Who's a sales adviser?

Sales Adviser Job Description

• Answer:

  Sales advisers work in a variety of locations, including retail outlets and call centers. Often they are required to meet strict sales targets, with some earning commission on the goods they sell. Because sales advisers deal with customers both face-to-face and via phone and email, excellent communication skills and a helpful and professional manner are required. Education No formal entry requirements exist to become a sales adviser. Employers generally require a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Most companies offer some form of on-the-job training. This usually involves an experienced sales adviser showing how to operate the cash register, place customer orders on the computer system and how to answer commonly-asked customer questions. Advisers selling particularly expensive items may also be required to undergo a background check. Skills Employers seek candidates who enjoy working with others and have a patient, courteous and empathetic manner. That is especially useful in dealing with difficult or demanding customers. Advisers should also have a certain degree of diplomacy and good negotiation and listening skills. They must also have excellent knowledge of their products and services. Responsibilities Responsibilities vary depending on the organization and the adviser's experience level. A retail sales adviser will deal with customers in a store, giving product advice, answering customer queries and operating the cash register. Sales advisers working in call centers will input customer orders into a computer system and may also be required to check on the status of existing orders. Regardless of the specific role, the sales adviser is expected to make maximum sales and will often be given daily or weekly sales targets. Salary Salary varies according to location, experience and industry. The average hourly wage of a retail sales adviser in May 2008 was $9.86, according to the BLS. The highest-paid were automobile dealers, with an average of $18.91 per hour; the lowest-paid were clothes store workers at an hourly average of $8.94. Considerations Employment opportunities for new sales advisers are positive for the future, according to the BLS. Employment is projected to grow by about eight percent until 2018. Opportunities are plentiful for part-time and seasonal workers. However, during economic downturns, demand for sales advisers can fluctuate more than in other industries.