This assignment provides a personalized career plan for the post of Senior Sales Representative. Notably, during the previous exercise, CW1, I identified a job opportunity for the post of Senior Sales Representative, which is one of the most influential careers in the marketing field. As earlier stated, marketing plays a critical role in determining the success of an organization. The ability of a firm to produce, distribute and sell products or services depends on the efficacy of marketing. As Martin (2017) notes, it is an effective marketing skills that distinguish successful enterprises from others. For instance, Coca-Cola, which is the world’s largest beverage company, invests highly in its marketing strategies. Apart from Apart from spending over $3.4 billion annually in marketing, the company makes sure that it hires determined, motivated, and innovative sales representatives. During the CW1 assignment, I identified a job opportunity for a Sales Representative. According to Martin (2017) a Sales Representative, is a person who displays and sells services and products to government agencies, organizations and other businesses. Unlike sales associates who sell directly to the consumers, Sales Representatives tend to work closely with manufacturers, importers, and wholesalers. The candidate must stay up-to-date with the consumers’ dynamic and act as a link between the employer company and its customers. For one to work as a Sales Representative, the applicant must possess special skills and expertise. Some of the requirements include proven work experience as a sales representative or sales associate, impeccable knowledge in Microsoft, Office, demonstrate bravura in Business Relationship Management (BRM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Further, one must have a Bachelor’s degree in either science or arts. Also, a Sales Representative must have excellent skills in customer service, communication, negotiations, and time management. The ideal candidate should not only be flexible but also persistent since various customers have different needs and temperaments.
Personal Analysis
Based on the requirements of a Sales Representative, a critical personal analysis shows that I meet some of the standards but still need to improve on certain areas. In a nutshell, I am partially qualified to work as a sales representative but still require work on my weaknesses if I am to become a highly effective professional.
Strengths
As earlier stated, the position of Sales Representative requires a person who has a proven work experience as a sales representative. A primary reason why Sales Representatives should have experience in sales is that the field of marketing is highly dependable on the ever-dynamic needs of the consumers. Therefore, a sales representative who is not well experienced in this field could lose out on numerous deals as one tries to analyze and understand the trends. Personally, I gained adequate experience while working as a sales associate at H Motors in Windsor. H Motors, is one of the most influential car selling enterprises in Windsor and it receives over 500 potential clients each day. It is at the organization that I acquired sales expertise as I was required to provide excellent customer service by advising customers about the company’s products and services as helping them purchase.
Secondly, the post of a Sales Representative requires excellent skills in Microsoft Office, which I am fully competent. Given the modern era of technology, I have always had opportunities to work with computers. My computer skills improved greatly while working with Zainb IT Solution Company where I was responsible for maintaining and repairing of computers. Not only did I learn to configure software application but also develop and maintain IT reports, statistics, and other documentation.
Thirdly, I have substantially high communication, negotiation, and selling skills, which I have accumulated while working in various organizations and in different capacities. As earlier stated, I acquired excellent selling skills while working at H Motors in Windsor. Admittedly, the motor selling company trained all its sales associates on how to interact with potential customers, handle difficult clients, and handle criticism. I enhanced my communication skills not only at H Motors but also at Dot2Dot Taxis, where I worked as a customer care attendant. My primary roles included receiving telephone calls, answering queries, handling complaints, and steering towards the company’s goals without compromising the customers’ opinion. Admittedly, working at H Motors, Dot2Dot, and Zainab IT Solutions greatly advanced my communication, negotiation, and selling skills which are important for a sales representative.
Weaknesses
While I satisfy most of the requirements needed for the post of a Sales Representative, there are still some areas that I need to focus my development around. These are the areas that I am relatively weak. Notably, most of my weaknesses are based on management; time management, business relationship management, organization, and leadership qualities. Given the numerous workload and the number of clients that sales representatives deal with, having excellent management skills is essential.
Business Relationship Management (BRM)
Although I have strengths in customer relationship management (CRM), I have a weakness in Business Relationship Management (BRM), which is equally important in the work of sales representatives. A person who is competent in Business Relationship Management is able to identify how different departments of the organization interact and how they can optimize on the efficacy of every department to reach more customers and close deals. Apart from advising, negotiating, and assisting customers to buy goods and services from a company, it is important to understand how different entities of the organization may facilitate increased production. Personally, I am not competent in Business Relationship Management since I have never worked in a leadership capacity that requires me to organize or plan for multiple departments. Undoubtedly, I should focus my personal development on Business Relational Management in order to fully qualify for the position of Sales Representative.
Time Management
Given the enormous workloads, effective time management skills are highly critical for a highly effective Sales Representative. While selling is the primary objective of every for-profit company, there are only 24 hours in a day yet some companies are more successful than others. That means that some Sales Representatives have better time management skills than others. Although I could have enhanced my time management skills at H Motors, Legoland Windsor, Dot2Dot Taxis and Zainb IT Solutions, I did not since I focused more on providing quality service to each client rather than serving multiple customers within each hour. In other words, I focused more on quality than on quantity. That notwithstanding, time management is a highly important skill for effective and highly productive Sales Representatives.
Leadership Skills
While the position of Sales Representative emphasizes impeccable organizational skills, it is one of the areas that I should focus my personal development around. Good leaders or organizers are able to align all the factors of production in a feasible manner that increases production.
Curriculum Vitae
PROFILE
I am an enthusiastic, self-motivated and hardworking person. I am very confident and have great leadership skills. I really enjoy using my hands when working and think in a mechanical way at all times. I am also very reliable and trustworthy. I hold great speaking and listening skills and always carry out instructions to the best of my ability. I am also fantastic and experienced with the latest technology as I can use it to a high standard. When working I always like to learn new things and meet new people, I have amazing teamwork skills and always help out other people/departments at work when needed. I am known to be able to get along with anyone instantly and always willing to help someone whenever they need my assistance. I have finished a year at Coventry University where I enrolled in an Engineering Foundation course. By moving away from home and onto campus accommodation it allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and become very independent. I have currently held a Full UK driving license for over 3 years.
EDUCATION
Coventry University Sep 2016 – July 2017
Engineering Foundation
Slough and Eton Church of England Business and Enterprise College Sep 2008 – July 2013
9 A*-C GCSEs: including Mathematics, English and ICT
East Berkshire College (Langley) Sep 2014 – July 2016
2850 – Engineering Level 3 (2015 – 2016)
- 320 Maintenance of Hydraulics Systems
- 321 Maintenance of Pneumatic Systems
- 306 Installation and maintenance commissioning
- 328 Maintaining electrical equipment
- 301 Health and Safety
- 302 Principles of Engineering technology
2850 – Engineering Level 2 (2014 – 2015)
- 201 Working in Engineering
- 202 Principles of Engineering Technology
- 206 Bench fitting techniques
- 208 Principles of maintenance technology
- 222 Maintaining electrical equipment systems
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Sales Associate, H Motors, Windsor Nov’14 – Aug 2016
I am responsible for contributing to the overall performance of the showroom by maximizing sales and repairs at every opportunity, whilst at the same time ensuring every customer receives exceptional levels of service and enjoys their visit to the showroom. In addition, I have to be cautious of security threats as store holds over £250,000 of goods at any one time.
• Duties – providing excellent customer service by assisting the customers with purchases with advice on the product selection, processing payments, dealing with refunds, assisting customers with queries and ensuring delivery of large stock is received and stored correctly. Tasks are carried out by working within established guidelines to provide customers with the best information, for example different types of warranties
• Skills – Excellent sales techniques for which training is received, good communication skills with the use of different language skills, extensive knowledge of shop security measures, commercial awareness, brand and retail industry knowledge, ability to build relationships, always looking for innovative ways to generate sales
Legoland Windsor, guest experience Apr’13 – Nov’15
I worked as part of a team at Legoland was responsible for the overall performance of the company as key performance indicators had to be met every season, whilst ensuring every customer receives exceptional levels of service and enjoys their visit to the theme park and we gain customers for life.
Dot2Dot Taxi’s – Telephonist Jan 2016- Aug 16
While working at Dot2Dot Taxi service as a telephonist, I was responsible for answering phones, making sure the pickup address and destination was correct, taking last minute email bookings, dealing with customer complaints and making sure our customers are always satisfied with our service.
Zainb It solutions – IT intern (3 months) 2016
I am expected to provide first line helpdesk support, whilst assisting with the setting up, maintenance and repair of computers, audio-visual equipment, computer-linked equipment and computer-related equipment I also install and configure software applications, help produce and maintain IT statistics, reports, checklists and other documentation as necessary. I am also expected to assist with the upkeep of the firm’s IT inventory. And help maintain appropriate stock levels of computer consumables and accessories and to raise purchase orders as necessary ensuring that value for money is obtained. It is also important for me to maintain satisfactory standards of safety and security in relation to computer rooms and equipment. I am always expected undertake any other relevant duties as may reasonably be requested by the IT team.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Languages: English, Arabic – Fluent Financial:
Accounting
Computing: Microsoft Office Trading
Reflex Business Planning Budgeting
INTERESTS
In my spare time, my hobbies include fixing broken items and then selling them with a profit,
fundraising for local charities, researching about the latest news in the business world as
well as participate in various events around my campus. I am extremely excited to see
where the next stage of my journey will take me and I'm sure it will be a successful one due
to my flexibility, drive and willpower.
