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Job outlook for regional sales representatives in the United States
Regional sales representative job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected regional sales representative job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 63,300 new jobs for regional sales representatives are projected over the next decade.
Regional sales representative salaries have increased 9% for regional sales representatives in the last 5 years.
There are over 232,969 regional sales representatives currently employed in the United States.
There are 230,746 active regional sales representative job openings in the US.
The average regional sales representative salary is $57,926.
Are regional sales representative jobs in demand?
Regional sales representative job and salary trends over time
Regional sales representative jobs over time
Regional sales representative job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 232,969 | 0.07% |
| 2020 | 232,357 | 0.07% |
| 2019 | 243,898 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | 242,497 | 0.07% |
| 2017 | 248,184 | 0.08% |
Average regional sales representative salary over time
Regional sales representative salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,926 | $27.85 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $55,929 | $26.89 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $54,604 | $26.25 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $53,167 | $25.56 | --0.3% |
| 2021 | $53,325 | $25.64 | +2.5% |
Regional sales representative jobs by state
Most common states for regional sales representatives
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 553 | 80% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,087 | 45% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 402 | 38% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 236 | 38% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,404 | 34% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,013 | 33% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 4,042 | 32% |
| 8 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 4,026 | 31% |
| 9 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,778 | 31% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,712 | 31% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 328 | 31% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 300 | 31% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1,060 | 30% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 953 | 30% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,615 | 29% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 840 | 29% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 506 | 29% |
| 18 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,338 | 28% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,714 | 28% |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,594 | 28% |
Most common cities for regional sales representatives
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta | 4 | 1% | $52,255 |
| 2 | Anaheim | 2 | 1% | $67,732 |
| 3 | McKinney | 2 | 1% | $50,677 |
| 4 | Norfolk | 2 | 1% | $57,326 |
| 5 | Houston | 5 | 0% | $51,509 |
| 6 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $51,430 |
| 7 | Phoenix | 4 | 0% | $62,219 |
| 8 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $62,025 |
| 9 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $62,008 |
| 10 | San Antonio | 3 | 0% | $51,930 |
| 11 | San Diego | 3 | 0% | $66,701 |
| 12 | Austin | 2 | 0% | $51,676 |
| 13 | Charlotte | 2 | 0% | $56,913 |
| 14 | Dallas | 2 | 0% | $50,870 |
| 15 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $59,210 |
| 16 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $68,132 |
| 17 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $47,999 |
| 18 | Minneapolis | 2 | 0% | $61,362 |
Regional Sales Representative job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of regional sales representative experts
Weber State University
University of Maryland - College Park
University of Southern Mississippi
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Maryland - College Park
North Dakota State University
University of Akron
Texas Christian University
University of Akron
Baylor University
Adecco USA
Liberty University
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
St. John Fisher College
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
University of Vermont
SUNY New Paltz
Lloyd Wilson
Professor and Center DirectorWhat general advice would you give to a Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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 general advice would you give to a Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: The world is changing rapidly and the Sales field is no exception.
What Regional 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.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What general advice would you give to a Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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 general advice would you give to a Regional 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 general advice would you give to a Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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 a Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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 a Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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.
Ken Corbit Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in MarketingTexas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Regional Sales Representative?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.
Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.
Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.
Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.
Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.
What Regional Sales Representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: AI-Integrated Consultative Selling: Recognize the evolving role of AI in sales. Embrace AI tools that enhance your pre-call preparation, role-playing, agenda setting, and call talk track development. Stay ahead by incorporating AI into your sales strategies to deliver personalized and efficient client engagements.
What will help Regional Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Holistic
Knowledge Mastery:
Become an expert in your industry, staying abreast of market trends, and thoroughly understanding the products/services you sell. This comprehensive knowledge will empower you to provide exceptional value, resulting in higher sales success and increased client
retention.
Strategic
Question-Based Selling:
Master the art of question-based selling. Use insightful questions to uncover client needs, address pain points, and tailor your approach. This strategic skill will not only boost initial sales but also contribute to secondary sales and long-term client satisfaction.
Compensation
Structure Expertise:
Understand your organization's compensation structure thoroughly. This includes baseline compensation, commission and bonus plans, and additional benefits. This knowledge allows you to set realistic targets, maximize your earnings, and take full advantage
of uncapped commission structures.
Consistent
Target Achievement:
Consistently meet or exceed targets and quotas to demonstrate your value. This not only enhances your immediate success but also positions you for continuous earning potential, especially in roles with uncapped commissions.
Negotiation
and Value Recognition:
Develop negotiation skills to ensure you are compensated appropriately. Recognize your worth and, when appropriate, discuss compensation adjustments or additional benefits with your employer. A proactive approach to recognizing and articulating your value
contributes to your overall salary potential.
In a rapidly evolving sales landscape, continuous learning, tech adaptability, and proactive career management are fundamental for achieving sustained success in consultative sales.
Frederik Beuk
Associate Professor of MarketingUniversity of Akron
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Regional 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 Regional 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 Regional 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.
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021Baylor University
Hankamer School of Business
What skills stand out on Regional Sales Representative resumes?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: Like salespeople, sales managers must focus their resumes on tangible, objective performance results that are achieved by their teams.
Growth in revenue or quota attainment for the overall team are examples of the types of objective performance results that matter.
High-performing sales managers also highlight long-term performance indicators, which includes both long-term revenue growth by the unit
AND investment metrics that signal the sales manager is building company results for the long run. For example, a high-performance sales manager focuses on building and maintaining a high-performing unit. Such a manager looks to move low performers to other roles where they can be successful.
Another investment metric that a sales manager can signal is the percent of their unit promoted to managerial roles in the organization.
What soft skills should all Regional Sales Representatives possess?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: Since sales professionals have a lot of information available to them today via customer relationship management (CRM) systems, the sales manager's "supervisory" role is less important (especially for experienced sellers). Consequently, the sales manager needs to be more of a coach and enabler of high performance. Having confidence balanced with humility allows the sales manager to engage more effectively with their salespeople.
One of the critical soft skills for sales managers going forward will be the ability to connect members of the sales team to others in the organization - in other words, the sales manager of the future needs to have strong skills in network building for others. Sellers have access to data which helps them build success.
They also need access to the right people to turn to when they need specific expertise or assistance.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Regional Sales Representatives?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: One of the growing technical skill requirements for sales managers is in the area of data analytics. Our performance and customer systems provide a myriad of data, and the role of the sales manager is to be a sense-maker of that mound of data. What are the implications for changes in strategy or behavior evident in last quarter's activity? How can the sales manager help a specific seller "see" where the data suggest new approaches?
What skills will help Regional Sales Representatives earn the most?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: People who can recognize patterns (in data, in people), build connections with and across others, create a focus on high-performance behaviors, and lead with a confident humility are those who will win today and in the future business environment.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Regional Sales Representative job market given the pandemic?
Madeleine Felion: - Increased wages and a focus on upskilling and reskilling are some of the biggest trends we're seeing, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic further accelerates the demand for certain skillsets.
- The ability to work from home - if the position allows, remote work and the flexibility it offers is here to stay.
- Safety is also top of mind for employers. Companies have made production schedule changes to accommodate social distancing, as well as implemented virtual processes for the application and onboarding phases, such as video and telephone interviews replacing in-person interviews.
What technical skills for a Regional Sales Representative stand out to employers?
Madeleine Felion: - In many hourly positions, math and measurement skills are increasingly sought after by companies - these skills can apply to several jobs from quality to CNC machining.
- Data entry and accuracy is a skill many nontraditional jobs are asking for as machines become more automated. Computer skills continue to stand out as it also applies to many in-demand roles.
- Other skills include experience working with ERP software systems such as SAP, Oracle and Syteline. Niche skills such as lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S and a variety of ISO quality standards are highly desired in most manufacturing companies.
How have salaries changed over time for Regional Sales Representatives?
Madeleine Felion: - While we recruit in a wide range of positions, we are seeing hourly pay rates increase as the demand for a shrinking labor pool grows. Some career fields, where there is a significant skills gap, such as CNC machinists, industrial maintenance technicians and quality technicians, have seen significant salary growth as demand for these skills increases and the candidate pool remains stagnant.
- Salaried positions are also growing as the demand increases for experience in niche skills sets.
How have salaries changed over time for Regional Sales Representatives?
Chris Huseman Ph.D.: Yes, salaries have changed in the marketing field because of the fragmentation of specialties that have developed especially in the digital marketing field. In the past, a marketing specialist was amongst the more common entry level positions. Today, I see less general entry level positions and more specific channel positions such as Social Media Specialists, E-mail Delivery Specialist, Paid Media Specialists and others. On the positive side, I see this as a benefit to new hires as it gives them the opportunity to focus within their responsibilities and develops their skillsets much quicker in that area than they would be if they were responsible for more general duties. From my observation and in talking with students, salaries are higher and there is a greater focus in such responsibilities. Smaller companies especially are realizing they can be more efficient with remote solutions while still maintaining camaraderie, production and cohesiveness of their staff members. On the other side, new hires seem to be less worried about higher salaries when they don't have to relocate or have expenses such as daily work travel, clothing expenses, and they can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere. Salaries have changed but the bigger change is in the work/life balance new hires are able to maintain, which is a high priority for students.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Regional Sales Representative job market given the pandemic?
Chris Huseman Ph.D.: I can foresee several business reconsidering their business structure from a brick and mortar to continuing in a virtual office space. This can be a wonderful opportunity for businesses to gain a more diverse work force with enhanced skillsets that may have been limited in the past to geographical barriers, travel and moving expenses. Businesses will also, with this in mind, want to see more proof of a job candidate's competencies and offer them virtual "tests" to assess their abilities. This now can be done with far less costs than it was before. Candidates will be challenged to showcase their skillsets and a greater importance on their production, critical thinking and creativity will be demanded. We have seen many new graduates finish their schooling in a virtual on online context. Candidates are going to have to embrace a digital world but yet develop ways to still ensure they and the company they work for are able to communicate and provide a personable experience and brand to customers they serve. There will also be a high importance placed on a candidate's ability to be flexible and adapt to change like never before.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Regional Sales Representatives?
Chris Huseman Ph.D.: Certifications are being offered by a variety of organizations and entities. Job prospects need to critically evaluate the offering organizations of such and their reputations. Having several certifications myself and reviewing many that are offered, the Professional Certified Marketer certifications offered by the American Marketing Association are among the best investments a person in marketing can make. The PCM Digital Marketing, for example, is a rigorous certification that covers the digital marketing landscape extremely well. It is very affordable and is backed by one of the leading organizations in the field of marketing. In addition, specifically to the digital marketing field, Google Garage's Digital Marketing Certification is good and it's free along with several other free ones from Google. As well, Hubspot offers several wonderful certifications that are free and speak to the heart of skills required in the field of Digital Marketing.
What technical skills for a Regional Sales Representative stand out to employers?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: Of course, there is variation across industries, but the long lockdown months have highlighted the need for skills that make telecommuting and work from home more efficient and effective. The ability to use not just technologies but also work habits that allow collaboration mediated by information and communication tools has only become more valuable. With this, I mean that it is important to use Zoom, Teams, Skype, and similar technologies, but even more than that, scheduling, collaboration, creative, professional-grade, and timely delivery (in the absence of face-to-face interaction) is vital. If a higher proportion of work-from-home becomes predominant (as many commentators expect), these skills are likely to differentiate high-performers from their counterparts.
How have salaries changed over time for Regional Sales Representatives?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: Again, there is wide variation across industries and occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a nationwide drop (relative to the previous month) of 4 cents in average hourly earnings for workers on private payrolls, but an increase of 2 cents for private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees; little changes were observed for healthcare and information employers (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm). The largest gains (on a yearly basis) were reported by the Financial activities sector, and the lowest by Mining and logging (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm). Unfortunately, the BLS does not publish regional data, but I am confident that some states have observed more gains than others.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Regional Sales Representative job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Regional Sales Representatives?
Clair Smith Ph.D.: Yes, I'm sure there will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates. The latter part of their college experience was fundamentally different from what they expected. Besides the obvious changes to how classes were conducted, social, athletic, and internship opportunities were all diminished or altered. They lived something very different from what they were expecting. It was often hard. Yet for many of them, these challenges and struggles formed the crucible in which students developed adaptability and resilience. And those traits will be valuable for them going forward both personally and professionally.
What's a good job out of college for Regional Sales Representatives?
Clair Smith Ph.D.: I don't think there is a simple answer to this. What constitutes a good job out of college varies widely. Ultimately I hope every graduate lands in a place where they can use their interests, skills, and passion to do something they find meaningful and for which they are fairly compensated. While some people may find that immediately upon graduation, others may have to gain additional experience and credibility to get there.
What will help Regional Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Clair Smith Ph.D.: St. John Fisher is at its core a liberal arts college, and I'm a firm believer that a grounding in how to reason and make sound independent judgments is critical. And in Economics, that's what we do. I believe that graduates who can effectively reason and think through the implications of important decisions, who have quantitative skills to analyze and interpret data to inform those decisions, and who can powerfully communicate those arguments to others through the written and spoken word will have the greatest professional success and financial remuneration.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Regional 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.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Regional Sales Representatives?
Dr. LaRae Jome Ph.D.: College graduates with a psychology major have a number of valuable skills needed in the workplace, including critical thinking, communication, and empathy. The undergraduate psychology major prepares students for a wide range of jobs, but because, like other liberal arts majors, it does not provide training toward a particular job, psychology graduates will be competing with other graduates for similar entry-level jobs. Gaining internship or research experiences while in school can help students gain experience in specific areas, which can help with getting jobs. For psychology graduates who are interested in social service positions that do not require an advanced degree, the demand for these jobs will likely be high. While these jobs tend to be lower pay, compared to other jobs that require a college degree, there will likely be a great need for assistance in social service programs.
In order to get a job within the field of psychology, college graduates need to pursue a master's degree or doctoral degree and then get licensed to practice counseling or psychology in the state in which they live.
The impact of the pandemic on psychology students who continue on to pursue a master's or doctoral degree may actually be quite positive in terms of job prospects. The pandemic was a difficult time for most people, whether it was living in isolation, losing a job, being afraid of getting sick, or just the fear that comes with not knowing what is going to happen in the future. Many people sought mental health care during the pandemic to help with feelings of anxiety or depression, and the stigma of seeking counseling services is deceasing for many people. Master's level counselors and doctoral-level psychologists are trained to help people with a wide range of emotional issues and it is likely that as we move into a post-pandemic world, there will be an increased need for counseling services.
What will help Regional Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Dr. LaRae Jome Ph.D.: As with other fields, the higher the degree you have, the greater your earning potential. The master's degree in counseling typically requires two years of graduate school and a year of supervision before getting licensed as a counselor. The highest degree is the doctoral degree (either a PhD or a PsyD) and you need a doctorate and to be licensed in your state in order to be a psychologist.
One of the ways that counselors and psychologists can potentially increase their earning potential is by having their own private practice or by launching other services beyond individual client sessions, such as providing groups, workshops, and coaching or consulting services.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Regional Sales Representatives?
Lisa Elliott Ph.D.: Yes, the virus has stalled many projects and created a pent-up demand for hiring. We expect that as the pandemic lifts, projects will be back on track and hiring will pick up. In general, psychologists with a background in human factors are highly sought after as we work in nearly every industry and in government. We expect that students will find a robust job market in the years ahead in human factors/user experience design.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Regional Sales Representatives?
Lisa Elliott Ph.D.: In human factors, there have been several attempts to create a licensing structure, but none has gained traction. Students who have a good electronic portfolio, know the basics of experimentation, know statistics, and have several user experience or human factors projects are very competitive in the job market. An electronic portfolio on any of the predominant portfolio sites or a website is best.
What will help Regional Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Lisa Elliott Ph.D.: We are starting to see demand for data visualization in addition to the traditional user experience education requirements. Students who can take unstructured data sets and create a meaningful story helps the organization and the user understand complex situations. We expect that data visualization and data modeling will be a future skill for those in human factors psychology and for user experience design professionals.
What will help Regional Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Madison Berry: Honestly, being willing to negotiate is going to become a bigger and bigger factor in earning potential. Do your research, know your worth, and stand up for what you think you should be paid. This is tricky right out of college, but with experience it becomes more and more powerful.
Of course, specialized certifications can also help - again, adding credentials relevant to your field will show initiative and focus. Adding tangential skills can also help make you a candidate for more specialized roles. We have employers come to us from the Finance industry looking for students who can code and analyze data; marketing is full of specialized roles for working with social media, consumer data, and technology integration. Finding your niche of interest and building skills through courses and personal projects can make you a more attractive candidate with more negotiating power.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Regional Sales Representatives?
Madison Berry: There will definitely be an enduring impact on students who graduate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, I think this may be more of an emotional or mental impact than a career one. Everyone will have that shared experience of a very strange year. They may be more likely to jump at new opportunities and feel a little more comfortable taking risks to get experience. Everyone is worried about "falling behind" and also tired of being in quarantine - so that may fuel some big career moves in the first few years out of college!
I think expectations for work-life balance and flexibility for work may also come out of this. Students know a lot more about their own working styles now - they have been forced over this time to try online, in-person, and hybrid learning, and they've seen how all of those options suit them. I think there will be a higher desire for remote work opportunities for some, while others now know remote is *definitely* not the work environment they want.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Regional Sales Representatives?
Madison Berry: The bachelor's degree is still the gold standard for employment out of college, but a specific degree isn't as necessary as we might think. We have UVM alumni come visit us to talk about their storied careers in Finance, and they graduated with Political Science, Engineering, and Sociology degrees. Some industries are more rigid than others - having a Masters of Accountancy and passing your CPA is key for working in many accounting areas, for example - but when it comes to wanting to work in business, being able to show transferrable and useful skills is most important. Critical thinking, problem solving, willingness to learn, and communication skills are key.
Felicia Hodges
InstructorSUNY New Paltz
Deptment of Digital Media and Journalism
What will help Regional Sales Representatives increase their earning potential?
Felicia Hodges: Flexibility and willingness to adapt will help all media practitioners increase their earning potential. If you are a photojournalist who shoots still images for print and/or online publications, get familiar with video. If you are passionate about covering crime or government beats, have more than a working knowledge of sports and education, too. Heck, learn photojournalism basics! In other words, versatility is necessary and it will be expected.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Regional Sales Representatives?
Felicia Hodges: I think there will definitely be fallout from the pandemic for soon-to-be graduates simply because it has been such a difficult year - and it ain't over yet. Maybe the hard, fast, "deadlines are sacrosanct!" imprints that were par for the non-COVID course haven't been so much lately, as a bulk of pandemic life has been about accounting for what students might have been/are dealing with due necessary COVID-induced work or lifestyle changes. And because many of the "real world" training/trial outlets weren't available (i.e. school print publications had to shift schedules or halt publishing altogether as staffs weren't able to meet in person; internships were non-existent or done almost entirely virtually, etc.), there weren't concrete ways to help students put the theories of what they learned in the classroom to practical use. It may be a steep learning curve for the newly-degreed journalism (as well as other media) practitioners.
What's a day at work look like for a Regional Sales Representative?
Felicia Hodges: A day at work for new graduates probably won't include being surrounded by co-workers in a newsroom/editorial space. It might lean more toward a lot of marketing/lobbying for a freelance gig from a home office instead. As journalists are often encouraged to hone their skills at smaller outlets (community newspapers, small radio/broadcast stations or boutique firms for instance), it could be devastating to those new to the job market to realize that many of those spaces no longer exist or aren't able to hire anything other than freelancers due to financial fallout from the pandemic as well as the nature of newspaper restructuring, buyouts and mergers.