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What is a product specialist/sales specialist and how to become one
A product specialist/sales specialist expands relationships with existing customers by directing and supporting collaborative sales efforts to grow one or more assigned product lines. They close on qualified opportunities referred by the business development sales representative, account manager, or other sales personnel, while actively collaborating with these team members.
Some of the functions that they perform in this capacity include supporting the success of an assigned team of salespeople, meeting assigned targets for profitable sales growth in assigned product lines, leading demand-generating marketing activities in the assigned market for the assigned product specialty, and coordinating the customer involvement of other company personnel when needed, including support resources, team members, and management. Although a high school diploma or a GED may suffice, most employers prefer a bachelor's degree in marketing or a related field. Moreover, prior work experience in sales and marketing is also desirable.
The average hourly salary for the position is $35.49, which amounts to $73,812 annually. The career is projected to grow substantially in the next few years and create various new job opportunities all across the United States.
What general advice would you give to a product specialist/sales specialist?
Hank Boyd
Assistant Dean for Civic Engagement & Clinical Professor of Marketing, University of Maryland - College Park
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.
Avg. Salary $76,743
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 19%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.13%
Asian 9.62%
Black or African American 5.20%
Hispanic or Latino 12.42%
Unknown 5.01%
White 67.63%
Genderfemale 33.02%
male 66.98%
Age - 34American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 34Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Product specialist/sales specialist career paths
Key steps to become a product specialist/sales specialist
Explore product specialist/sales specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific product specialist/sales specialist skills
Skills Percentages Customer Satisfaction 8.68% Product Knowledge 8.37% Product Sales 7.66% POS 7.34% Sales Floor 5.56% Complete relevant product specialist/sales specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New product specialists/sales specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a product specialist/sales specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real product specialist/sales specialist resumes.Research product specialist/sales specialist duties and responsibilities
- Manage telephone relationships with senior management of client companies to troubleshoot and develop product.
- Establish and maintain relationships with clients acquire via walk in or phone contact, and while using CRM software.
- Utilize a comprehensive CRM system to drive sales through the creation of campaigns, and events to increase repeat customer rate.
- Perform inside sales, including telemarketing, prospecting, account penetration and product application, consulting and delivery of customer service.
Prepare your product specialist/sales specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your product specialist/sales specialist resume.
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Apply for product specialist/sales specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a product specialist/sales specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first product specialist/sales specialist job
Are you a product specialist/sales specialist?
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Average product specialist/sales specialist salary
The average product specialist/sales specialist salary in the United States is $76,743 per year or $37 per hour. Product specialist/sales specialist salaries range between $50,000 and $117,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do product specialists/sales specialists rate their job?
Product specialist/sales specialist reviews
Communicating and helping my clients.
I love to engage the public and meet new faces. I enjoy explaining all of the benefits of the product I am selling, and making the customer feel important and well informed.
I don't like feeling like I haven't did a great at job at making customers feel comfortable and confident about where and who they are purchasing from.
i enjoy the interaction with people, listen the customer in order to convert him/her into your friend, detect and help customer with his/her needs.
People without vision, dreams and selfishness.
Updated January 8, 2025
