An inside sales representative works for a company that wants to sell a product or service. It is the inside sales representative's job to complete the process of that sale from start to finish. This may be done over the phone or in person via walk-in clients. The sales representative's job may consist of tracking down new sales prospects and maintaining relationships with potential future buyers. An inside sales representative is responsible for being very familiar with the product or service he or she is selling. This may be accomplished by attending training sessions, testing out samples of the product or service, or even purchasing the product in order to use it and become acquainted with it. Inside sales representatives are typically given a sales quota by management. Meeting the quota on a weekly or monthly basis is the goal. The work environment for inside sales reps is usually indoors, either on the company's premises or at an outside location. Hours for sales reps vary depending on the company, but may extend beyond typical business hours to include nights and weekends. Once a sale is made, the sales rep may also be responsible for ensuring that the product or service arrives on time, as well as following up to find out more about customer satisfaction. The education required for an inside sales representative position varies greatly, but sometimes requires as little as a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Good "people skills" are essential, along with good time management skills.
Inside Sales Representative Tasks
- Sell the organization's products and/or services to established customers or new prospects via the telephone or walk-in business.
- Attend special training of products and/or services to understand technical aspects of solutions.
- Handle entire inside sales process from proposal to close; reach or exceed sales quotas.
- Solicits and maintains contact with current and prospect key accounts.
- Track activity, prepare and maintain records for sales leads and account status.