| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Identify prospective customers, using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Advise customers on product usage to improve production. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Maintain customer records, using automated systems. |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Provide customers with ongoing technical support. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment. |
Bachelor Degree Careers and Jobs (jobs after undergraduate degree)
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with a Bachelor's Degree with or without Certificates - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary and including percentage of job holders with Bachelor's Degree.
A bachelor's degree qualifies graduates for a wide range of professional, technical, and management-track careers across nearly every industry. For people who want to compare where a four-year degree can lead before choosing a major or job. Compare careers ranked by salary, review degree-holder and experience percentages, and access preparation resources for each role.
Here is a short Helper Video 
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Bachelor's Degree, to (1) Select a career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Bachelor's Degree careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Bachelor's Degree Jobs
What jobs can you get with a Bachelor's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are careers related to the Bachelor's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having a Bachelor's Degree. - 255 specific careers are listed, with matching jobs currently available. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those careers that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Bachelor's Degree) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
298,200U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
316,500
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
18,200 (6.1%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
31,700
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations. |
| Importance: 55 (%) | Description: Verify accuracy of materials lists. |
| Importance: 55 (%) | Description: Verify customer credit ratings. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs. |
| Importance: 47 (%) | Description: Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products. |
| Importance: 45 (%) | Description: Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery. |
| Importance: 44 (%) | Description: Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales. |
| Importance: 44 (%) | Description: Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal. |
| Importance: 37 (%) | Description: Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products. |
| Importance: 34 (%) | Description: Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
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| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Advise customers on the use of products or services. | |
| Answer customer questions about goods or services. | |
| Arrange delivery of goods or services. | |
| Attend events to develop professional knowledge. | |
| Contact current or potential customers to promote products or services. | |
| Coordinate sales campaigns. | |
| Deliver promotional presentations to current or prospective customers. | |
| Demonstrate products to consumers. | |
| Develop content for sales presentations or other materials. | |
| Discuss design or technical features of products or services with technical personnel. | |
| Distribute promotional literature or samples to customers. | |
| Estimate costs or terms of sales. | |
| Explain technical product or service information to customers. | |
| Gather customer or product information to determine customer needs. | |
| Identify potential customers. | |
| Maintain records of customer accounts. | |
| Maintain records of sales or other business transactions. | |
| Monitor market conditions or trends. | |
| Monitor sales activities. | |
| Negotiate prices or other sales terms. | |
| Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets. | |
| Prepare sales or other contracts. | |
| Process sales or other transactions. | |
| Recommend products or services to customers. | |
| Sell products or services. | |
| Share sales-related or market information with colleagues. | |
| Stock products or parts. | |
| Study product information to acquire professional knowledge. | |
| Verify accuracy of records. | |
| Verify customer credit information. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
| Importance: 59 (%) | Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Advise others on products or services. |
| Activity: Collect data about consumer needs or opinions. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about business strategies. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about specifications or project details. |
| Activity: Determine values or prices of goods or services. |
| Activity: Develop marketing or promotional materials. |
| Activity: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures. |
| Activity: Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data. |
| Activity: Execute financial transactions. |
| Activity: Explain technical details of products or services. |
| Activity: Identify business or organizational opportunities. |
| Activity: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Maintain sales or financial records. |
| Activity: Monitor external affairs, trends, or events. |
| Activity: Monitor financial data or activities. |
| Activity: Negotiate contracts or agreements. |
| Activity: Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits. |
| Activity: Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets. |
| Activity: Promote products, services, or programs. |
| Activity: Respond to customer problems or inquiries. |
| Activity: Sell products or services. |
| Activity: Stock supplies or products. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| High-Priority Tech Skills | ||||||||||
| Customer relationship management CRM software: | ||||||||||
| Salesforce software | ||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook | ||||||||||
| Office suite software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | ||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | ||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | ||||||||||
| Accounting software: | ||||||||||
| Intuit QuickBooks | ||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | ||||||||||
| IBM SPSS Statistics SAS | ||||||||||
| Data base management system software: | ||||||||||
| Apache Hadoop Teradata Database | ||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | ||||||||||
| Amazon Web Services AWS software Microsoft Access Oracle Database | ||||||||||
| Data mining software: | ||||||||||
| Google Analytics | ||||||||||
| Development environment software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft Azure software | ||||||||||
| Document management software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft SharePoint | ||||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: | ||||||||||
| Oracle PeopleSoft SAP software | ||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | ||||||||||
| R | ||||||||||
| Office suite software: | ||||||||||
| Google Workspace software | ||||||||||
| Operating system software: | ||||||||||
| Linux | ||||||||||
| Presentation software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | ||||||||||
| Project management software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft Project | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing software: | ||||||||||
| HubSpot software | ||||||||||
| Video conferencing software: | ||||||||||
| Zoom | ||||||||||
| Word processing software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft Word | ||||||||||
| General Software Tools | ||||||||||
| Access software: | ||||||||||
| Citrix cloud computing software | ||||||||||
| Accounting software: | ||||||||||
| Tax software | ||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | ||||||||||
| StataCorp Stata | ||||||||||
| Business intelligence and data analysis software: | ||||||||||
| MicroStrategy | ||||||||||
| Calendar and scheduling software: | ||||||||||
| Scheduling software | ||||||||||
| Customer relationship management CRM software (scroll table below): | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | ||||||||||
| FileMaker Pro | ||||||||||
| Desktop publishing software: | ||||||||||
| Microsoft Publisher | ||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | ||||||||||
| IBM Notes Microsoft Exchange | ||||||||||
| Enterprise application integration software: | ||||||||||
| Enterprise application integration EAI software IBM InfoSphere DataStage | ||||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software (scroll table below): | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Information retrieval or search software: | ||||||||||
| LexisNexis | ||||||||||
| Internet browser software: | ||||||||||
| Web browser software | ||||||||||
| Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software: | ||||||||||
| Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software | ||||||||||
| Network conferencing software: | ||||||||||
| LogMeIn GoToWebinar | ||||||||||
| Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software: | ||||||||||
| Virtual private networking VPN software | ||||||||||
| Project management software: | ||||||||||
| Khameleon | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing software: | ||||||||||
| Google Ads | ||||||||||
| Transaction security and virus protection software: | ||||||||||
| McAfee NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software | ||||||||||
| Video conferencing software: | ||||||||||
| LogMeIn GoToMeeting | ||||||||||
| Video creation and editing software: | ||||||||||
| YouTube | ||||||||||
| Web page creation and editing software: | ||||||||||
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
| A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
| Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
| Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 39.5 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 30.5 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.4 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 13.8 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.6 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.3 (%) | Level of Education: Doctoral Degree |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 33.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 27.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 23.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 12.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Certifications
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
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Certified Customer Service Specialist
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Certified Sales Representative
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Certified Security Salesperson
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Certified Weighing Salespersons
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Certified Welding Sales Representative
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Professional Housing Consultant
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PV Technical Sales Certification
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SAP Certified Application Associate - SAP Business ByDesign
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Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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Electronics Representatives Association International (ERA)
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Entertainment Software Association (ESA)
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International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (IFPW)
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Manufacturers' Agents National Association (MANA)
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Manufacturers' Representatives Educational Research Foundation
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Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE)
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Job Listings
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
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