The job of field sales representative involves working outside the office environment sourcing potential customers and maximising the sales of a company’s products or services. This is often done by cold calling, often knocking on doors or scheduling meetings at offices and other establishments. Representatives are also required to keep records and carry out research
Applicants for this job should have excellent verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills as the job requires describing products or services in order to persuade a potential customer to make a purchase or place an order. Competency in computer use is vital for this position as well as the ability to use initiative and think quickly in order to close a sale. Special educational qualifications are rarely required for the job as formal training in sales techniques is usually provided in-house at entry-level. The average salary for the job is £27,000 per year, with many companies giving bonuses or commission on sales.

• Be multilingual
• Be competitive
• Be confident and focused
• Be a team player
• Be able to work on own initiative
• Have strong technical knowledge of the industry
• Communicate effectively
• Be able to conduct meetings and presentations efficiently
• Have the aptitude for a job in sales
• Be professional
• Be able to achieve targets and meet deadlines
• Be able to work with financial reports and statistics
• Strong planning and time management skills
• Expert negotiating capabilities
• Be able to generate business leads

Having strong skills in sales is very beneficial in this job. Field sales agents should have a desire to succeed and a passion for sales. They should be persistent, self motivated and driven to make high sales commissions. Persons working in field sales can have degrees and other certifications, but it is integral to an excellent sales person. Field sales staff must at least complete high school requirements.
Many companies offer sales training to their employers. They teach specific strategies and procedures. Employers even train their staff to use particular scripts, some even help them neutralise any language accents or speech distinctions. Employees in field sales often work with senior staff members, shadowing them on a day-to-day basis, until they have aptly developed their skills.