An IT sales person role involves the work involved in the sales of hardware and software. This work includes providing information and product specifications to potential customers and demonstrating how the product features will fulfil their needs. They will then need to negotiate a sale of the product. After sale, the IT Sales person may provide technical support or training to the customer to solve problems, or on the best way to use hardware and software.
The IT sales role involves lots of contact with clients, and requires communication skills, and an ability to understand the client’s requirements and determine the best solution for them.
Opportunities
This job is an excellent entry level position for anyone wanting to begin a career in I.T. It allows you to become familiar with products and other aspects of the industry; and that experience can be very valuable for working in anything from product development to I.T. support.
Often graduates fro courses at any level (certificate, diploma or degree), will find that the only option to get stated in the industry is in sales; but with the training they have combined with some experience; other opportunities will then emerge more readily.
The IT industry is booming, and virtually every business will have IT requirements of some description. It is up to the IT sales professional to address each individual IT requirements. The IT sales professional may work on a consultancy basis for themselves, or on behalf of an IT company. If they are employed, they may be paid a salary, or they may be paid a commission on their sales.
Creating a customer base will be a big part of the IT sales professional’s role. Networking and following up on leads will be important. Cold calling prospective customers may also be required.
Risks and challenges
The IT industry is constantly changing, so the IT sales professional will need to stay abreast of any new developments.
The IT sales professional may be required to deal with stressed customers when problems arise. They will need to develop skills to deal with emotional customers.
Work can be competitive as there are a range of different products on the market. The IT sales professional will need to have the ability to develop rapport with customers in order to retain their business.
How to become an IT sales assistant
Most people who get into IT do so because of a strong interest in the industry. The ability to sell is possibly more important than a knowledge of IT.
Many IT sales person will develop skills to a certain level through their own personal experience with computers, then learn sales on the job.
As with most IT jobs, an understanding of up to date hardware and software can be a big advantage. Studying a diploma or certificate can be a big advantage, but it is equally important to build contacts within industry, and stay connected after graduating.
For an IT sales person role, it may well be that a vocational course would be sufficient as it is a combination of competent IT skills and exceptional personal attributes that will create a successful IT sales professional (rather than just exceptional IT skills).
Advancement
Opportunities will always exist for people to progress from being a sales assistant, to something more challenging in the IT industry.
Some start out working in a computer shop and progress through the ranks in the shop they started in; to eventually become a manager. Others move on to other things in IT. Many computer programmers, or IT managers in large organisations (for example), have started out working as a sales assistant when they were young.