Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• 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.
• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

The Work

As a technical sales representative, you focus on the sales of a particular product/service. You may be working proactively to source new customers as well as maintaining contact with existing customers.

Depending on where you work, you may be providing technical information and advice remotely (phone/emails), or face-to-face by demonstrating the products in a shop or on site with individual customers. As well as providing technical advice, you promote the product, provide quotations and negotiate prices and contracts.

Many technical sales representatives are employed in the ICT sector, but also in energy and construction sectors for example.

Most sales professionals work towards specific and ambitious sales and commission targets, and they work under the Technical Sales Manager and possibly other managers.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
• Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
• Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
• Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
• Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
• Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
• Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
• Emphasise product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
• Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
• Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.

Further Information

• Technical Sales Representative - from: GradIreland
• Technical Sales Representative - from: GradIreland

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.

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.

As a technical sales representative, you typically receive on-the-job training, but some employers may require that you have a technical or sales qualification. 

Relevant course subjects include computer science and business or marketing, and you could also consider entry through an apprenticeship. Sales experience will also be beneficial.

Training & Development

Many technical sales representatives start out in a ‘junior’ role and may progress to a senior technical sales rep role. With experience and the right skills, you can also be promoted to a technical sales manager position.

However, you can choose to develop your career in other sales or a technical roles. Depending on your interests and opportunities, the role can also become more specialised and focused on a particular area.

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, retail-sales, ICT & Digital Skills in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Business Management,  sales, retail- sales, IT Sales & Digital Skills, sales & marketing courses available around Ireland at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Sales & relevant Apprenticeships to your chosen technical skill area NFQ level 6-8 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business, Commerce, Finance, Marketing NFQ Levels 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Deveopment 

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Business, Accounts, Management NFQ level 9

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €70k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Morgan McKinley/ Clark/ Talent/ Sigmar/ Osborne/ Excel

Last Updated: March, 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).

The negative growth rate for this occupation can be primarily attributed to changes to the LFS in 2017; employment levels have remained relatively unchanged in recent years.

The wholesale and retail sector accounts for the highest share of employment for this occupation, at 44%. Despite this, most of the employment permits issued were for the ICT sector, many requiring language skills. German, Spanish, French, and Dutch were the most frequently mentioned languages in the online job adverts; the postings for this occupation increased slightly (2%) in the year to 2022 but fell in the most recent quarter. Employers (through Spotlight on Skills) highlighted the need for ecommerce skills (i.e. selling via digital platforms) and technical knowledge. The data suggests that demand for business sales executive roles is particularly related to the ICT sector; however, as the ICT sector enters a restructuring phase, future demand for these roles is uncertain. ssues with filling vacancies for these roles will depend on the availability of candidates with specific skill combinations.

• Irish Computer Society

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• Technology Ireland

  • 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 605 1500
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• The Marketing Institute

  • +353 1-295 2355
  • [email protected]
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