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Technical Sales Specialists - Wholesale Trade (6221)

Occupation related to information and communications technology

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec

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Qualification and skills most often required

Un diplôme d’études universitaires en administration ou marketing, un diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC), un diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) ou une attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) dans le domaine de spécialisation de l’entreprise sont généralement demandés, selon l’entreprise. Il est essentiel de posséder des connaissances techniques et pratiques propres au secteur d’activité, au produit ou au service à promouvoir. La connaissance des outils informatiques (logiciels propres au domaine, Word, Excel, etc.), de l’Internet et du commerce électronique peut être requise. L’autonomie, le dynamisme, le souci du service à la clientèle, le professionnalisme, la capacité de bien communiquer oralement et par écrit, la capacité d’écoute et d’argumentation ainsi que l’esprit de synthèse sont des qualités recherchées. Un permis de conduire valide est régulièrement demandé. L’expérience et le bilinguisme peuvent être exigés.

Reason for labor demand

En raison de la forte concurrence des marchés, de la diversité des produits proposés et de la nécessité d’offrir un service personnalisé adapté aux besoins de la clientèle, les représentantes et les représentants en vente qui possèdent une vaste connaissance technique et pratique des produits à promouvoir sont recherchés. La rémunération est variable selon l’entreprise, mais souvent les professionnels et professionnelles de ce secteur ont un salaire fixe avec possibilité de prime ou de commission selon les ventes.

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Job titles

  • agricultural equipment and supplies technical salesperson
  • aircraft sales representative
  • aircraft technical sales specialist
  • View all job titles

Nature of work

Technical sales specialists, wholesale trade, sell a range of technical goods and services, such as scientific and industrial products, electricity, telecommunications services and computer services, to governments and to commercial and industrial establishments in domestic and international localities. They are employed by establishments that produce or provide technical goods and services, such as pharmaceutical companies, industrial equipment manufacturing companies, computer services firms, engineering firms and hydroelectric companies, or may be self-employed technical sales specialists/agents who contract their services to other companies. Technical sales specialists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Fields of interest

  • Working in sales and customer service
  • Working with computers, information technology, and communications
  • Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

  • Technical sales specialists perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Promote sales to existing clients
  • - Identify and solicit potential clients
  • - Assess clients' needs and resources and recommend the appropriate goods or services
  • - Provide input into product design where goods or services must be tailored to suit clients' needs
  • - Develop reports and proposals as part of sales presentation to illustrate benefits from use of good or service
  • - Estimate costs of installing and maintaining equipment or service
  • - Prepare and administer sales contracts
  • - Consult with clients after sale to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support
  • - Troubleshoot technical problems related to equipment
  • - May train customers' staff in the operation and maintenance of equipment
  • - May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce
  • - May supervise the activities of other technical sales specialists.
  • * Technical sales specialists usually specialize in a particular line of goods or services.

Employment requirements

  • * A university degree or college diploma in a program related to the product or service is usually required.
  • * Experience in sales or in a technical occupation related to the product or service may be required.
  • * Fluency in a specific foreign language, and/or foreign work or travel experience may be required for technical sales specialists seeking employment with companies that import or export technical goods or services.
  • * Technical sales supervisors require experience as a technical sales specialist.

More information in All of Québec

Employment in 2011 13,000
Skill level Technical
Average annual full-time income in 2005 62,000$
Job prospects-by occupation (2012-2016) Fair
Unemployment rate in 2011 Reasonable