Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

The Work

Businesses traditionally brand themselves through logos and symbols, but brand ambassadors are also used to promote a brand on a more ‘human’ level. As a brand ambassador you can work on social media platforms and/or at events, trade fairs or ‘door to door’.

As a brand ambassador your goal is to influence a large audience to buy and consume more of the brand in question. If you promote a drink or food, you may give out samples of the specific product/brand for tasting. People are much more likely to buy a new product if they have had a chance to taste a free sample first. And if you promote a product, you may illustrate and demonstrate how to use it in order to ‘bring the product to life’ and to make a good impression on people.

Regardless of what you are trying to promote, you must be very well informed about the brand so that you can answer questions from potential customers/consumers.

You may work at festivals and events, or inside a supermarket for example. You may be employed directly by the company, by a marketing company or be self-employed on a casual basis where you may be paid per hour and receive some allowance for expenses.

Any industry where there is a brand to be promoted may hire brand ambassadors but it is more popular in some sectors. In particular, in the drinks industry, where brand ambassadors are often employed to promote new flavours and may combine their ambassador roles with tour guiding of a distillery/brewery for example. Some charities also use the term ‘brand ambassadors’ for staff who raise awareness of specific issues and who fundraise on their behalf.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
• Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
• Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
• Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
• Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
• Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
• Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer.
• Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts.
• Draw up contracts for advertising work, and collect payments due.
• Deliver advertising or illustration proofs to customers for approval.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

This is an entry level job where personality and personal qualities are far more important than qualifications. Although you may not need previous brand ambassador, sales or customer service experience, it would give you an advantage.

FET Centre Traineeship: Digital Media & Marketing NFQ level 5 Search our FET coursefinder 

FET Centre PLC courses: Full & Part time Marketing & Sales NFQ Level 5 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Sales Apprenticeship NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Due to the dispersed nature of the work a driver’s license could be helpful in finding employment. 

There is a highly regarded (and highly competitive) graduate international brand ambassador programme by Jameson where you get training and also get to travel the world while being paid expenses and a small wage.

Although you need a bachelor’s degree for the graduate programme, the subjects are less important. See more information here.

Training and Development

There are plenty of opportunities to further your career in this field. If you thrive as a brand ambassador, you may aim to progress to be a marketing or Brand Manager, where you could manage one brand or a portfolio of brands. Having at least an undergraduate business and/or marketing degree would typically be required.

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €45k

Salaries vary depending on employer, location, and duties.
In general salary is based on basic and OTE On target earnings: 

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Morgan McKInley/ Excel / Talent

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

There was a large fall in employment levels between 2021 and 2022, declining by over 9.000 persons. Employment for this occupation is across a number of roles (e.g. sales supervisors, window dressers, street traders and debt collectors). A shift in business models, particularly to online selling, may reduce the demand for in-person sales related activities (e.g. van sales persons or window dressers) in the coming years.

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