As anyone in business knows, there are a variety of positions and titles that make up the team. And while some job titles may seem to be synonyms, they can actually involve different responsibilities. This is certainly the case with "sales representative" and "sales associate". So, what are the key distinctions between these roles? Let's take a closer look.
The sales representative is a sales associate synonym who works in a store and helps customers find what they need.
The sales representatives are the frontline salespeople for many companies, but their responsibilities vary by employer.
They can also be called sales staff or sales clerks. Often these associates will have an additional title that describes their specific role within the company, such as “key account manager” or “specialty sales specialist."
When selling products, sales representatives are responsible for the sales process from beginning to end.
They find customers with an interest in buying a product and sell it to them while providing any necessary assistance along the way.
The sales representative must be knowledgeable about their company’s products and services, able to explain how they work and why people need them.
They are also responsible for creating sales proposals, handling customer objections, and closing sales. Sales representatives may have to meet sales targets or quotas set by their employer.
The sales associate or sales associate synonym work in a store and helps customers find what they need. They often have an additional title that describes their specific role within the company, such as “key account manager” or “specialty sales specialist."
The responsibilities of the sales associate are mainly focused on helping customers.
They greet customers when they come in, help them find what they need, and answer any questions they may have about products.
Associates may also be responsible for ringing up sales and handling returns.
In general, the sales representative is responsible for sales from start to finish, while the sales associate is mainly focused on helping customers.
Some sales associate synonyms include sales representative, sales clerk and sales staff.
Sales jobs span a wide number of industries and duties, as well as a wide range of job titles.
Anyone who sells something, whether it's a product or a service, is considered to be in sales, and the job names used to identify individuals who sell vary constantly as companies try to differentiate themselves from the competitors.
For people looking for work in the sector, navigating these various titles can be difficult, especially when searching on internet job sites.
When conducting such a search, it's critical to grasp the responsibilities connected with the most common sales job titles, as well as the employment market for certain positions.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, average job growth for all occupations is predicted to be between 5% and 9% for the decade from 2016 to 2026, although sales-related jobs are expected to rise at only 3.0%.
In other words, the field's growth is expected to be below average.
While college degrees are not required for many sales occupations, having one will make it much easier to get started in sales.
Jobs on this list that defy that assumption are highlighted.
A national sales director creates broad sales goals and targets for all sales offices across the country to follow. Such plans must be adaptable enough that regional or local offices can make changes as needed to satisfy specific demands unique to their localities.
However, the overall aims and objectives must be set in stone.
This person works closely with regional sales directors to ensure that sales plans are properly implemented and that objectives are accomplished.
When designing sales plans and tactics, they are also expected to collaborate with the marketing department.
According to payscale.com, the typical income for a national sales director in 2018 was over $100,000, and a bachelor's degree in a related discipline and several years of experience are required.
A regional sales manager is usually in charge of numerous sales managers in the same general area. This job title can be found in both retail and non-retail settings, and the size of a region varies by organisation.
This person should plan to travel to shops or offices throughout the region on a regular basis to work directly with individual sales managers.
They assist in the implementation of corporate-wide sales plans and ensure that they are followed and that sales targets are met at each site.
They may manage big accounts within the region in non-retail situations.
According to payscale.com, the average pay for this position in 2018 was little under $80,000 per year. Candidates with substantial sales experience may be evaluated without a bachelor's degree.
Sales manager is a broad term that applies to a variety of businesses, both retail and nonretail. Local media outlets that sell advertising, such as newspapers, radio stations, or television stations, are a prominent example of nonretail contexts.
The sales manager is in charge of supervising salespeople, implementing sales strategies, and ensuring that sales targets are met. The sales manager may work with a regional sales manager for larger organisations or even smaller companies with many locations.
Sales managers are usually involved with a location's largest, most important, or most sensitive accounts.
According to payscale.com, sales managers earned an average of $53,000 a year in 2018.
Inside sales agents are those who deal with walk-in customers or answer phone calls from potential customers.
This applies to a wide number of sectors, but no matter what is being offered, excellent customer service abilities are essential.
A person in this role is responsible for greeting potential customers, directing them to the right product or service for their needs, and closing the deal.
According to payscale.com, the average yearly salary for inside sales people in 2018 was around $42,000.
Outside sales people actively seek new clients by making phone calls or personally visiting them, and their work can span a wide number of sectors.
Outside sales people often have a list of accounts they manage and contact on a regular basis in addition to seeking new prospects.
Rather than spending the entire day in an office, an outside sales representative spends the majority of his or her time on the road visiting clients.
However, the sales rep's travel is usually limited to the city or geographical area surrounding his or her home office.
A person in this role, like an inside sales rep, should have good people skills and be able to connect effectively with clients and future clients.
According to payscale.com, the average wage for outside sales reps in 2018 was around $48,000.
Sales assistants support sales managers and sales representatives in their jobs by performing a number of tasks.
Many of the duties are secretarial, but sales assistants also aid in the research and identification of possible clients, the preparation of sales presentations, and occasionally serve as a point of contact with customers.
Sales assistant pay varies considerably depending on the business and responsibilities.
Although some sales assistant jobs are considered entry-level, those with additional responsibilities can make more. According to payscale.com, the average yearly salary in 2018 was around $38,000.
Sales engineers sell items that are tailored to specific professions or businesses. The products are frequently tied to industry or science, or are otherwise complicated, and selling them necessitates a thorough understanding of how they function.
As a result, any position as a sales engineer should demand a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline as a minimum prerequisite.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, median salary in 2017 was little under $100,000 per year.
This field's sales professionals are comparable to sales engineers, but the items they sell are less technical and require less experience to comprehend.
Otherwise, the work entails marketing to corporations and government agencies, among other possible clients, on behalf of wholesalers or manufacturers.
Overall, job growth in this field is expected to be 5%, which is in line with the national average for all occupations.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, median salary in 2017 was around $60,000 per year.
This encompasses pretty much anything in the retail industry that has to do with serving customers. Many jobs pay hourly or on a salary basis, while others are entirely or partially commission-based.
Multiple job names are used to describe the work being done in this sector. Sales representative, sales associate, sales consultant, or just the word sales are all typical job titles.
The term "retail" is sometimes used interchangeably with "sales."
Even assistant store manager positions are typically sales positions like any other.
Because many retail outlets consider all full-time employees to be prospective managers-in-training, assume that any title that includes the word "store" refers to a retail sales role.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, median salary in 2017 was over $23,000 per year.
Sales representative, sales associate, sales consultant, or just the word sales are all sales associate synonym for a sales professional in the retail sector. The term "retail" is sometimes used interchangeably with "sales."
Retail sales jobs can be commission-based or hourly wage-paid positions. Many assistant store manager positions are typically sales positions like any other.
Because many retail outlets consider all full-time employees to be prospective managers-in-training, assume that any title with the word "store" refers to a sales role.
According to SalaryExpert.com, sales reps working in large companies average $56,000 per year while those employed by small businesses make an average of $41,000.
In sales representative jobs in the retail sector, sales is one of many responsibilities they have to perform every day.
