Commercial Sales Representative
Snapshot
Commercial sales representatives represent a company in selling and providing information on goods and services to businesses and organisations.
Commercial sales representatives act as a vital link between companies and their business clients. Your day might involve researching potential clients, presenting product information, negotiating contracts, and maintaining relationships with existing accounts. You'll need to understand your company's offerings and the specific needs of your clients to provide tailored solutions and achieve sales targets. This role often requires a blend of independent work and collaboration with internal teams like marketing and customer service.
- • Identifying and qualifying new business opportunities within assigned territories or industries.
- • Presenting and demonstrating products or services to potential clients, addressing their questions and concerns.
- • Negotiating pricing and contract terms to close deals and meet sales quotas.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Business and administration associate professionals — 200 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Italy and 2 more.
Longest-running shortage: Romania, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $69,990 2025-05 | +3.1% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +26.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | +9.2% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £36,498 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for commercial sales representative
The outlook for commercial sales representative reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could commercial sales representative change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- guarantee customer satisfaction
- ensure compliance with legal requirements
- ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- carry out sales analysis
- use customer relationship management software
- identify customer's needs
Tasks most exposed to automation
- record customers' personal data
- keep records of customer interaction
- produce sales reports
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Marketing & Sales
A typical day as a commercial sales representative
09 09:00 · Morning advise on merchandise features
10 10:30 · Mid-morning carry out sales analysis
12 12:00 · Midday contact customers
14 14:00 · Afternoon demonstrate motivation for sales
15 15:30 · Late afternoon demonstrate products' features
17 17:00 · Wrap-up ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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communicate with customers
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
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maintain relationship with suppliers
Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
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prospect new customers
Initiate activities in order to attract new and interesting customers. Ask for recommendations and references, find places where potential customers can be located.
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respond to customers' inquiries
Answer customers' questions about itineraries, rates and reservations in person, by mail, by e-mail and on the phone.
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implement customer follow-up
Implement strategies that ensures post-sale follow up of customer satisfaction or loyalty regarding one's product or service.
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ensure client orientation
Take actions which support business activities by considering client needs and satisfaction. This involves understanding what customers want, providing advices, selling products and services or processing complaints, while adopting a positive attitude.
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implement sales strategies
Carry out the plan to gain competitive advantage on the market by positioning the company's brand or product and by targeting the right audience to sell this brand or product to.
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ensure compliance with legal requirements
Guarantee compliance with established and applicable standards and legal requirements such as specifications, policies, standards or law for the goal that organisations aspire to achieve in their efforts.
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ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations
Implement and monitor company activities in compliance with legal contracting and purchasing legislations.
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keep records of customer interaction
Recording details of inquiries, comments and complaints received from customers, as well as actions to be taken.
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keep records on sales
Keep records of the activities of the sales of products and services, tracking which products and services were sold when and maintaining customer records, in order to facilitate improvements in the sales department.
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guarantee customer satisfaction
Handle customer expectations in a professional manner, anticipating and addressing their needs and desires. Provide flexible customer service to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.
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answer requests for quotation
Make up prices and documents for the products that customers may purchase.
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carry out sales analysis
Examine sales reports to see what goods and services have and have not sold well.
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identify customer's needs
Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
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record customers' personal data
Gather and record customers' personal data into the system; obtain all signatures and documents required for rental.
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contact customers
Contact customers by telephone in order to respond to inquiries or to notify them of claim investigation results or any planned adjustments.
characteristics of products
The tangible characteristics of a product such as its materials, properties and functions, as well as its different applications, features, use and support requirements.
characteristics of services
The characteristics of a service that might include having acquired information about its application, function, features, use and support requirements.
product comprehension
The offered products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
sales promotion techniques
The techniques used to persuade customers to purchase a product or a service.
sales strategies
The principles concerning customer behaviour and target markets with the aim of promotion and sales of a product or a service.
beverage products
The offered beverage products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
chemical products
The offered chemical products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
clothing and footwear products
The offered clothing and footwear products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
dairy and edible oil products
The offered dairy products and edible oil products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
e-commerce systems
Basic digital architecture and commercial transactions for trading products or services conducted via Internet, e-mail, mobile devices, social media, etc.
- consumer goods industry
- customer relationship management
Path to become a commercial sales representative
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Short-cycle tertiary education
230 programmes in 20 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 268 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Marketing and Sales
Atlantic Technological University · Ireland
Higher Diploma in Business in Sales Management
Munster Technological University · Ireland
Advanced Certificate in Sales
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board · Ireland
PG Dip in International Sales
Technological University Dublin · Ireland
Higher Certificate in Business Studies with Event Management
Technological University of the Shannon · Ireland
Certificate in Sales Strategy and Techniques
Munster Technological University · Ireland
These are 6 of 498.
Sources
- 1. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does commercial sales representative fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
advertising sales agent
53% similaritytechnical sales representative
43% similaritytechnical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment
31% similaritytechnical sales representative in chemical products
31% similaritytechnical sales representative in office machinery and equipment
31% similaritytechnical sales representative in electronic and telecommunications equipment
31% similarityFor organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What industries typically hire commercial sales representatives?
Do I need a specific degree to become a commercial sales representative?
What does the 'employment' work arrangement mean for this role?
How much does Commercial Sales Representative pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data