What does a sales trainee do?
A sales trainee's role is to perform support tasks while under the supervision of a manager or an experienced colleague. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around observing company operations, responding to calls and inquiries, performing follow-up calls, maintaining records of all transactions, updating databases, and reporting to the supervising official. A sales trainee may also perform clerical tasks such as processing documents and organizing supplies. Furthermore, as a trainee, it is essential to learn and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Sales trainee responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real sales trainee resumes:
- Set up bin stock programs at large OEM and MRO accounts and manage inventory levels.
- Create a PowerPoint that are used by sales representatives nationwide as a tool on their iPads during sales meetings.
- Perform inside sales, including telemarketing, prospecting, account penetration and product application, consulting and delivery of customer service.
- Set up bin stock programs at large OEM and MRO accounts and manage inventory levels.
Sales trainee skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Sales Trainees are proficient in Strong Work Ethic, Product Knowledge, and Sales Process. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Interpersonal skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Sales Trainees that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Strong Work Ethic, 25%
Maintain strong work ethic and assume many different roles on any given day.
- Product Knowledge, 22%
Gain and retain product knowledge within all areas of plumbing, mechanical, industrial, and waterworks industries.
- Sales Process, 11%
Develop an understanding of Company professional sales process.
- Sales Techniques, 7%
Receive personalized sport sales techniques training from sports sales professionals
- Business Sales, 6%
Performed business to business sales of security equipment and services in an assigned territory.
- Presentation, 3%
Completed and presented an advertising/marketing campaign presentation for a local small business.
"strong work ethic," "product knowledge," and "sales process" are among the most common skills that sales trainees use at work. You can find even more sales trainee responsibilities below, including:
Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a sales trainee to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale." Sales trainees often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "demonstrated equipment at trade shows, traveled to central america and caribbean islands providing customer support. "
Interpersonal skills. Many sales trainee duties rely on interpersonal skills. "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to work well with many types of people," so a sales trainee will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways sales trainee responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "performed professional sales presentations developed a recommendation base sold over $3000.00 worth of cutco within first month utilized interpersonal skills"
Physical stamina. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of sales trainees is physical stamina. This skill is critical to many everyday sales trainee duties, as "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are often on their feet for a long time and may carry heavy sample products." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "call points include orthopedic clinics, family medicine clinics, physical therapy offices, hospital or and same day surgery centers. "
Self-confidence. For certain sales trainee responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "self-confidence." The day-to-day duties of a sales trainee rely on this skill, as "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what sales trainees do: "entrusted to clean and correct confidential data within company crm. "
The three companies that hire the most sales trainees are:
- Graybar240 sales trainees jobs
- Aerotek162 sales trainees jobs
- Shaw Industries97 sales trainees jobs
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Compare different sales trainees
Sales trainee vs. Merchandiser, sales
Merchandiser sales representatives are responsible for maintaining the flow of products and managing shelves in retail stores or similar establishments. They are also responsible for devising strategies and promotional plans to increase brand awareness and boost product sales. Aside from this, they must remain updated with the latest marketing trends, monitor sales, and set the budget while maintaining inventory. Moreover, it is vital to reach out to customers and build rapport, all while implementing the policies and regulations of the company.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, sales trainee responsibilities require skills like "strong work ethic," "sales process," "sales techniques," and "business sales." Meanwhile a typical merchandiser, sales has skills in areas such as "excellent planning," "pallet jack," "product displays," and "cleanliness." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Merchandisers, sales tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $39,538. In contrast, sales trainees make the biggest average salary, $52,493, in the finance industry.The education levels that merchandisers, sales earn slightly differ from sales trainees. In particular, merchandisers, sales are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a sales trainee. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sales trainee vs. Outside sales
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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real sales trainee resumes. While sales trainee responsibilities can utilize skills like "sales techniques," "presentation," "powerpoint," and "plumbing," outside sales use skills like "first hand," "ongoing support," "work ethic," and "flyers."
On average, outside sales earn a higher salary than sales trainees. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, outside sales earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $83,118. Whereas sales trainees have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $52,493.outside sales earn similar levels of education than sales trainees in general. They're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sales trainee vs. Adviser sales
Adviser sales are responsible for reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence to promote and sell products or services. With a sales target to reach, they must secure sales by prioritizing customer satisfaction. There are also instances when they have to perform follow-up calls, conduct surveys or polls, process payments or refunds, and even handle complaints, issues, and concerns. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with the team and adhere to company policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from sales trainee resumes include skills like "strong work ethic," "business sales," "presentation," and "powerpoint," whereas an adviser sales is more likely to list skills in "loss prevention," "good communication," "store management," and "issue receipts. "
Adviser sales earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $49,155. Comparatively, sales trainees have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $52,493.When it comes to education, adviser sales tend to earn similar degree levels compared to sales trainees. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Sales trainee vs. Business sales associate
A business sales associate's primary goal is to secure sales and reach sales targets. To make this possible, a business sales associate conducts market research and analyses to identify new business and client opportunities, generates leads, and develops sales strategies. They usually reach out to potential clients or representatives through calls or correspondence, arrange appointments, discuss product or service specifications, organize payment plans, and negotiate contracts, building positive business relationships along the way. Moreover, they produce progress reports and coordinate with managers regularly.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between sales trainees and business sales associates, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a sales trainee might have more use for skills like "strong work ethic," "presentation," "counter sales," and "plumbing." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of business sales associates require skills like "customer satisfaction," "sales associates," "account management," and "sales quota. "
In general, business sales associates hold similar degree levels compared to sales trainees. Business sales associates are 1.9% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of sales trainee
Updated January 8, 2025
