Job Description
Remote sales jobs are surging in popularity, and open positions across all industries are projected to double over the next five years. The pandemic has only increased remote work for many different professions.
Sales are instrumental for every company and organization. Without them, a company would not maintain a profitable enterprise and stay in business.
Two of the top remote sales jobs are a remote sales representative and a remote sales manager.
A remote sales representative contacts customers via a phone call, Zoom or other video conferencing, or messaging to persuade them to purchase a product or service. A remote sales manager oversees the sales team, sets goals, tracks and reports on the sales, and forecasts projected sales growth.
The great thing about remote sales work is that you can do it from the comfort of your home.
Depending on what you sell, sometimes it takes several contacts with a potential buyer to clinch the sale. That’s because you must first establish a rapport with the client through excellent interpersonal skills to gain their trust. You must also know a lot about the product or service you’re selling so you can communicate to the buyer how they will benefit from it.
Remote sales professionals work in all industries, ranging from pharmaceutical sales to medical devices to insurance to financial services and everything in between.
You will also likely work with other team members to identify sales targets and share outcomes while establishing deadlines and coordinating an effective sales campaign.
In essence, a remote sales rep performs the same duties as a regular sales representative, but you do it all from your home.
One of the major advantages of remote sales work is the amount of time conserved when you don’t have to travel to in-person meetings. You can use that time to make more sales calls or have a better work-life balance. It can potentially offer you greater job satisfaction.
You are also likely to have a wider reach of contacts away from where you live or work. This can result in potentially greater opportunities to secure more sales.
Even though some remote sales jobs can be accomplished entirely from a virtual standpoint, some remote jobs will require you to travel from time to time or have an occasional face-to-face meeting with a client.
Because of this, it is best to set expectations from the beginning to learn what will be required from you.
Remote Sales Job Salaries
The salary for remote sales professionals will depend on the industry you work in. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that sales reps in wholesale, science, manufacturing, and technical products earn approximately $99,680 annually.
The BLS lists the salary for a pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing sales manager at $166,880.
But sales manager positions across all industries show an average salary of $132,290 per year.
It should be noted that the BLS does not distinguish between regular sales workers and remote sales workers. But a quick search on the Internet shows that the average remote sales rep across all industries earns between $65,000 and $75,000 per year, with many agents topping $100,000 with commissions.
For Instances
- Documo is seeking a remote sales manager. The company provides document workflow solutions.
- ThermoFisher Scientific has several open remote sales rep positions across several locations, including Arkansas, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and more. The life sciences, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing company also has a remote sales account manager position open in Georgia and Florida, as well as a host of other remote sales job openings on its website.
- Rapid Micro Biosystems has available remote sales jobs available across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Play a critical role in RMB’s sales around the world.
Training and Requirements
The training and requirements needed to become a remote sales representative will depend on the industry or company you work for.
While many companies might only require a high school diploma and the soft skills that make an effective salesperson, some companies will favor a candidate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or marketing. This is particularly true for major corporations. Some companies might only require you to take a sales certification course.
You will also need to understand cold-calling techniques and have stellar listening and communication skills. It would be best to become adept at creating messages and emails that engage your prospects.
A remote sales job will also require you to be adept in mathematical and financial skills and time management. You will also need to have a persuasive personality and be highly efficient and organized.
It would be best if you also were self-motivated and persistent as sales requires team members who don’t give up easily.
Computer and technological proficiency are also a must. As some of your calls will be done virtually, you will need to be able to set up video meetings and understand the platform you use.
Once you mastered these skills, you will be well on your way to becoming a top sales producer for your company.