Sales Person

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About

A career as a Sales Person

A Sales Person needs to understand the land-based engineering products or services they are selling. Full training will be given by the manufacturer and will be on-going as new products and services or enhancements are released. They also need to understand and/or find out which product or service they are selling is right for each individual customer. They will work with the Demonstrator to show what the products can do and provide the customer with financial information to make the sale. As well as approaching new customers to win their business, Sales People strive to maintain good relationships with existing clients, gaining repeat business where possible.

Also known as: Sales Rep, Sales Representative, Sales Executive, Field Sales Executive

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Skills/Knowledge

You’ll need:

  • the ability to sell products and services

  • a good general understanding and knowledge of land-based machinery

  • to negotiate on price, costs, delivery and specifications with buyers and manufacturers

  • excellent verbal communication and customer service skills

  • to be approachable, confident, helpful, and friendly when dealing with customers

  • to be confident working on your own, and as part of a wider team

  • to use a computer, recording sales and order information

Salary
Typical salaries
range from
Typical Hours

Around 35-40 hours per week, which may include weekend, evening and bank holiday work.

Day to Day
  • Maintain and develop relationships with existing customers in person and via telephone calls and emails

  • Market to potential new customers for new business

  • Listen to customer requirements and present appropriate products to make a sale

  • Liaise with manufacturer on delivery and check on the progress of existing orders

  • Negotiate the terms of an agreement and close sales

  • Review your sales performance, aiming to meet or exceed targets

  • Gather market and customer information, feeding back trends to managers

  • Represent the company at trade exhibitions and events

Working Environment

You work in a dealership, selling to customers from the location, over the phone or travel with a Demonstrator to customers closing the sale after trialling at their sites.

Training Available

Training is an essential part of any job, giving you the skills and knowledge you need to do your job safely and correctly. It also helps to strengthen your current skill set and prepares you for the next stage in your career.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships help you build the experience and skills that employers want to see. No matter what stage you’re at, they’ll help set you up for a bright future. There are lots of ways to get involved.

Sales Person opportunities and careers paths

Promotion is usually based on results and with experience, you could become a Sales Manager or an Area Sales Team Leader. A move out of sales into training and education is another possibility.

Industries

Sales Person will usually work in one of the following industries. Click below to find out more about possible career paths.

Land-based Engineering

A career in land-based engineering is a great way to combine technical ability with the latest developments in science and technology.

Fast-paced and diverse, jobs in land-based engineering create solutions for engineering problems in forestry, agriculture, horticulture and environmental management. Highly skilled engineers help use resources more effectively and sustainably by designing, developing, operating and maintaining the technology and tools of the future.

It’s a fast-growing industry, thanks to new technology and the rise of techniques like precision farming which allow agricultural land to be released while maintaining food production levels. This creates opportunities at all levels for people who can develop new solutions, as well as maintaining existing technology and equipment.

If you’re looking for a fast-moving career with lots of opportunities to progress and work in different environments, land-based engineering could be for you. As well as solving engineering problems and developing machinery solutions for agricultural, ground care, horticulture, forestry and sports turf businesses, engineers also advise farmers and businesses on agricultural concerns, such as sustainable land use and irrigation.

  • There are over 3,000 agricultural, turf care, dairy and forestry equipment dealerships in the UK

  • Enterprise Ireland (EI) has identified agricultural machinery as one of the dominant engineering sub sectors within Irish engineering, and that this industry has significant growth potential in the coming years

  • Land-based Engineers can work with technically advanced products such as GPS, drones, robotics autonomous vehicles and alternative fuel sources

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Qualifications

Qualifications for a Sales Person

These courses are perfect if you are starting out on your career but they are also great for people already in jobs who want to improve their skills.

To find out more about qualification levels in the Republic of Ireland, please visit National Framework of Qualifications for Ireland (NFQIE)

To find out more about qualification levels in Scotland please visit Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Select level
Title Level
Training for a Sales Person

These courses are perfect if you are starting out on your career but they are also great for people already in jobs who want to improve their skills.

About Apprenticeships

Work, earn and learn

Whether you’re just starting out in the workplace, want to upskill or are considering changing direction, Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to build your career. Apprenticeships combine work with on-the-job training, so if you want to earn as you learn, there’s an apprenticeship out there for you – you can even start an apprenticeship if you already have a degree.

Apprenticeships for a career as an Sales Person

All about Apprenticeships

Work, earn and learn – no matter where you are in your career, an apprenticeship can set you up for a bright future.

Let’s get started!

Want to take on an apprentice? Employers start here.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a unique blend of work experience and study to help build the skills and knowledge you need for your career. Apprentices are employees – they have a contract, are paid and get the same benefits as everyone else. But the difference between an apprenticeship and a normal job is that apprentices are regularly released from work for training. Sometimes that’s a day a week, sometimes it’s for a longer block – it all depends on the job and the apprenticeship.

Apprentices work for all kinds of people at all kinds of stages in their lives. Most apprentices fall into one of three categories:

  • someone who is just starting their career
  • someone who already has a job and wants to move forward in their company
  • someone who already has a job and wants to retrain to make a career change.

Previously restricted to school leavers and young people, apprenticeships are now a dynamic way of retraining people of all ages - there’s no upper age limit. The minimum age to become an apprentice is 16 and candidates can’t be in full-time education.

Benefits of an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships offer a unique combination of paid work and study. They’re an exciting option for anyone who wants to gain experience, upskill or change career while working.

They offer a chance to work, learn and earn:

  • workplace experience and skills development
  • a nationally recognised qualification
  • employee benefits and a wage
  • no student loans or tuition fees
  • contact with industry professionals.

Vacancies

Interested in becoming an apprentice? Search for current opportunities and apply here.

Find your apprenticeship

You can also check vacancies on employer websites or get in touch with your local careers service.

Apprenticeship Stories

What’s it like to work, earn and learn? Find out what apprentice life is really like.

Explore apprenticeship stories

Alternatives to Apprenticeships

Useful Information

Useful Links

Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA)
Find out more

British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA)
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Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE)
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We Are Land-based Engineering
Find out more

Funding Options

Thinking about your finances is important when you're looking at courses and training - different types of funding support is available depending on what type of course you're interested in and where you are located. We recommend you contact the training provider for more information on course costs and financing, but here are some links to connect you to support available:

Skills Hub Scotland

Skills Hub Scotland is an online skill sharing marketplace creating new opportunities to learn and share skills. Wherever you are located - if you have a skill to share, or a skill to learn, Skills Hub Scotland can help.

Initially founded as a response to the Scottish Government’s CivTech 5 programme in 2020 and aiming to offer a platform for those in rural or remote locations, Skills Hub Scotland has been developed into an important sectoral resource. If you have a skill to share with others or are a training provider, list your workshop or course (all skills from all sectors are welcome). If you are a learner, use Skills Hub Scotland to search for and book a course!

STEM

STEM is an approach to learning and development that incorporates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Learning in STEM connects to Education for Sustainable Development/Learning for Sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals – this helps learners to understand that STEM plays a vital role in finding solutions to real world issues or challenges such as protecting biodiversity and tackling climate change. There are multiple pathways into a land-based STEM career including apprenticeships, further and higher education. This means that a career in STEM is open to everyone!

STEM Learning is the largest provider of STEM education and careers support in the UK. Their STEM Ambassadors programme sees volunteers representing a vast range of STEM-related jobs work with young people to bring STEM subjects alive through real life experiences. They help to open the doors to a world of opportunities and possibilities which come from pursuing STEM subjects and careers. To become a STEM Ambassador, you can register via the STEM Learning website: https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/join-stem-ambassador-programme

Lantra have worked in collaboration with STEM Ambassadors in Scotland to create two specific UK-wide Ambassadors schemes - Forestry and Aquaculture. Through these schemes, we want to make sure that those working in forestry and aquaculture have the support materials they need to take part in STEM activities. To find out more and register for the schemes, please follow the links below:

Smart Futures helps young people in Ireland discover the STEM subjects and careers that might be right for them. Co-ordinated and managed by Science Foundation Ireland, their programme allows young people to connect with people that are working in STEM, the organisations they’re working in and what their interests and skills are.

Not sure what you want to do?

Why not take a look at the Industries Explorer as an introduction to the different areas you could work in.

If we can support you with any specific information, please click the button below to get in touch.