Direct selling, also known as multilevel marketing or MLM, lets ordinary people become self-employed consultants selling the products/services of one or more companies.
Before choosing which company is best , a person needs to know what s/he hopes to get out of a direct selling business: a couple of hundred bucks a month? A couple thousand? Monthly parties and free stuff? A career with lots of networking and promotional opportunities? The loftier a person’s goals, the more important it is to choose the right direct sales company. The next step is to study each potential MLM business.
Determining Sales Potential
Is the product/service fantastic? Selling is no easy thing, even when people love what they're selling. But if an independent consultant has doubts that what s/he is selling is the best thing around, it is going to be nearly impossible to sell to others.
Is the product/service reasonably priced? Many direct sales companies price their products quite steeply, leaving a lot of potential buyers thinking “Well, if it was cheaper I would…” Potential consultants need to take an objective view at the prices (or, if personal objectivity is impossible, ask friends and family members) to make sure that potential clients won’t be turned away by sticker shock. On the other hand, a few MLM businesses price their products so cheaply that it becomes difficult for a person to make any real amount of money selling them.
How many consultants are in the local area? Many MLM companies want as many independent consultants as possible, and don’t care if an area becomes overcrowded. But the last thing a consultant wants to hear is “Sorry, but I already bought from someone else.” Ideally, there will be only 1 consultant for every 10,000+ people, but some of the huge direct sales companies have about 1 consultant for every 250 people! Remember, not everyone in the area is a likely buyer, and not all buyers are going to be return customers, so it is important to have plenty of room for growth, especially if someone hopes to make a career out of this.
What does the competition look like? Even if a person is the only consultant in the local area, there can still be a lot of competition from other direct sales companies or even from retail stores that provide similar products/services (often at a lower price). The ideal MLM company company sells a line of products that is not easy to find otherwise, but that is not so unusual that people won’t want to buy it.
How much money can a consultant make? This is not something a person can usually figure out from the direct sales company itself. Sometimes MLM businesses will provide information like “If you have just two parties a week, you will make $750 a month,” but such estimates are rarely realistic. Instead, people need to learn to judge for themselves.
Determining Company "Fit"
Beyond selling, what is expected of independent consultants? Some MLM companies take care of sales tax, others expect consultants to. Some process credit cards, some don’t. Some ship directly to the customer, others prefer to ship to you. Some require a certain amount of inventory, recruiting, or training. What exactly the direct selling company requires is not quite so important as how the potential consultant feels about doing those things.
What is the company’s reputation?The internet is a great resource here! Search for the company name, along with the words “review” or “scam”. One or two dissatisfied customers or disgruntled ex-consultants need not raise a red flag, but tread lightly if there are legions of unhappy people.
For people eager to start making money, going through the process of selecting the best MLM company can feel time-consuming and frustrating. But it is much better than spending thousands of dollars and countless hours on a direct sales business that was never going to make much money. Good luck!
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Pharmaceutical Sales Jobs
Although I had always thought about a job in medical science, the idea of marketing only came after a holiday job with a roofing contractor! I was instantly attracted by the challenge of selling. Looking around, I saw the pharmaceutical industry as the ideal arena in which to combine my two interests of medicine and marketing.
I joined a large international company with a breadth of opportunity and a commitment to high quality training. It was also a company that appeared to have a very human face, where people were important. The 'people' aspect of the company was never more evident than in my first few months. Like all new graduates who enter the industry I began with intensive product training before going out on the road......working on my own initiative, but very much part of a team.
On many early sales visits I was accompanied by either my regional sales manager or a field trainer. They provided valuable and practical advice, not least about how to deal with the frustrations as well as the success. Much of my time was spent visiting GP's. Sometimes a difficult task but one that taught me so much about both the tactics of selling and the needs of the medical profession. I had originally set out with the aim to progress quickly from representative to an office based marketing post. My ideas changed, however, as I became more involved in the process of selling. I was working with a great team and excellent products - I won the Top Rep award for 1992 and a promotion too. So I stayed a little longer, preparing myself for a future role with a marketing evening class and other training courses, all fully supported by my company.
Benefits and Incentives
Although a clear career path exists in selling - with marvellous benefits and incentives - I eventually made the move to Head Office with a post as product manager. This involved overseeing the marketing of particular products, with a real breadth of skills required. I needed to supplement my knowledge of selling tactics with a broader strategic view of marketing. I was involved extensively in campaign planning and training. And I needed to understand the complete market range, encompassing both ethical (prescription) and consumer demands. When I first became product manager I was supported by a mentor, a more senior colleague who was there to help when needed. My company recognise that learning never stops. What the company does is make the process easy, by both formal and informal routes. My mentor was a great help to me, as were the numerous courses I attended. In my role as product manager I had to take a longer term view of what amounted to success. It' s only now, some six months after having left the job, that the fruits of my efforts are showing with a 250% increase in sales of a previously slow selling product.
Extensive Multi Tasking
My new post is in product training. This wasn't something that I had originally planned for, but opportunities frequently appear at very short notice. I had previously talked to senior managers concerned with graduate development about-my future aims. It was recognised that this move would increase my skill set. Whereas in marketing, the focus is often very tight, my current job demands extensive multitasking. Organising intensive training for new employees and new products is very demanding. Importantly for me it has broadened my experience and is bringing me face-to-face with new problems....and their solutions!
Support and Reward
The pharmaceutical industry today is truly global; it never stands still, and is also constantly developing within my company' s three divisions there is a wealth of opportunity and within the marketing function one is always at the sharp end. The time I have spent could not have been more exciting, nor more rewarding. Extensive travel, real responsibility and a culture in which you know you will be both supported in, and rewarded for, your ambitions and achievements.
Author: Royce Plc, Knutsford, Kingston, Edinburgh
I joined a large international company with a breadth of opportunity and a commitment to high quality training. It was also a company that appeared to have a very human face, where people were important. The 'people' aspect of the company was never more evident than in my first few months. Like all new graduates who enter the industry I began with intensive product training before going out on the road......working on my own initiative, but very much part of a team.
On many early sales visits I was accompanied by either my regional sales manager or a field trainer. They provided valuable and practical advice, not least about how to deal with the frustrations as well as the success. Much of my time was spent visiting GP's. Sometimes a difficult task but one that taught me so much about both the tactics of selling and the needs of the medical profession. I had originally set out with the aim to progress quickly from representative to an office based marketing post. My ideas changed, however, as I became more involved in the process of selling. I was working with a great team and excellent products - I won the Top Rep award for 1992 and a promotion too. So I stayed a little longer, preparing myself for a future role with a marketing evening class and other training courses, all fully supported by my company.
Benefits and Incentives
Although a clear career path exists in selling - with marvellous benefits and incentives - I eventually made the move to Head Office with a post as product manager. This involved overseeing the marketing of particular products, with a real breadth of skills required. I needed to supplement my knowledge of selling tactics with a broader strategic view of marketing. I was involved extensively in campaign planning and training. And I needed to understand the complete market range, encompassing both ethical (prescription) and consumer demands. When I first became product manager I was supported by a mentor, a more senior colleague who was there to help when needed. My company recognise that learning never stops. What the company does is make the process easy, by both formal and informal routes. My mentor was a great help to me, as were the numerous courses I attended. In my role as product manager I had to take a longer term view of what amounted to success. It' s only now, some six months after having left the job, that the fruits of my efforts are showing with a 250% increase in sales of a previously slow selling product.
Extensive Multi Tasking
My new post is in product training. This wasn't something that I had originally planned for, but opportunities frequently appear at very short notice. I had previously talked to senior managers concerned with graduate development about-my future aims. It was recognised that this move would increase my skill set. Whereas in marketing, the focus is often very tight, my current job demands extensive multitasking. Organising intensive training for new employees and new products is very demanding. Importantly for me it has broadened my experience and is bringing me face-to-face with new problems....and their solutions!
Support and Reward
The pharmaceutical industry today is truly global; it never stands still, and is also constantly developing within my company' s three divisions there is a wealth of opportunity and within the marketing function one is always at the sharp end. The time I have spent could not have been more exciting, nor more rewarding. Extensive travel, real responsibility and a culture in which you know you will be both supported in, and rewarded for, your ambitions and achievements.
Author: Royce Plc, Knutsford, Kingston, Edinburgh
Want to work in Sales & Marketing ?
People who work in Sales & Marketing
There are many benefits of beginning a commercial career as a medical representative in the pharmaceutical industry. The pay’s good, and, because you’re often working at home or out on the road, you benefit from a company car and laptop computer.
Although having a degree isn’t absolutely essential, companies prefer to take on graduates as trainees, or people with nursing, marketing or ethical sales experience. This doesn’t mean you need a science degree - far from it – as long as your academic background can demonstrate your ability to assimilate information at a suitable academic level. About 50% of the 9,000 medical representatives in the UK have a science degree, the other 50% are mainly graduates from other academic disciplines.
A common first role in medical sales is that of medical representative, which mostly involves promoting prescription products to GPs and hospital doctors, pharmacists and nurses. You can expect to undergo an initial training course, which will teach you all about the products, therapy area, and how to promote them in a very competitive environment. The PMCPA Code of Practice requires medical representatives to take and pass an examination covering their knowledge of the human body, pathology and pharmacology, body systems and three specialist topics selected from a list of 15. These include disease areas, immunology and pharmacology. The exam must be passed within two years of taking up a position as a medical rep in the UK.
You’ll also need to demonstrate some analytical and planning skills, to enable you to determine where to get the most business from your allocated territory. Teamwork is very important too, as you’re likely to working with two or three other representatives from the same company and sharing the same sales results.
To move on from this position, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’re able to deliver on your sales and activity results. Many medical representatives make their next move in sales training, area management or product management (marketing).
Marketing encompasses such diverse areas as Brand Marketing, Market Development, Market Research and Marketing Communications. Within these areas you might develop positioning and pricing strategies, prepare launch plans, work with agencies, develop and implement promotional campaigns, prepare sales materials for representatives and patient education. As you gain more experience in marketing, it’s possible to move on to roles such as senior product manager, group product manager, marketing manager and marketing director. Alternatively, or in addition, you can supplement your career development by moving back into sales management as national sales manager/regional business director, where you’ll be managing area managers.
There are many benefits of beginning a commercial career as a medical representative in the pharmaceutical industry. The pay’s good, and, because you’re often working at home or out on the road, you benefit from a company car and laptop computer.
Although having a degree isn’t absolutely essential, companies prefer to take on graduates as trainees, or people with nursing, marketing or ethical sales experience. This doesn’t mean you need a science degree - far from it – as long as your academic background can demonstrate your ability to assimilate information at a suitable academic level. About 50% of the 9,000 medical representatives in the UK have a science degree, the other 50% are mainly graduates from other academic disciplines.
A common first role in medical sales is that of medical representative, which mostly involves promoting prescription products to GPs and hospital doctors, pharmacists and nurses. You can expect to undergo an initial training course, which will teach you all about the products, therapy area, and how to promote them in a very competitive environment. The PMCPA Code of Practice requires medical representatives to take and pass an examination covering their knowledge of the human body, pathology and pharmacology, body systems and three specialist topics selected from a list of 15. These include disease areas, immunology and pharmacology. The exam must be passed within two years of taking up a position as a medical rep in the UK.
You’ll also need to demonstrate some analytical and planning skills, to enable you to determine where to get the most business from your allocated territory. Teamwork is very important too, as you’re likely to working with two or three other representatives from the same company and sharing the same sales results.
To move on from this position, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’re able to deliver on your sales and activity results. Many medical representatives make their next move in sales training, area management or product management (marketing).
Marketing encompasses such diverse areas as Brand Marketing, Market Development, Market Research and Marketing Communications. Within these areas you might develop positioning and pricing strategies, prepare launch plans, work with agencies, develop and implement promotional campaigns, prepare sales materials for representatives and patient education. As you gain more experience in marketing, it’s possible to move on to roles such as senior product manager, group product manager, marketing manager and marketing director. Alternatively, or in addition, you can supplement your career development by moving back into sales management as national sales manager/regional business director, where you’ll be managing area managers.
The Medical Sales Role
Medical Sales
Medical Sales representatives are employed by pharmaceutical companies to promote medicines to doctors and pharmacists. You are largely your own boss. Your company car is your office but need room at home to store company gifts and samples. Constant people contact but can be lonely. Can spend a lot of time sitting in doctors waiting rooms. A useful route into areas such as marketing and sales management. Can progress in sales to sales management, or move to marketing or training. Promotion depends on mobility, experience and ability.
PROFILE: Medical Sales Representative
INVOLVES: Visiting doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists etc to make presentations on medicines developed by the pharmaceutical company you work for. Tasks include:
Arranging appointments with doctors, hospital consultants, nurses, midwives, pharmacists etc.
Making presentations on medicines developed by the pharmaceutical company you work for to them.
Organising symposia for doctors.
Managing budgets (for catering, outside speakers etc.).
Learning about new products.
Keeping chemists informed e.g. which drugs GPs are likely to prescribe.
Attending company's regional meetings.
There is an initial training course lasting 6 to 8 weeks covering sales and product training and background physiology and anatomy. Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry exam must be passed within first two years.
EMPLOYERS: Pharmaceutical Companies
RELATED JOBS: media sales, other sales jobs, marketing, clinical research associate (this involves arranging clinical trials of new medicines on volunteer patients with doctors.
SATISFACTIONS: Lots of independence. Largely your own boss. Company car
NEGATIVES: 'Lots of driving & waiting in doctors waiting rooms.' Can be lonely.
SKILLS: spoken communication persuading, negotiating, listening, being able to work independently, driving.
ADVANCEMENT: Can move into sales management, sales training or marketing.
DEGREE: Any degree subject is acceptable. Life sciences or medically-related degrees are useful.
VACANCY SOURCES: Careers Service Vacancy Lists, Daily Telegraph (Thursday), New Scientist, Recruitment Agencies.
TIPS: Work shadow a medical representative - this can sometimes be arranged via your medical centre: ask the receptionist for the business cards of visiting reps. Your local pharmacist will also have good contacts. Contact the major pharmaceutical firms. Try to get some experience of a sales type job. Learn to drive.
Medical Sales representatives are employed by pharmaceutical companies to promote medicines to doctors and pharmacists. You are largely your own boss. Your company car is your office but need room at home to store company gifts and samples. Constant people contact but can be lonely. Can spend a lot of time sitting in doctors waiting rooms. A useful route into areas such as marketing and sales management. Can progress in sales to sales management, or move to marketing or training. Promotion depends on mobility, experience and ability.
PROFILE: Medical Sales Representative
INVOLVES: Visiting doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists etc to make presentations on medicines developed by the pharmaceutical company you work for. Tasks include:
Arranging appointments with doctors, hospital consultants, nurses, midwives, pharmacists etc.
Making presentations on medicines developed by the pharmaceutical company you work for to them.
Organising symposia for doctors.
Managing budgets (for catering, outside speakers etc.).
Learning about new products.
Keeping chemists informed e.g. which drugs GPs are likely to prescribe.
Attending company's regional meetings.
There is an initial training course lasting 6 to 8 weeks covering sales and product training and background physiology and anatomy. Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry exam must be passed within first two years.
EMPLOYERS: Pharmaceutical Companies
RELATED JOBS: media sales, other sales jobs, marketing, clinical research associate (this involves arranging clinical trials of new medicines on volunteer patients with doctors.
SATISFACTIONS: Lots of independence. Largely your own boss. Company car
NEGATIVES: 'Lots of driving & waiting in doctors waiting rooms.' Can be lonely.
SKILLS: spoken communication persuading, negotiating, listening, being able to work independently, driving.
ADVANCEMENT: Can move into sales management, sales training or marketing.
DEGREE: Any degree subject is acceptable. Life sciences or medically-related degrees are useful.
VACANCY SOURCES: Careers Service Vacancy Lists, Daily Telegraph (Thursday), New Scientist, Recruitment Agencies.
TIPS: Work shadow a medical representative - this can sometimes be arranged via your medical centre: ask the receptionist for the business cards of visiting reps. Your local pharmacist will also have good contacts. Contact the major pharmaceutical firms. Try to get some experience of a sales type job. Learn to drive.
Marketing Executive
Marketing executives work to secure the best possible match between the goods or services produced by their organisation and the needs of their actual or potential clients. This could mean conducting market research to find out what customers want, and what they understand about the market, before working with communications, design or production teams within the organisation to develop services and products in line with the research findings. The work involves developing an overall marketing plan, which identifies target markets and marketing opportunities.
Marketing executives spend much of their time writing proposals, reports and promotional briefs, giving presentations, monitoring campaign progress and developing new strategies and ideas.
Entry level
Many employers would expect an applicant for a marketing executive appointment to hold a degree or higher national diploma (HND). Useful degree course subjects include marketing, maths and statistics, economics and business studies. Work experience in marketing, market research or sales is also useful.
There are also postgraduate courses in marketing and export marketing.
Making the grade
Training is often on the job and through short courses organised by professional marketing organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM), the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM) and the Communications, Advertising and Marketing Education Foundation (CAM).
CIM offers a range of qualifications from introductory to advanced certificates, and a postgraduate Diploma in Marketing. With three years' relevant marketing experience, you can apply to become a Full Member of CIM and can go on to become a Chartered Marketer.
ISMM offers qualifications including a certificate and advanced certificate in Sales and Marketing and a Diploma in Sales Management. While studying for these qualifications, you can apply to become an ISMM member.
Personal qualities
As a marketing manager, you should be able to think both strategically and creatively in order to recognise and make the most of marketing opportunities. You must have real commercial flair and a thorough understanding of your organisation's business.
Excellent communication and presentation skills would be essential, together with good IT skills and the ability to handle large budgets. In some international organisations, it could be very beneficial to be fluent in one or more foreign languages.
Looking ahead
Marketing is considered to be a good basis for moving into general management and promotion could eventually lead a post such as managing director or chief executive. Additional qualifications in marketing would enhance your chances. Marketing is recognised as one of the most important activities in manufacturing and service industries, and vacancies are generally available throughout the country, although there is usually fierce competition for posts.
Potential employers include manufacturing companies, service providers and public sector organisations. Some marketing executives work freelance, for more than one organisation, or for a marketing consultancy.
Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include advertising executive, direct marketing, market researcher, public relations officer or retail manager.
Take-home pay
You might start as a graduate trainee on around £18,000 to £22,000, increasing with experience to £29,000 to £35,000 a year. You could earn considerably more as a successful marketing director.
Effects
Marketing executives usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Evening and weekend work is sometimes necessary for meeting deadlines, making presentations at meetings and conferences, or attending product launches.
Marketing executives spend much of their time writing proposals, reports and promotional briefs, giving presentations, monitoring campaign progress and developing new strategies and ideas.
Entry level
Many employers would expect an applicant for a marketing executive appointment to hold a degree or higher national diploma (HND). Useful degree course subjects include marketing, maths and statistics, economics and business studies. Work experience in marketing, market research or sales is also useful.
There are also postgraduate courses in marketing and export marketing.
Making the grade
Training is often on the job and through short courses organised by professional marketing organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM), the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM) and the Communications, Advertising and Marketing Education Foundation (CAM).
CIM offers a range of qualifications from introductory to advanced certificates, and a postgraduate Diploma in Marketing. With three years' relevant marketing experience, you can apply to become a Full Member of CIM and can go on to become a Chartered Marketer.
ISMM offers qualifications including a certificate and advanced certificate in Sales and Marketing and a Diploma in Sales Management. While studying for these qualifications, you can apply to become an ISMM member.
Personal qualities
As a marketing manager, you should be able to think both strategically and creatively in order to recognise and make the most of marketing opportunities. You must have real commercial flair and a thorough understanding of your organisation's business.
Excellent communication and presentation skills would be essential, together with good IT skills and the ability to handle large budgets. In some international organisations, it could be very beneficial to be fluent in one or more foreign languages.
Looking ahead
Marketing is considered to be a good basis for moving into general management and promotion could eventually lead a post such as managing director or chief executive. Additional qualifications in marketing would enhance your chances. Marketing is recognised as one of the most important activities in manufacturing and service industries, and vacancies are generally available throughout the country, although there is usually fierce competition for posts.
Potential employers include manufacturing companies, service providers and public sector organisations. Some marketing executives work freelance, for more than one organisation, or for a marketing consultancy.
Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include advertising executive, direct marketing, market researcher, public relations officer or retail manager.
Take-home pay
You might start as a graduate trainee on around £18,000 to £22,000, increasing with experience to £29,000 to £35,000 a year. You could earn considerably more as a successful marketing director.
Effects
Marketing executives usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Evening and weekend work is sometimes necessary for meeting deadlines, making presentations at meetings and conferences, or attending product launches.
Retail Sales Manager
Retail managers are responsible for the day-to-day running of department stores, chain stores, supermarkets and independent shops.
They look after staff management, including taking on and training new staff, maintaining a good standard of customer care and increasing sales and profitability.
In large stores, there may be more than one manager, each responsible for a specific department.
Managers usually work around 35 hours a week, within the opening hours of the shop or store. This includes weekend work and often late night openings during the week. The environment is busy and often noisy, and the work involves standing, walking, bending and stretching.
Salaries range from around £12,500 for new retail managers, up to around £65,000 for managers of large stores.
A retail manager should:
know the company's products and procedures and relevant legislation
be committed to a high level of customer service
be confident, quick-thinking and able to lead and motivate a team
have excellent spoken and written communication skills
be able to take responsibility and make decisions
enjoy working in a busy, lively environment.
Nearly three million people work in retail jobs across the UK, so there are good opportunities for finding work. There are jobs for retail managers with national and international companies, and independent retailers of all sizes.
There are no set academic requirements to work in retail, but GCSEs/S grades may be expected, and A levels/H grades are also useful. Various useful specific qualifications are on offer, including national awards, foundation degrees and degrees. Apprenticeships may be available to start work in retail - many people start as sales assistants and work up through training and promotion. There is no upper age limit for entry, and mature applicants with relevant experience are welcomed.
Larger retail businesses have their own training schemes, including graduate trainee management schemes. Managers can study while working for retail qualifications such as NVQs/SVQs in retail operations, and BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Retail Management.
There may be opportunities for promotion in larger businesses to senior manager, area manager or a head office management position, though this may mean moving to a different location. Experienced and enthusiastic managers in independent shops and stores may be able to progress to similar positions in larger businesses.
They look after staff management, including taking on and training new staff, maintaining a good standard of customer care and increasing sales and profitability.
In large stores, there may be more than one manager, each responsible for a specific department.
Managers usually work around 35 hours a week, within the opening hours of the shop or store. This includes weekend work and often late night openings during the week. The environment is busy and often noisy, and the work involves standing, walking, bending and stretching.
Salaries range from around £12,500 for new retail managers, up to around £65,000 for managers of large stores.
A retail manager should:
know the company's products and procedures and relevant legislation
be committed to a high level of customer service
be confident, quick-thinking and able to lead and motivate a team
have excellent spoken and written communication skills
be able to take responsibility and make decisions
enjoy working in a busy, lively environment.
Nearly three million people work in retail jobs across the UK, so there are good opportunities for finding work. There are jobs for retail managers with national and international companies, and independent retailers of all sizes.
There are no set academic requirements to work in retail, but GCSEs/S grades may be expected, and A levels/H grades are also useful. Various useful specific qualifications are on offer, including national awards, foundation degrees and degrees. Apprenticeships may be available to start work in retail - many people start as sales assistants and work up through training and promotion. There is no upper age limit for entry, and mature applicants with relevant experience are welcomed.
Larger retail businesses have their own training schemes, including graduate trainee management schemes. Managers can study while working for retail qualifications such as NVQs/SVQs in retail operations, and BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Retail Management.
There may be opportunities for promotion in larger businesses to senior manager, area manager or a head office management position, though this may mean moving to a different location. Experienced and enthusiastic managers in independent shops and stores may be able to progress to similar positions in larger businesses.
Telesales Role
Telesales operators work within a business or call centre, contacting potential customers by telephone. Their job is to try and persuade customers to buy the company's goods and services or accept a trial.
Using carefully targeted information, they make outgoing telephone calls. Telesales operators have only a short amount of time to build a strong rapport with customers and explain the features and benefits of the product. The work is fast paced and intense. They may also carry out market research and satisfaction surveys. Other tasks include:
updating documentation and databases with customer details
arranging for payment and dispatch of goods and services.
Full-time staff usually work 37 hours a week, but as businesses remain open at weekends and in the evenings, shift work is common. Part-time opportunities are widely available. A telesales operator usually works in an open plan office, with a sectioned workstation containing a computer and telephone headset.
Salaries for telesales operators range from around £10,550 to £23,000 a year.
A telesales operator needs:
excellent communication and listening skills
a polite, confident and friendly manner
to be able to show initiative
to be confident using computers
to enjoy working with customers and building relationships.
There are approximately 57,000 telesales operators employed in the UK, within contact centres as well as small businesses. Finance and retail companies and distribution centres are the largest employers. Jobs are UK wide, with concentrated pockets of employment around cities and industrial parks, particularly in the South East.
There are no set entry qualifications. Employers may look for good sales techniques and some may ask for GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3). Customer service experience is useful, and good hearing and clear speech are important. Mature applicants are welcomed.
Training is on the job and may include in-house training courses and the opportunity to work towards a range of NVQs/SVQs and professional qualifications. Apprenticeships for new staff may be offered by some of the larger contact centres.
With experience, it might be possible to become a team leader or move into sales management. There are also opportunities in related fields, such as complaint handling, training or marketing
Using carefully targeted information, they make outgoing telephone calls. Telesales operators have only a short amount of time to build a strong rapport with customers and explain the features and benefits of the product. The work is fast paced and intense. They may also carry out market research and satisfaction surveys. Other tasks include:
updating documentation and databases with customer details
arranging for payment and dispatch of goods and services.
Full-time staff usually work 37 hours a week, but as businesses remain open at weekends and in the evenings, shift work is common. Part-time opportunities are widely available. A telesales operator usually works in an open plan office, with a sectioned workstation containing a computer and telephone headset.
Salaries for telesales operators range from around £10,550 to £23,000 a year.
A telesales operator needs:
excellent communication and listening skills
a polite, confident and friendly manner
to be able to show initiative
to be confident using computers
to enjoy working with customers and building relationships.
There are approximately 57,000 telesales operators employed in the UK, within contact centres as well as small businesses. Finance and retail companies and distribution centres are the largest employers. Jobs are UK wide, with concentrated pockets of employment around cities and industrial parks, particularly in the South East.
There are no set entry qualifications. Employers may look for good sales techniques and some may ask for GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3). Customer service experience is useful, and good hearing and clear speech are important. Mature applicants are welcomed.
Training is on the job and may include in-house training courses and the opportunity to work towards a range of NVQs/SVQs and professional qualifications. Apprenticeships for new staff may be offered by some of the larger contact centres.
With experience, it might be possible to become a team leader or move into sales management. There are also opportunities in related fields, such as complaint handling, training or marketing
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