Most commonly reported Work Activities

• 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.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• 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.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 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.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

The Work

Many technical sales managers work for businesses selling computer hardware and software solutions to other businesses or organisations. They can also work in other technical fields and often have to meet specific sales targets.

Their day to day duties typically involve persuading customers that they will benefit from buying a particular product, service or system. To do this, the technical sales managers have to understand the customer's organisation. They work out what the customer needs to help their business run smoothly, and then choose a computer system to help them achieve this.

When they have made a sale, technical sales managers keep in contact with the customer after the installation of the system, providing technical advice and support in case problems develop. This contact also enables them to find out if the organisation has any further need for their products.

Some also manage and support a technical sales team and could be responsible for recruiting and training new staff.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer requirements, to promote the sale of company products, and to provide sales support.
• Sell products requiring extensive technical expertise and support for installation and use, such as material handling equipment, numerical-control machinery, or computer systems.
• Plan and modify product configurations to meet customer needs.
• Confer with customers and engineers to assess equipment needs and to determine system requirements.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations that explain products or services to customers and prospective customers.
• Arrange for demonstrations or trial installations of equipment.
• Create sales or service contracts for products or services.
• Develop, present, or respond to proposals for specific customer requirements, including request for proposal responses and industry-specific solutions.
• Visit prospective buyers at commercial, industrial, or other establishments to show samples or catalogs, and to inform them about product pricing, availability, and advantages.
• Research and identify potential customers for products or services.

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.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

This is a senior role which requires significant knowledge and experience. Many Technical Sales Managers start their careers as sales or technical support staff and then progress to supervisors and eventually a Manager role. Any other experience in the relevant industry will also be beneficial. The most relevant degree subjects include computer science, but business and management are also relevant subjects.

Training & Development

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

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

Apprenticeship: Accounting, Finance, Sales Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-8 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business, Marketing and Sales, Commerce, Economics, Maths & Statistics, Accounts & Finance NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

You can choose to develop your career in either sales, technical support or both and you can stay in one particular industry, or look for opportunities in other areas.

Professional Development

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

Irish Computer Society for example, helps you stay up-to-date on relevant industry developments, events and training opportunities.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €45k - €90k

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

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

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.

• Technology Ireland

  • 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 605 1500
  • [email protected]
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• Irish Computer Society

  • Click Here

• The Marketing Institute

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