You can become an associate sales representative by gaining needed skills in marketing, business communication, and techniques of closing product sales. While many sales rep jobs require at least a two-year college degree, others are open to candidates with high school diplomas and previous related work experience. Success as a salesperson usually depends on personality and effective communication with a range of different potential customers. Once you have the necessary education and experience, you can generally find open sales representative positions through online listings, your college career center, and local employment agencies.
If you would like to become an associate sales representative for larger and more well-known companies, you will usually need to complete an undergraduate degree in business, finance, or Information Technology (IT). This education will generally give you a solid foundation in topics such as interpersonal communication, economics, and market research. Participating in school internships will also give you valuable hands-on experience in examining specific customer demographics and assisting with product sales presentations. This point in your education is also a time to pinpoint the types of industries in which you want to work as a sales agent.
Depending on the specific industry in which you would like to become an associate sales representative, you will also need background knowledge in the products and services you will possibly be selling in the near future. If you would like to become a computer hardware or software sales rep, some basic IT courses will often help you understand the functionality and structure of each product in detail. This information is often considered vital for pointing out a product's advantages to customers and for answering their specific questions. The same need for background knowledge also applies to a wide range of other industries.
A notable advantage to this particular career is that you can become an associate sales representative for every possible industry that offers products or services for sale, so your chances of finding a niche area that captures your interest are generally high. Some companies that sell highly specialized products can have larger numbers of job openings for qualified applicants. Once you have targeted specific industries and companies for your sales rep job search, spend some time crafting a good resume that highlights your past customer service experience and skills at making effective sales presentations. When interviewing to become an associate sales representative, mention your strengths at relating to customers with varying personality types.
