Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

The Work

A sales executive’s main duty is to contribute to the sales of the products or services of a business. The range of duties and knowledge of the sales executive will also depend on the business they work for. Companies in a wide range of sectors employ sales staff, so you could work for manufacturers and wholesalers, insurance, finance and banking companies, as well as a host of service organisations as diverse as suppliers of electricity and gas, car rental firms, transport companies, hotel and catering organisations.

The role of a sales executive is typically more senior than that of a Sales Representative. Although the duties are similar, sales executives often have some more strategic input compared to reps. Executives attend revenue target meetings and manage a customer base.

The sales executive may also develop new opportunities for client relationships and manage client accounts, although some businesses will have even more senior staff, or ‘Account managers’, who look after key clients/customers.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
• Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.
• Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.
• Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
• Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
• Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.
• Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.
• Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.
• Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.
• Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organisations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.

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.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

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.

Many sales executives have also progressed to this role from various retail, customer service or sales roles.

Relevant course subjects if you want a career in sales include business, retail and marketing, but sales executives can have a wide variety of educational and work backgrounds.

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Customer service, Marketing, Sales, Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Business Management, Sales, Marketing, Commerce, Sales at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: Sales, Auctioneering & property services, Recruitment Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-8 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business, Commerce, Marketing & sales NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Business Administration, Marketing, Management NFQ level 9

There is often great opportunities for progression within sales, to account managers for key clients for example, or you can look for supervision and management roles.

You will also develop transferrable skills which open up a wider range of career opportunities in retail, business and marketing for example.

Both experience and qualifications can help you progress and there are courses in business and marketing, for example, at all levels in the education system, from further education courses to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €65k

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

Data Source(s):
Sigmar / Brightwater / CPL / Morgan McKinley/ Azon/ Osborne/ Clark

Last Updated: July, 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).

Employment levels remained unchanged between 2021 and 2022 for this occupation. Employment was spread across many sectors with none large enough to report. Like business sales executives, the ICT sector appears to be the main beneficiary of employment permits issued in 2022 for this occupation. The difficult-to-fill mentions in the Recruitment Agency Survey related to sales/marketing managers and lead category managers.

Employers (Skills for Growth and Spotlight on Skills) identified sales account managers, key account managers and business development managers as being difficult to fill; key skills in demand included project management, relationship management and presentation skills. Nonetheless, the number of job adverts has fallen. Although employment levels remained stable, digitalisation and new business processes are likely to impact on the skills mix required for these roles.

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