Are you interested in pursuing a career in technical sales? Technical sales and software sales are rapidly growing fields, attracting many young professionals. All you need to start working in this field is the technical knowledge of your company’s products and excellent communication skills to help you succeed in the sales department.
If you want to become a tech sales representative, read our guide. Learn how to sell sophisticated products, industrial products, and everything in between. We’ll cover the best tech sales bootcamps, technical training, average salaries, and more. You can enter a high-paying career in only a couple of months if you follow the right steps.
What Is a Tech Sales Representative?
Tech sales representatives are professionals who promote a wide range of tech-related products for specific organizations or independent sales agencies. They represent companies and have technical knowledge of related products. Technical products might include goods from the medical, pharmaceutical, or tech industries.
Technology sales is a field that focuses on connecting consumers with advanced products using sales strategies. Keeping in touch with clients after a sale is also an important part of this job. Positions include head of sales, online sales representative, medical equipment salesperson, and commercial equipment salesperson.
Tech Sales Representative Job Description
Tech sales representatives work closely with customers to promote or sell tech-related products for a given organization. Companies expect these professionals to maintain long-term business relationships and industry contacts. Entry-level tech salespeople will work with a team to get field experience. This job also has the opportunity for commission.
Tech sales representatives speak with potential customers to understand their needs and explain how such tech products will meet their industry needs. Additionally, they expand market awareness of a given company’s products by communicating the features and benefits of related products and services effectively.
Tech Sales Representative Salary and Job Outlook
The employment growth for these professionals has cooled off over the past few years but remains fairly high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sales representative jobs will grow by two percent over the next decade. Although this is lower than the average growth rate, it is still promising for the future of tech sales.
Additionally, technology salespeople earn a reasonably high annual salary. Wages will vary, but ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for tech sales reps is $63,533. The combination of salary and high job growth makes this field a promising one. Professionals can also earn extra money on a commission basis.
Top Reasons to Become a Tech Sales Representative in 2021
If you are currently exploring your career options, you should give serious consideration to pursuing a career in tech sales. There are many reasons why you should consider this career path. For instance, getting into this career is reasonably straightforward as there are low barriers to entry.
- The demand is reasonably high. The need for these professionals is growing at a rate of two percent between 2019 and 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means there will be many more job openings in that period.
- You could earn a high salary. As explored above, ZipRecruiter reports that tech sales representatives earn an average of $63,533 per year, including earnings from commissions. A successful sales engineer can earn even more.
- The barriers to entry are relatively low. Careers in tech or software usually require workers to have technical education backed by previous sales experience. Fortunately, jobs here require very little formal education. This makes it one of the best tech jobs in 2021.
- Career opportunities are endless. Tech sales careers present numerous opportunities for professionals to advance their careers. The path you decide to take will depend on your interests and strength. However, the skills that you pick up will set you for an advanced career in tech sales.
Tech Sales Representative Job Requirements
A tech sales representative must act as a liaison between the company’s sales department and potential clients, communicating important information while performing any other service in the process. Below are some of the key requirements imposed by multiple companies for tech sales reps.
- Prior experience working in sales. Unlike most technical jobs, working as a tech sales rep does not necessarily require formal education. However, recruiting organizations strongly prefer candidates with prior experience in a related field.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Sales reps must communicate information to customers either verbally or in writing. For such reasons, organizations will prefer job seekers who have demonstrated an ability to communicate.
- Proficiency with related software. Most sales jobs today require employees to prepare reports and logs. For this reason, workers must be proficient with Microsoft Office and other related software.
- Must be able to travel. Some tech sales positions require employees to travel frequently to different markets or territories. A candidate must be flexible and available for such if need be. You might need a valid passport or driver’s license.
Types of Tech Sales Representative Careers
Tech sales representatives work on different assignments in different organizations, but most sales roles are similar, even for part-time work. The job description can vary depending on where you work, such as independent sales firms and large tech companies. With that said, consider the following sales careers.
Enterprise Sales Representative
Most enterprise sales representatives provide sales solutions to large organizations. To become an enterprise sales rep, you might need to have extensive experience in the field first. This is because of the large scale of the sales. This position has high job security but also requires strong product knowledge and sometimes additional training.
Telephone Sales Representative
Telephone sales reps use a wide array of telemarketing skills to sell products and services to drive leads for face-to-face salespeople. This is one of the best entry-level tech jobs because it offers flexibility and allows you to learn while you work. All you need is a high school diploma to land one of these job opportunities.
Wholesale and Manufacturer Sales Representative
Manufacturing companies hire these professionals to arrange outlets for new tech products. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, tech wholesale sales representatives earn more than non-tech wholesale sales representatives. This means that if you want high median wages, you should enter this tech sales job.
Tech Sales Representative Meaning: What Does a Tech Sales Representative Do?
A tech sales representative acts as a liaison between the company’s sales team and potential clients. This means communicating important information and performing any other service in the process to provide solutions and generate revenue. Below are some of the roles, duties, and responsibilities of a sales representative.
Grows Company Sales
Tech sales reps are required to generate sales by professionally communicating with existing and potential clients. This is the main purpose of a technology sales representative. They should be able to sell a range of products, including scientific products and medical devices. They should communicate terms of sales as well.
Expands Market Awareness
These professionals grow market awareness of existing or new products. This is part of why communication skills are vital to the job. Tech sales, combined with digital marketing, helps spread the word when new technology becomes available. Professionals might need to lead a product demonstration to improve customer knowledge of the products.
Identifies and Resolves Customer Concerns
Part of this job involves resolving any queries or concerns that clients might have concerning a particular product. This includes recommending a course of action to alleviate these concerns. Tech sales representatives must be patient in stressful situations and be able to work with clients to come up with solutions that work both for them and the company.
Essential Tech Sales Representative Skills
Sales professionals require specific skills to help them succeed in their jobs. This is a fast-paced field, and professionals might need physical stamina or a driver’s license to succeed. More skills will lead to higher annual wages. Below are essential tech sales representative skills.
Selling, Promotion, and Advertising
Sales professionals should have great promotion, advertising, and solution selling skills to help generate sales from potential clients. They should be able to figure out what a client or customer needs and sell a product according to those needs. They might need to reach a wider range of customers to reach this goal.
Presentation and Public Speaking
Presentation skills come in handy when interacting with a given audience and transmitting messages with clarity. In some cases, tech sales representatives need to talk to a group. They should be able to answer customers confidently and explain products to customers in a group setting.
Interpersonal and Communication
Interpersonal skills are helpful when communicating and interacting with people in groups and individually. This could include phone conversations, email threads, in-person meetings, and even presentations. A tech salesperson should be familiar with major industries and labor market information.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Tech Sales Representative?
It can take between a few months and four years to become a tech sales representative. Those who wish to acquire formal knowledge with college degrees will take four to five years. Others will only spend a couple of months in a bootcamp program. You can still get a job in tech sales with an entry-level education.
Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Become a Tech Sales Representative?
Yes, a bootcamp can help you become a tech sales representative. Coding bootcamps are great for students looking to pick up tech skills fast. These programs are often cheaper than traditional education and take just a few weeks to complete. In addition, bootcamp programs prepare students for a specific role in a given job industry.
With that said, you should check out the best tech sales bootcamps to help you launch a career in tech sales as a representative. You can also enroll in other kinds of bootcamps to learn more about the field, such as computer hardware. A formal training program is the best way to learn more and earn a higher average base salary in the field.
Can I Become a Tech Sales Representative from Home?
Yes, you can become a tech sales rep from home. You can enroll in a bootcamp offering online tech sales courses and learn from home. Even after completing such programs, you can work from home as a tech sales rep as some tech sales jobs are remote, meaning you complete day-to-day tasks virtually.
How to Become a Tech Sales Representative: A Step-by-Step Guide
The path to becoming a tech sales representative is reasonably straightforward. Additionally, there are few barriers to entry, meaning this position is accessible to many people. Below is a progression of steps to follow to become a successful tech sales representative.
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Step 1: Complete Your Formal Education
Although most tech sales positions do not require formal education, a bachelor’s degree can still be helpful. Common majors include a degree in engineering, marketing, or business. If that is not an option for you, consider a bootcamp or series of online courses to learn tech sales skills. You can also seek additional resources.
Step 2: Gain Hands-on Experience
Most employers prefer hiring workers with working knowledge or hands-on experience. Consider applying for internship programs or volunteer work that offers on-the-job skill training. You can also familiarize yourself with tech products and build a background in technology or engineering.
Step 3: Work on Your Resume
When you have a good resume or CV, you can make a better first impression on your employer and earn the upper hand. Educational requirements don’t matter as much when you can present yourself well. Treat the hiring team like a prospective client and sell them on yourself.
Best Schools and Education for a Tech Sales Representative Career
Tech sales careers typically do not need high levels of education. However, many employers prefer hiring professionals with credentials, including bachelor’s degrees. Below are the best schools and education for a tech sales representative.
Tech Sales Representative Bootcamps
You can learn technical sales from a bootcamp and become job-ready in 12 to 24 weeks. Consider top coding bootcamps offering sales development courses or other related courses. This is the most efficient way to learn the skills you need to become a tech sales representative. You can learn product features and other vital tech skills.
Vocational School
Vocational schools offer post-secondary training and development to students to prepare them for employment in a given industry. Most vocational school courses run for six to 12 months. Consider a tech sales training school that offers tech sales courses. Most courses are delivered online and are reasonably priced.
Community College
Community colleges offer two-year associate degree programs to prepare students for the job market or other educational programs, even including bachelor’s degrees. Be sure to look out for courses offering marketing, sales, or business-related programs. This is the typical level of education to help you learn both hard and soft skills.
Tech Sales Representative Degrees
A bachelor’s degree is your best bet when it comes to securing employment as a tech sales rep. Most employers prefer hiring workers with bachelor’s degrees. While there are no specific tech sales degrees, consider universities offering related programs in business, communication, or marketing.
The Most Important Tech Sales Representative Certificates
Certificates are an excellent way to confirm your skills to hiring managers and employers. They are short programs that can teach you everything you need to know in a specific field. They are shorter than degrees and offer a certificate at the end. Take a look at the best sales certificates below that can help you enter the field.
Salesforce Sales Development Representative Professional Certificate
This certificate program takes approximately six months to complete. During this time, you will learn conversational sales techniques and gain hands-on skills. The courses are delivered online via Coursera’s platform. You will learn how to meet sales goals and sell complex products.
Marketing – Sales Representative
The Northcentral Technical College issues this certificate. You will gain valuable sales skills, including hands-on experience in marketing, promotion, public relations, and advertising. If you want a college-level certificate, this program is the best way to go. This will help you earn a better average starting salary.
Certified Sales Development Representative
This is actually a professional certification, which is a credential that verifies specific skills. The American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP) awards this certification to all students who complete this program. It consists of an exam that consists of sales skills, and when you pass, you show employers that you’re ready for a job.
How to Prepare for Your Tech Sales Representative Job Interview
The best way to get ready for a sales interview is by familiarizing yourself with possible tough interview questions. Anticipating such questions might give you an upper hand during the interview. Below are some questions that will help you prepare for your tech sales representative job interview.
Tech Sales Representative Job Interview Practice Questions
- Describe your sales process from beginning to end.
- How do you handle disappointments in sales, especially when you fail to seal the deal?
- When and how did you know that sales was your career path?
- What system do you use when organizing or maintaining client information and sales?
- What are your career goals?
- Do you have experience in sales?
Should I Become a Tech Sales Representative in 2021?
Yes, you should become a tech sales representative in 2021. The demand for such professionals is expected to increase over the next decade. These individuals also receive annual salaries well over the national average. There are also few barriers to entry, making this career fairly straightforward for interested people to pursue.
Tech Sales Representative FAQ
Can You Become a Tech Sales Representative Without a Degree?
Yes, you can become a tech sales representative without a degree. Most tech sales positions typically do not require a high level of education, but employers prefer hiring job seekers with some credentials.
Is It Hard to Become a Tech Sales Representative?
No, it is not hard to become a tech sales representative. All you need is a desire to learn on the job. It would be beneficial if you have a background in technology or engineering because it can grant you more technical skills.
What Makes a Good Tech Sales Representative?
A good tech sales rep can break down complex technological products and explain product specifications to prospective customers. They are also sociable and build strong relationships with clients.
How Do I Get Into Tech Sales With No Experience?
Consider enrolling in sales training programs commonly offered in bootcamps and community colleges. Consider an entry-level job that does not require a lot of experience to land sales contracts and get job training.
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