Sales Representative Job Description Template - 2025 Guide

What You'll Get From This Guide

  • Complete Sales Representative job description template with revenue focus
  • Context variations for corporate, startup, and remote work environments
  • Industry-specific requirements across technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and more
  • Comprehensive salary data ranging from $60,000-$120,000+ total compensation
  • Technical and behavioral interview questions for evaluating sales talent
  • Sourcing strategies for finding motivated sales professionals
  • Performance metrics and commission structure guidance
  • Career progression pathways from representative to management roles

A Sales Representative drives revenue growth by identifying prospects, building relationships, and converting leads into customers. This role combines strategic prospecting with relationship management to achieve consistent sales targets while representing your company's value proposition in the marketplace.

Key Highlights

  • Drive revenue through proactive prospecting and lead conversion
  • Build and maintain strong customer relationships across the sales cycle
  • Achieve monthly and quarterly sales quotas through strategic pipeline management
  • Collaborate with marketing and customer success teams to optimize sales processes
  • Utilize CRM systems to track activities, opportunities, and customer interactions
  • Present product demonstrations and proposals to qualified prospects

Why This Role Matters

Sales Representatives form the backbone of revenue generation, directly impacting company growth and market expansion. They serve as the primary connection between prospects and your organization, translating customer needs into business opportunities. In today's competitive landscape, successful Sales Representatives combine consultative selling techniques with digital tools to build meaningful relationships and drive sustainable revenue growth.

Modern Sales Representatives must balance traditional relationship-building skills with data-driven approaches, leveraging CRM analytics and sales intelligence to maximize their effectiveness. They play a crucial role in market feedback, providing valuable insights that inform product development and marketing strategies.

Primary Job Description Template

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated Sales Representative to join our growing sales team and contribute to our revenue objectives. You will be responsible for identifying and qualifying prospects, conducting product demonstrations, and managing the sales process from initial contact through contract closure. This position offers significant growth potential within a dynamic sales organization.

As a Sales Representative, you will work closely with marketing teams to follow up on leads, conduct outbound prospecting activities, and maintain relationships with existing customers for upselling opportunities. You will utilize our CRM system to track all sales activities and maintain accurate pipeline forecasting. Success in this role requires strong communication skills, resilience, and a customer-focused approach to selling.

The ideal candidate thrives in a target-driven environment and possesses the ability to build rapport quickly with diverse prospects. You will represent our company at industry events, trade shows, and networking functions while consistently meeting or exceeding monthly sales quotas.

Key Responsibilities

  • Identify and qualify prospects through cold calling, email outreach, and social selling techniques
  • Conduct product demonstrations and presentations to showcase value proposition to potential customers
  • Manage sales pipeline from lead qualification through contract negotiation and closure
  • Maintain accurate records of all sales activities, contacts, and opportunities in CRM system
  • Achieve monthly and quarterly sales quotas while maintaining high customer satisfaction scores
  • Collaborate with marketing team to optimize lead generation and follow-up processes
  • Attend industry events, trade shows, and networking functions to generate new business opportunities
  • Provide market feedback and competitive intelligence to product and marketing teams
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key decision makers and influencers in target accounts
  • Prepare and deliver compelling sales proposals and contract terms to qualified prospects

Requirements

Must-Have Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field
  • 2-4 years of experience in sales, business development, or customer-facing roles
  • Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets and quotas
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills with presentation experience
  • Proficiency with CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar platforms)
  • Experience with prospecting tools and techniques including cold calling and email campaigns

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

  • Previous experience in B2B sales within relevant industry vertical
  • Familiarity with consultative selling methodologies and sales frameworks
  • Experience with marketing automation platforms and lead nurturing processes
  • Professional sales certifications or training credentials
  • Multilingual capabilities for diverse market coverage

What We Offer

  • Competitive base salary range: $45,000 - $65,000 annually
  • Commission structure with earning potential up to $85,000+ total compensation
  • Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Professional development opportunities and sales training programs
  • Flexible work arrangements with remote work options
  • Career advancement pathways to senior sales roles and management positions

Context Variations

Corporate Environment

Large organizations typically offer more structured sales processes with established territories, comprehensive training programs, and specialized support teams. Sales Representatives benefit from brand recognition and extensive resources while working within defined sales methodologies and reporting structures.

Startup Environment

Fast-paced startup environments require Sales Representatives to wear multiple hats, often involving market research, product feedback, and customer success activities. These roles offer greater autonomy and direct impact on company growth with potentially higher equity compensation and accelerated career advancement opportunities.

Remote/Hybrid Environment

Remote Sales Representatives must excel at virtual relationship building and leverage digital tools for prospecting and customer engagement. Strong self-discipline and time management skills are essential, along with proficiency in video conferencing and digital collaboration platforms for effective remote selling.

Industry Considerations

Industry Key Requirements Unique Aspects
Technology/SaaS Technical aptitude, understanding of software solutions Long sales cycles, multiple stakeholders, recurring revenue focus
Healthcare Regulatory knowledge, clinical understanding Compliance requirements, relationship-based selling, specialized training
Manufacturing Industrial knowledge, B2B experience Complex products, technical specifications, relationship longevity
Financial Services Series licensing, compliance training Regulatory oversight, fiduciary responsibility, trust-based relationships
Real Estate State licensing, market knowledge Commission-based, seasonal fluctuations, local market expertise
Retail/Consumer Product knowledge, customer service focus High volume transactions, seasonal trends, brand representation

Compensation Guide

Salary Information

National Average Ranges:

  • Base Salary: $45,000 - $65,000
  • Total Compensation: $60,000 - $85,000
  • Top Performers: $90,000 - $120,000+

Major Metro Area Compensation:

Metro Area Base Salary Range Total Comp Range
San Francisco, CA $55,000 - $75,000 $80,000 - $110,000
New York, NY $50,000 - $70,000 $75,000 - $105,000
Los Angeles, CA $48,000 - $68,000 $70,000 - $95,000
Chicago, IL $45,000 - $62,000 $65,000 - $85,000
Dallas, TX $43,000 - $60,000 $62,000 - $82,000
Atlanta, GA $42,000 - $58,000 $60,000 - $78,000
Miami, FL $41,000 - $57,000 $58,000 - $75,000
Denver, CO $44,000 - $61,000 $63,000 - $83,000

Factors Affecting Compensation:

  • Industry vertical and product complexity significantly impact earning potential
  • Commission structure varies from 10-30% of base salary depending on sales model
  • Company size and market position influence both base salary and commission rates

Salary data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and PayScale (2025)

Interview Questions

Technical/Functional Questions

  • Walk me through your prospecting process from initial research to first contact
  • How do you qualify prospects and determine their decision-making authority?
  • Describe your approach to handling objections during the sales process
  • What CRM systems have you used and how do you maintain pipeline accuracy?
  • How do you prepare for sales presentations and product demonstrations?
  • Explain your process for following up with prospects after initial meetings
  • How do you research and understand your prospects' business challenges?
  • What metrics do you use to measure your sales performance and activity?

Behavioral Questions

  • Tell me about a time when you exceeded your sales quota and what strategies you used
  • Describe a situation where you lost a deal and what you learned from the experience
  • Give an example of how you built rapport with a difficult prospect
  • Tell me about a time when you had to adapt your sales approach for a specific customer
  • Describe how you handle rejection and maintain motivation during challenging periods
  • Share an example of successful collaboration with marketing or other departments

Culture Fit Questions

  • What motivates you most about a career in sales?
  • How do you stay organized and manage multiple prospects simultaneously?
  • Describe your ideal work environment and team dynamics
  • What role does ethics play in your sales approach?

Evaluation Tips: Look for candidates who demonstrate resilience, strong communication skills, and a systematic approach to sales activities. Assess their ability to build relationships and handle rejection professionally.

Hiring Tips

Quick Sourcing Guide

  • LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Advanced search for sales professionals with relevant experience
  • Industry associations: Local sales organizations and professional groups
  • ZipRecruiter/Indeed: Broad reach for active job seekers
  • Sales-specific job boards: SalesJobs.com, SalesGravy for targeted candidates

Red Flags to Avoid

  • Inability to provide specific examples of sales achievements or quota performance
  • Lack of familiarity with basic sales tools and CRM systems
  • Poor communication skills or unprofessional presentation during interviews
  • Unwillingness to discuss compensation expectations or commission structures
  • History of frequent job changes without clear career progression
  • Negative attitude toward prospecting or lead generation activities

FAQ Section

Frequently Asked Questions for Employers

Frequently Asked Questions for Job Seekers