Occupation Profile

Sales Representatives, Except Technical

(SOC Code : 41-4012)

in California

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) .

Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$32.10	$19.03	$27.53	$39.31

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	129,400	158,200	28,800	22.3	5,920

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority

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License Title

License Authority

Vehicle Representative License

Department of Motor Vehicles
Occupational Licensing
The Individuals
www.dmv.ca.gov

Wholesaler

Department of Consumer Affairs
Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation
www.dca.ca.gov/bhfti

About Licenses

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Electronic Markets and Agents/Brokers

2,823

14.6%

Grocery Product Merchant Wholesalers

5,559

7.4%

Misc Nondurable Goods Merchant Whsle

4,253

5.1%

Machinery & Supply Merchant Wholesalers

8,676

5.0%

Electric Goods Merchant Wholesalers

7,773

4.1%

Commercial Goods Merchant Wholesalers

7,080

3.2%

Motor Vehicle/Part Merchant Wholesalers

4,445

2.7%

Lumber and Supply Merchant Wholesalers

3,312

2.5%

Hardware & Plumbing Merchant Wholesalers

3,780

2.2%

Management of Companies and Enterprises

914

1.9%

Beverage & Tobacco Product Manufacturing

2,610

1.7%

Chemical Merchant Wholesalers

756

1.4%

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing

745

1.2%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

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Program Title

Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations

Fashion Merchandising

General Merchandising, Sales, & Related Marketing Operations

Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General

Special Products Marketing Operations

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Answer customers` questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.

Recommend products to customers, based on customers` needs and interests.

Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.

Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.

Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.

Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.

Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.

Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.

Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment.

Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors` products, prices, and sales.

More Tasks for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Top Skills used in this Job

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others` actions.

Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

More Skills for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

More Abilities for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

More Work Values for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

More Interests for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Alternate Titles

Sales Representatives; Account Managers; Account Executives; Salesmen; Outside Sales Representatives; Sales Consultants; Account Representatives; Customer Account Technicians; Inside Sales Persons; and Marketing Associates.