In the new millennium, businesses will face an ongoing need for people who can reach out to potential customers using traditional methods as well as new technologies. Street vendors often own their stands and kiosks, setting their own hours and keeping a percentage or all of the profits while handli ...
ng all of the purchasing, bookkeeping, and maintenance. Door-to-door sales people visit prospective clients at their home of business to sell products on behalf of the company they're contracted with.
Sales territories are increasingly virtual: prospective clients can often visit a sales rep's web site to place an order directly or set up an appointment for a demonstration or delivery. Today's door-to-door salesperson still needs to be self-motivated, organized, and comfortable making presentations to individual customers or to groups.
Telemarketers sell products and services over the phone. Working from lists and a script, these telephone salespeople take orders for businesses and ask for donations to charities. They may interview people for opinion polls. Telemarketing jobs are extremely stressful. The work is closely monitored and involves dealing with rejection and even anger from people who don't want to be disturbed.
Short-term, on-the-job training is generally provided for these jobs. Evening and weekend shifts are common to pursue potential customers when they're most likely to be home. Some of these workers are paid a straight salary, while others work on commission. The intense pressure in some work environments leads many to seek other employment, so this is a job with quite a bit of turnover.
SNAPSHOT
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Solicit donations or orders for goods or services over the telephone.
Leadership
MED
Critical decision making
MED
Level of responsibilities
LOW
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines
HIGH
Dealing and handling conflict
HIGH
Competition for this position
HIGH
Communication with others
HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.
HIGH
Comfort of the work setting
HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions
LOW
Exposure to job hazards
LOW
Physical demands
LOW
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DAILY TASKS
Adjust sales scripts to better target the needs and interests of specific individuals.
Record names, addresses, purchases, and reactions of prospects contacted.
Obtain customer information such as name, address, and payment method, and enter orders into computers.
Explain products or services and prices, and answer questions from customers.
Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, in order to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service or to make a donation.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
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Selling or Influencing Others
Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Interacting With Computers
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Processing Information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE
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Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Clerical
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
KEY ABILITIES
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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.
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
TOP SKILLS
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Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
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.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
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