Sales Representative - Cleaning Careers
One of the great things about working in sales is that their skills are transferable across any industry. Let's take a look at the role of a Sales Representative in the cleaning industry.
Sales Representative careers: What's involved
How much money can you earn as a Sales Representative?
These LMI Job Trends give you a sneak peek of how much you could earn starting out for this career, and how much your salary could grow with experience.
Salary guide for Sales Representative jobs
Recent labour market information suggests that the average salary of a Sales Representative is £27,968 per annum.
On average you can earn between £20,000 and £52,000 a year as a Sales Representative in the UK.
Your starting salary can vary because of factors like level of experience, training, location or the size of the company. Your salary will increase over time as you build skills, knowledge and experience.
Cleaning and facility management career FAQs
To progress your role more speedily, or, to gain insight into these fantastic roles, why not take a look at some of the great training offerings that are out there?
Some examples include:
- BICSc Licence to Practice Qualification
- Certificate in Cleaning and Support Services Skills
- Certificate in Cleaning Principles (RQF)
You can find out more with the British Institute of Cleaning Science.
You can also try out these amazing FREE certified courses to build your CV!
Assistant Technical Specialist Kelsey Hargreaves is a young person who has got far in the world of cleaning, hygiene and facility management. She shares her top reasons for getting into the world of cleaning after university, and her reasons might inspire you too:
- I wanted to help create safer environments
- I wanted to help give people opportunities
- I enjoyed working alongside hard working people
- I wanted a career in an industry that was trying to solve environmental issues
- I wanted a career where I could develop
- I wanted to work in an industry that was diverse and vibrant
- I wanted a career where I would be listened to
Domestic cleaning used to be called the ‘invisible industry’ but times are changing because it is such a huge market. It is now getting the benefit of more attention, better resources, and more support and development for your career.
Find out more…
Becoming a Chartered Practitioner in Environmental Cleaning involves one of two routes and is great recognition of your achievements in the industry as you grow in experience.
Find out more…
If you’re wondering just how big the UK cleaning industry is – and who can help you get ahead – then check out this megalist of organisations in the sector and how they can help you get ahead.
Find out more…
Skills you need to become a Sales Representative
Being a Sales Representative is a customer service role so a lot of the skill will be communication based.
Useful skills to put in your CV:
- Prospecting: Being able to find new customers, initiating and developing customer relationships.
- Mathematics: Maths will be needed in this job to calculate items with markups and markdowns. You will need to take into consideration taxes, sales, and expenses budgets.
- Negotiation: Being able to have a discussion with either a buyer or seller and resolve an issue that both parties find acceptable.
- Customer service: Demonstrating patience and understanding whilst being able to solve problems and show initiative to keep a customer satisfied, especially if they have a complaint.
- Communication: Is the ability to convey or share feelings/ideas effectively without any misinterpretation, misunderstandings, or misleading people.
- Selling: Have the ability to explain how your product works and what the benefits are to the client, why they need to have your product above everyone else’s.
- Teamwork: Be able to work well within a team and work together to achieve the same goal.
- Attention to detail: You will need to be able to focus on all areas of the task or project.
- IT Skills: Within the role you may be asked to use several devises i.e., a tablet, phone, computer, laptop and their operating systems and software. It is about being able to operate these comfortably.
Top Skills-boosting Tips
Do some personal research into how the cleaning industry puts a big focus on safety, health and the environment.
They are all really important in the world of cleaning!
How Do You Get These Skills?
Vocational qualifications and work experience will help you build these skills over time.
What Qualifications & Training Do You Need For Sales Representative Careers?
Qualifications for a sales representative all depends on what products you are wanting to sell and promote.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships will depend on the area of sales you are entering. It may be a good idea to study a topic that you know will be heavily involved in your job i.e. accounting or finances.
If you decide to go down this path, you will gain on the job knowledge and experience some elements that will be relevant for your time as a sales representative.
Here are some useful links to explore:
Sales Apprenticeships:
- L4 Sales Executive Higher Apprenticeship
- Level 6 Business to Business Sales Professional Degree Apprenticeship
Accounting & Finance Apprenticeships:
The entry requirements for an advanced apprenticeship are usually 5 GSCEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, including maths and English. For a higher or degree apprenticeship you usually need 4 or 5 GCSEs 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent.
University
If university is something that you are keen to do, then it may be a good idea to study the subject related to the area of your sales for example pharmaceuticals, beauty etc to get experience in the type of products you want to sell.
Training
You can find sales training qualifications designed to motivate and boost the results of sales teams. There are lots of courses to explore, here is an example.
What Work Experience Do You Need For Sales Representative Jobs?
If you can gain any experience within sales or customer services you stand a better chance when applying for a job. You can also read sales books or attend sales webinars to expand your knowledge.
What Does A Sales Representative Do?
You will be part of a vibrant and diverse industry that works tirelessly every day to help keep people in safe and hygienic environments! Your specific job requirements may change depending on what part of the industry you work in!
Typical working hours are 38 to 40 hours a week and you may be expected to work evening, weekends and sometimes bank holidays. There is even the potential to be working away from home, but these would all depend on the needs of the company.
In all parts of the industry you can expect to:
- Contact new and existing customers
- Make presentations
- Promote new products
- Agree sales, prices, and delivery
- Manage customer enquiries and issues
- Record Orders
- Attend conferences
- Meet sales target
- Analyse target audiences
- Check inventory and stock products.
How To Find Sales Representative Jobs: Next Steps
Once you have gained experience within this role and you feel you want to progress further you can be promoted to a sales team leader or even an area manager of the sales department.
You can also become a member of The Institute of Sales Professionals represent sales in the UK and around the world. They will help you network with other people in the sales industry, assist with learning and developing by having access to webinars. There is also a 40 minute examination which will demonstrate that you are an ethical sales professional.
You can take a look at our database of local opportunities to see if there are any relevant jobs, work placements, or careers events and workshops to help you get started.
You can also take a look at these common job seeking sites. Your perfect job could be waiting for you!
- Totaljobs
- Jobsite
- Indeed
- Gov.uk
Get Into Cleaning Careers With Caring Employers
These employers and organisations are here to help. They care about your potential and desire to learn, not just your qualifications and experience. They may be able to offer traineeships, apprenticeships, graduate schemes, first jobs, careers advice, wellbeing support and much more.
Cleaning and Facility Management Career Tips & Opportunities
Careers in Cleaning - Your Stories
Cleaning and Facility Management Career Guides
View job descriptions with average UK salary, useful qualifications and a variety of routes into this career.
See All Our Caring Employers
