Sales jobs, science vacancies, biotechnical recruitment

Although similar in essence, there are many different types of sales job, each requiring different skills and personality types.

Direct Sales

Selling directly to the private individual, especially the homeowner. Products such as home improvements (double-glazing, kitchens etc) and services such as financial services, holiday time-sharing etc are commonly sold in this way. Sales people are usually paid on a commission-only basis i.e. they only get paid if they sell something. It is usually easy to obtain work in this way, and can offer a starter a chance to get some sales experience. The work is typified by a very low success rate, but the rewards can be very high for those able to stick at it.

Business to Business

Sales Working for a company selling products or services to other businesses. Either directly to the user/user organisation, or indirectly through distributors.

Direct

Consumable sales (Sales Representative)

Selling low cost items to a regular clientele, usually in a small geographic territory. In scientific terms, it might be selling laboratory chemicals to research institutions in one or two counties. Typically you'll make 10 - 20 calls per day, and individual sales will be measured in tens of pounds. You'll be dealing with the lowest level of buyer - often the user of the products, such as technicians. There's very little cold calling or developing new business. It's a good way to start in sales, as you don't normally need experience to get a job. Pay is likely to be £15 - 20,000 p.a. plus a small bonus or commission, adding 10 - 20% of salary on top. Personal qualities required are: reliability, good relationship builder, and stamina.

Capital equipment sales (Sales Executive)

Often the second stage in a salesperson's career. Initially perhaps, selling low to medium cost equipment (£500 - 5,000 per item) as well as consumable items. Often the emphasis is on selling the equipment, which then obliges the customer to buy the consumable items in order to be able to use the equipment. Call rate is lower - up to eight calls per day. Larger sales will involve senior buyers such as Heads of Laboratory or Administration Buyers. You'll still be dealing mainly with a regular clientele of customers, with very little cold calling. Pay is £20 - 25,000 plus up to 25% of salary on top. Personal qualities required are: some sales experience, good questioning ability, good listening ability, and persuasive qualities. Technical skills required vary according to the complexity of the product.

Capital equipment sales (medium value)

Selling equipment costing £5,000 - 50,000 per item. Usually involves working in a much larger territory - up to one quarter of the country. Only making up to four calls per day. Typically spending one day per week at home setting up appointments by telephone. The sale often takes two or more visits, and involves selling initially to the users of the equipment, and then to the higher buying authorities (Laboratory Purchasing Managers, Finance Directors etc). A lot of demonstration work is involved, sometimes conducted in conjunction with Applications Specialists who know the equipment well. Pay is £25,000 - 35,000 plus up to 50% of salary on top. Personal qualities required: good sales experience (2 years +) persistence, good record keeping, demonstration/presentation skills, negotiation skills.

Capital equipment sales (high value)

Selling expensive equipment costing £50,000 - 1m +. Usually working all over the country, possibly abroad. Very lengthy sales process involving numerous meetings with everyone from the users to the directorate, and often with external funding bodies as well. The sales cycle can take up to a year and more. Pay is £35,000 - 60,000 plus up to 100% of salary on top. Personal qualities required: 5 years + sales experience, including capital sales experience, freedom to travel extensively, high level negotiation skills.

OEM/Engineering sales (Technical Sales/Sales Engineer)

Selling at any level as above, but specifically selling to customers who incorporate the product into equipment which they manufacture. An example would be selling electronic components to equipment manufacturers. Often you will be working with your customers 'at the bench' in conjunction with R&D staff, designers etc. Pay varies according to the level and complexity of the sale. Personal qualities required: high level of technical competence, good relationship builder at all levels.

Service sales

Selling the services that either you or your organisation will provide to the customer. Either low cost services (advertising, transport services) where the service can vary from an individual sale costing a few pounds, to high value annual contracts worth millions, or high cost services such as management consultancy. Generally acknowledged to be more difficult to sell as there is no product for the customer to touch or try. Pay varies enormously, and opportunities exist for people to start their career in this field or to enter it at the highest level. Personal qualities required: you have to be believable - customers are 'buying' you. Integrity, reliability and honesty are paramount.

Indirect

Distributor sales

Selling either consumable products, or equipment, or both to companies which then sell on to users/user organisations. This may take the form of negotiating at head-office level, or visiting a branch structure nation-wide. Often involves work abroad, appointing and managing distributor organisations, or individual agents, assisting them with their business plans, training them on sales and product knowledge, dual-calling to customers with distributors' representatives. Products are sold as a commodity and less technical involvement is involved. Although no direct management is involved, this is often seen as a training ground for management skills. Pay is £30,000 - 40,000 plus 20% of salary. Personal qualities required: several years sales experience, good organisation and management ability, freedom to travel extensively, and stay away as visits to customers may take several days.

Different Types of Sales Job