PROFESSIONAL SALES

Professional sales includes occupations involved in the act of convincing businesses or individual consumers to purchase goods and services.

CAREER DETAILS

Description:
Demonstrate merchandise and answer questions for the purpose of creating public interest in buying the product. May sell demonstrated merchandise.

Tasks:

  • Provide product samples, coupons, informational brochures, or other incentives to persuade people to buy products.
  • Sell products being promoted and keep records of sales.
  • Keep areas neat while working and return items to correct locations following demonstrations.
  • Demonstrate or explain products, methods, or services to persuade customers to purchase products or use services.
  • Record and report demonstration-related information, such as the number of questions asked by the audience or the number of coupons distributed.

*Additional tasks may be needed for this career.

Average Salary:
$21,260 – $49,870

Description:
Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.

Tasks:

  • Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
  • Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
  • Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
  • Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
  • Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.

*Additional tasks may be needed for this career.

Average Salary:
$29,430 – $185,850

Description:
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

Tasks:

  • Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
  • Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
  • Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
  • Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
  • Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.

*Additional tasks may be needed for this career.

Average Salary:
$16,920 – $38,580

VIRGINIA WIZARD

Learn more about the careers above and others in this sector by visiting the Virginia Education Wizard.