, growers, and researchers you work with.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Lloyd Wilson: Communication. A person who is willing to learn by doing. A person who learns the ins and out of all aspect of production of each crop you work with from varietal selection to planting, fertilizing, irrigating, pest management and harvesting will be highly prized. Growers and consultants respect chemical reps who have a strong understanding of all aspects of production and management. Growers and consultants are certainly interested in knowing how to maximize the cost-effectiveness of their chemical options. But don’t b.s. about what you do and don’t know. Nothing wrong with saying I don’t know and will get back to you. Working for a chemical company means you need to know how to calibrate spray equipment, evaluate efficacy, determine cost-efficacy of the array of management options, and know how to work safely with potentially dangerous chemicals. Drone technology is quickly taking off. Obtain a license to operate drones with attachments that allow liquid, granular, and powder payloads application. Know the ins and outs of labels. Know the flexibility that your company provides you in terms of chemical pricing, assume there is a sales side to the position. At times, you will have to recommend other company’s chemistries. But if that happens too often, find a better company to work for. Learn how to work closely with your crop consultants, growers, university researchers, extension specialists, and local extension agents.
Ryan McKeehan
Weber State University
General Sales, Merchandising And Related Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Ryan McKeehan: I advise seeking experiences over money when you are beginning your career. Often, new graduates will take the job that offers the most compensation. Choosing employment that provides the best opportunities to develop different skill sets will pay dividends in the long run. Leadership and problem-solving depend heavily on the experiences one can draw upon.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ryan McKeehan: At the start of one’s career, there are numerous ways to maximize one’s salary potential. One way is to change jobs every few years. The traditional stigma around job hopping has diminished, and each job change can bring new opportunities for salary upgrades and skill acquisition. By demonstrating a willingness to work hard and continuously upgrade skills, one can develop rare and valuable expertise that will be in high demand, opening doors to better opportunities and higher earnings.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Ryan McKeehan: With the rapid advancement of AI and other technologies, the role of salespeople is evolving. In this changing landscape, superior soft skills will be in high demand. The ability to communicate effectively, provide exceptional customer service, and sell ethically will be more crucial than ever. By honing these skills, one can stay ahead in the job market.
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Starting a career in sales will be both exciting and challenging. Below are six tips for those entering this amazing field for the first time.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Maximizing your salary potential requires research, flexibility, and being your best advocate.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: The world is changing rapidly and the Sales field is no exception.
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Kevin Buckley: The biggest factor in earning potential is performance - salespeople get paid based on their ability to hit and exceed quotas through revenue generation. With a sales career, you have a lot of control over earnings. My advice is to be metrics-driven and have a plan to intentionally grow your sales skills through training, mentors, and personal development. Build a reputation for consistent over-achievement. It's also important to do research and understand typical compensation benchmarks. Some may offer higher base pay, while others offer more earnings leverage through aggressive commission/bonus structures.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Buckley: Adaptability - The sales environment is evolving rapidly with changes in buyer expectations, technologies, and go-to-market strategies. Successful salespeople will need to be highly adaptable, comfortable with change, and able to quickly adjust their approach as needed. Those stuck in outdated methods will struggle. Digital Selling - The ability to effectively sell through digital channels and virtual interactions is now table stakes. Mastering skills like virtual presentations, video marketing, social selling, and leveraging sales technology tools will separate the top performers. Buyers expect a seamless, digitally-enabled experience. Business Acumen - More than ever, salespeople need the ability to position their products/services as strategic solutions that tangibly impact the client's key objectives, financial metrics, and business outcomes. Knowing how to speak the language of business strategy is crucial for consultative selling.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Kevin Buckley: My top advice is to be a continuous learner, both about your company/products and about the sales profession itself. Sales is a skill that requires ongoing development through practice, coaching, and studying new techniques. Don't rest on what you learned in school - seek out mentors, training opportunities, and ways to keep enhancing your sales capabilities. I would also advise resilience and to view every 'no' as a step closer to 'yes.' Sales has its share of rejection. Have a positive attitude, persist through obstacles, and be a student of why buyers say no so that you can improve.
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Dr. John Hansen: Regarding the third question, the only real way to maximize your salary in sales is to perform well against the success metrics in place in your role. Sales is, for the most part, an outcome-based profession, meaning that pay increases (or decreases) based on outcomes attained. Whatever the success metrics are in the position one is currently in, they will maximize their income to the extent that they perform well in relation to these success metrics.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. John Hansen: As to the first question, I would suggest any new graduate beginning in sales understand themselves to better understand what type of role they will best fit to. There has been a growing increase in assessment tests in sales to ensure that sales people are being placed in roles they will flourish in. For example, some sales people are more oriented towards finding new customers, while others are more oriented towards managing existing relationships. To the extent that new salespeople can better understand what role they will fit best to, and then secure that role, they are more likely to be successful. Beyond that, there is no substitute for hard work - particularly as one begins their career.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Dr. John Hansen: In terms of the second question, consultative selling has become critically important and will become even more important moving forward in the future. Gone are the days of salespeople simply being able to show up and pitch products while negotiating price. Today, instead, salespeople must be able to craft solutions in response to their customer’s problems. They must truly be consultative in their approach, guiding their customers through the purchasing process. To the extent that they can do this, they will be more successful in their careers.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: Network, get an internship, do action research etc - anything to add practical experience to the classroom knowledge base.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: All things social media are important, and so writing skills still matter.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: With this major, probably the best salaries are from sales jobs, which many people shy away from because they think only of hustling used cars, but sales can be very good work.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Scott Lail PhD, MBA, CPA, CFE, CGMA, SPHR: I think, like many other things in life, it is important to treat beginning and maintaining a
professional career as a continuous process and not just having to find a job when one is
needed. This process should include many elements that include the following:
Prepare yourself that it takes a lot of effort to get into a career and to get a career
path started. Starting out, there will be more “no” than “yes” responses received.
Remember, the better careers will normally be more difficult to get into and receiving
a “no” is no reflection on your worth as a person. It just means it is not the right
opportunity at that specific time for you
Seek out opportunities to interact with individuals either in your desired field or
organization and see what information can be gained to help you have a clearer
understanding of what that industry/organization values and entails
Make connections with individuals as you meet them, even if knowing them does not
meet an immediate need, and try to be as helpful to the connections as you would
hope that the connection would be to you. Professional Social Media sites such as
LinkedIn are a great way to organize and maintain these connections
Focus on building relationships with individuals at all levels of your organization/field.
This is a great way to practice interpersonal skills and you may also be surprised at
what you can learn from individuals at multiple levels (not just the top level) of your
field/organization
Look for opportunities to continuously develop knowledge and skills within your field.
The key is to make sure these opportunities are being offered by reliable and
relevant sources. A lot of fields have organizations that help promote continuous
learning opportunities and where reputable sources can be located
Don’t take the “little things” for granted. Although some things are just expected, it is
important to make sure you are doing them. It is important to note most of these do
not require special skills at all. They include: be timely, be respectful, be honest
(including when you make mistakes), be positive/optimistic, be appreciative, be
focused, and be committed
Set goals and communicate those goals as appropriate with leadership in your
field/organization. “SMART” goals are a great way to help keep focused and
progressing. Having a Personal Development Plan in addition to one specifically for
your organization can guide you to your long-term goals
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Derrek Schartz: Be agile and able to adapt. Sales has changed more of the last 20 years than over the previous 100. It's not your father's sales career. Over the last several decades the role of sales in most organizations has changed dramatically.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Derrek Schartz: To maximize your total income in sales one must always be learning and growing. Improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities particularly in light of the disruptions beginng to occur, such as AI, digitization, and others.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Derrek Schartz: The future of sales will require a change to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of salespeople (KSAs). Knowledge is a very important part of what a salesperson needs to be effective.
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Hank Boyd: Demonstrated proficiency in sales represents a feather in your cap. For many
CEOs, they started their illustrious career in sales. Nowadays, it is a common
launchpad for scores of successful business executives in consumer package goods.
Why is this so? Savvy companies know that it is paramount that new hires
quickly learn who the real target consumers are. Spending time on the front lines will
enhance your later contributions to the firm. For example, after obtaining my MBA from
Berkeley, I had the good fortune to land a sales position at Merck. I served as a Hospital
Representative specializing in broad spectrum antibiotics. My territory consisted of
Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto VA Medical Center, and the Santa Clara
Valley Medical Center.
After 18 months of working diligently in territory, I was offered a promotion to
work inside at Merck's headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey. Once I truly knew the
needs and concerns of my clients - general surgeons, urologists, gastroenterologists,
urologists, and infectious disease specialists - Merck was confident I could craft
relevant literature pieces and design compelling ad campaigns to reach target
physicians.
Mastery of general sales is a highly coveted asset. Once you conquer a given
product domain, the artform of sales is entirely transferrable. Case in point, it is not
unusual for you to begin in pharmaceuticals and then effortlessly segue into medical
equipment sales after a couple of years.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hank Boyd: With the looming prospects of AI, soft skills will reign supreme in sales. While at
first blush it might seem counterintuitive in that product knowledge used to be cardinal
skill, today's salesforce relies heavily on networking. Numerous academic papers lend
credence to this idea. Great people skills often trump wonkish knowledge about the
product line.
As we wade further into the 21st Century, environmental scanning (or better yet
the innate ability to read prospects) will remain pivotal. Exceptional salespeople
instinctively scan a prospective client's office noticing all the trappings. They are trying to find something they can comment upon, by doing so they can establish common
ground. Once a connection is forged, salespeople move out of the box of being pesky
interlopers into becoming valued associates.
Lastly, if you decide to embark on a career in sales never forget the tried-and-
true axiom of ABC - always be closing. This phrase means having the gumption to ask
for the business. While sales recruits might have congenial and bubbly personalities, if
they cannot look the prospect in the eye and ask for the business, they ought to find
another profession.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Hank Boyd: Nothing provides greater leverage in salary negotiations than having
documented sales experience. My advice would be to garner as much experience as you
can while in college. For example, you could fundraise for a nonprofit cause or a local
political campaign. If you have affiliation with a fraternity or sorority, volunteer to
serve on its recruitment committee. The bottom line is that you must convince any
potential employer that you naturally relate to people from all walks of life.
Eric Gjerdevig
Lecturer in Marketing, Director for the Center for Professional Selling and Sales TechnologyNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Eric Gjerdevig: First, remember that what you get out of your first job is so much more than compensation. A great manager mentoring you is priceless: it will pay you back dividends for the rest of your career. That said, in sales our compensation is typically tied to our performance. That means we need to put yourself out there, pay attention to the actions of the most successful salesperson in the company, learn everything you can, and manage your time well.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Eric Gjerdevig: I might be a contrarian with this answer. I think as technology advances very quickly with AI it's our human-to-human skills that will become rarer and more valuable over the coming years. It might sound silly but things such as asking questions, listening, storytelling, and being empathetic can function like superpowers and I think they will even more in the coming years.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Eric Gjerdevig: Learning doesn't stop when you graduate. How jobs are done will continue to evolve more quickly with advancing technology. To excel you need to continue to learn, develop new skills, and be adaptive.
Director Dave Payne M.S.
Associate Professor of Practice / SalesUniversity of Akron
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Director Dave Payne M.S.: Planning, practice, and skills are the keys to a successful career launch. Practice and coaching feedback will build competence, which builds confidence and sales performance success.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Director Dave Payne M.S.: Skills and competence are king! Sales professionals are paid a commission and bonus based on "sales performance" results...this will continue to drive top sales reps and managers to earn some of the highest incomes in the country. I am very proud to share that U Akron sales graduates have had a nearly 100% job placement rate for over a decade, with some of the highest starting incomes in the state of Ohio. This is directly tied to the gracious support of the 30 Fisher Institute for Professional Selling corporate partners which hire them every semester.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Director Dave Payne M.S.: As Director of the Fisher Institute, sales education professor and sales coach for the UA sales competition team, I look for three basic characteristics in our sales students. I look for "likability", "coachability" and "hunger for success". Here at U Akron, we are on the cutting edge of pioneering sales research and next level sales education utilizing AI, infrared technology, and biometrics/ physiological responses to sales stress. Skills are king... creating a new system for sales practice, AI feedback and repetition will be the game changer. Advancing skills to make a 21-year-old sales graduate to exhibit the skills and talent to appear ten years more experienced will be very attractive to hiring companies. This is happening at Akron next semester.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Meagan Glasco M.S., M.R.: I encourage graduates to connect with professionals in their field through LinkedIn, networking events, and/or alumni connections at their schools. Graduates can initiate conversations and schedule coffee or Zoom meetings to learn about roles in their industry of choice. Engaging with professionals currently working in graduates’ industry of choice will provide invaluable insight into essential skills, refine their career interests, and expand their network. The opportunity to hear real-life experiences shared by professionals is irreplaceable for graduates beginning their careers.
Timothy Kneeland
Professor and Chair History, Politics, and LawNazareth College of Rochester
History
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Timothy Kneeland: Your resume should be as thorough as possible so that you can advocate for the highest salary in your range. Be sure to weed out things on your resume that do not fit the job you are seeking. Once you are hired, make yourself indispensable, and prepare for your biannual or annual review by preparing a list of accomplishments. Sometimes your supervisors are distracted and do not know about all your efforts. You need to remind them in a friendly and professional manner.
Frederik Beuk
Associate Professor of MarketingUniversity of Akron
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to an Outside Sales Representative?
Frederik Beuk: The key consideration is whether you really want to maximize your initial salary. For instance, envision two job opportunities: one offering a salary of $50,000 per year, where you'd be the most junior team member, and the other providing $75,000 per year, with the caveat that you would be the sole sales representative for the firm. The optimal choice is to prioritize learning opportunities. In this context, being the lone salesperson for a company that compensates its highest-earning sales professional $75,000 might not be your superior option. Instead, seek a position that offers the greatest potential for learning. Subsequently, demonstrate your negotiating prowess, a critical sales skill, by securing a slightly higher salary. However, it's essential not to fixate on maximizing your starting salary. Your career requires a long-term strategy, and you have several decades ahead of you to maximize income.
What Outside Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Frederik Beuk: Digital Literacy and AI are obviously on everybody's mind. The benefit for early career professionals is that these are skills they can use to differentiate themselves from more established professionals. Embrace these tools. At the same time, being an authentic storyteller that helps buyers envision the potential of your solutions can be an extremely powerful skill.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Frederik Beuk: Digital Literacy and AI are obviously on everybody's mind. The benefit for early career professionals is that these are skills they can use to differentiate themselves from more established professionals. Embrace these tools. At the same time, being an authentic storyteller that helps buyers envision the potential of your solutions can be an extremely powerful skill.
Dr. Michael Harvey
Provost and Dean, John Toll Professor of Business ManagemenWashington College
Business Department
What skills will help Outside Sales Representatives earn the most?
Dr. Michael Harvey: Quantitative skills and computer coding skills are in the highest demand and shortest supply-and people who can combine them with strong, soft skills end up going the furthest.
Marthinus JC van Loggerenberg
Assistant Professor of AdvertisingUniversity of San Francisco
USF Advertising Program
What skills stand out on Outside Sales Representative resumes?
Marthinus JC van Loggerenberg: -Objective observation towards problem-solving and building tangible value
-Conceptual thinking and planning towards practical implementation
-Specialist skills in a very particular area of an advertising discipline landing credibility
What hard/technical skills are most important for Outside Sales Representatives?
Marthinus JC van Loggerenberg: It really depends on the individual's field of expertise, but in general, I would say:
-Strategic planning skills that include sales strategy
-Market research and analysis, in particular, consumer behavior analysis
-Marketing expertise (or excellent understanding) in areas like SEO, lead generation, PPC, content creation, social media, etc.
-Value and process improvement, especially in the digital media space
-Computer skills to create marketing reports, ad mockups, and presentations (includes likes of MS Office, Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, etc.)
What soft skills should all Outside Sales Representatives possess?
Marthinus JC van Loggerenberg: -Excellence in communication
-Empathy and collaboration
-Holistic (or systemic) as well as analytical thinking
-Organizational skills that include prioritization and time management
-Confidence, charisma, showing ambition, and leadership
3. What hard/technical skills are most important?
What skills will help Outside Sales Representatives earn the most?
Marthinus JC van Loggerenberg: -Brand identity design
-Strategic brand communication planning that includes interpreting data towards viable insights and setting meticulous metrics
Consumer journey mapping
-Mastery of crafting strategies and creating content for multi-platform digital media advertising
... quite in demand at present is the ability to create brand community and influencer strategies
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.
Assistant Department Chair and Executive Director, Center for Human Resource ManagementFlorida State University
Department of Management and the Center for Human Resource Management
What's a good job out of college for Outside Sales Representatives?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: This is a subjective question based on an individual's occupational interests, however, from my perspective a good job is one that allows you to apply your knowledge, skills, and experiences and provides some fulfillment in your life. Of course, there are many factors that influence your job choices such as your skillset, experience, pay, and the needs of the market for your skills, etc. However, as employers adapt to the evolving market demands, fields that will see higher levels of growth and new job opportunities are in the areas of healthcare, financial services, information technology and data security, software development, energy, data science and mathematics, analysts, and management. Specifically, my research suggests job growth over the next 3 to 5 years in the fields of:
-Healthcare. We are seeing demand in this field for both clinical and administrative jobs. Interestingly, according to the BLS, the area of home health is one of the fastest growing career areas with approximately 1.2 million jobs being created between 2019-2029. Additionally, administrators in healthcare industries are project to see a 32 percent growth in job opportunities over the next decade.
-Technology. This is a broad area that contains everything from software development to information and data security to artificial intelligence. As technology continues to become integrated with all jobs, including lower skilled jobs, technology professionals will continue to be in demand.
-Financial Services. Given the importance of financial management for individuals and organizations, financial management jobs are anticipated to grow by 15 percent over the next decade.
-Management. Managers, human resource professionals, consultants, and management analysts will continue to grow as organizations need professionals to help lead and manage turbulent times and changes in consumer demand. The BLS estimates approximately 500,000 new jobs will be created in this area over the next decade.
-Data Science/Operational Research/Mathematics. There are numerous occupations within this category. As a field, the need for jobs that analyzing data to inform organizational decisions is projected to see an increase of 31 percent.
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.
Professor of Supply Chain ManagementArizona State University
W. P. Carey Supply Chain Management
What soft skills should all Outside Sales Representatives possess?
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.: In general, people skills: leadership, effective communication and negotiation skills, the ability to work effectively with people in different cultures and in a team environment.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Outside Sales Representatives?
Dr. LaRae Jome Ph.D.: Yes, while we might try to get back to "normal" or pre-pandemic times, there will likely be an enduring impact on psychology graduates.
For those psychology students who have been finishing their college degrees during this time, they may not have been able to participate fully in internship, volunteer, or research experiences with faculty. These out-of-classroom experiences can be useful in obtaining employment after college or in having a more competitive applications to graduate schools in psychology. On the positive side, many of the "soft skills" that psychology undergraduates learn in college will be very valued in the post-pandemic workplace. We are seeing an increased need for workers who have good critical thinking, listening, and empathy skills.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Outside Sales Representatives?
John Tobon: Yes, the enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates will be how and where they will work. The pandemic forced employers to overlook their reluctance to telework arrangements in order to survive. The biggest change will come in government employment where all but the most sensitive positions will enjoy greater flexibility. This will also mean less travel for in-person meetings, as more people become more comfortable with video conferencing and as the technology becomes more secure and intuitive to the users, business travel will be reserved for only the most necessary activities.
What's a day at work look like for an Outside Sales Representative?
John Tobon: In the near term the work day will look a lot like online learning. Everything, starting with onboarding of employees has transitioned online. Newly hired employees may not meet their supervisors and co-workers in person for several months, if ever. There will be more real time online collaboration and greater need for proficiency in the use of communication software. Graduates may not necessarily live in the city where their employer is located, this will provide greater freedom to employees but it will also increase the level of competition for some positions. In the long term, workplace will look different. As a cost savings measure, companies will maximize the amount of offsite work that can be performed by implementing hybrid models that incorporate maximum telework arrangements.
What will help Outside Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
John Tobon: In the field of federal law enforcement the two growing needs are computer forensics and forensic accounting. Every law enforcement agency is in dire need of these skills, all criminal cases require forensic analysis of multiple devices such as phones, tablets, and computers. The demand for these skills far outweighs the current number of personnel available to perform the analysis. The complexity of the financial system has made tracing of ill-gotten gains a serious challenge even to the most experienced investigators. There is also greater emphasis on identifying the means and methods employed by criminal organizations and their co-conspirators to conceal illicit proceeds. The move to create greater transparency in beneficial ownership registries will create a flood of information that will require the unique skill set of forensic accountants to achieve success.