Technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment to commercial sales representative
A technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment already meets 51% of what the commercial sales representative role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.
62.5/ 100
1 How much of what a commercial sales representative is expected to do is already part of a technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the commercial sales representative role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A commercial sales representative role treats 23 of its required skills as things a technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- answer requests for quotation
- apply technical communication skills
- characteristics of products
- characteristics of services
- communicate with customers
- contact customers
What stands in the way is 9 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 26 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A commercial sales representative role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment background worth leading with.
- already held demonstrate motivation for sales management skills
- already held types of aircraft engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held keep records on sales information skills
- already held implement customer follow-up communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held contact customers communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held keep records of customer interaction information skills
All 26 carried skills, including the 23 the commercial sales representative role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 50 missing skills fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn advise on merchandise features required
- still to learn identify customer's needs required
- still to learn maintain relationship with suppliers required
- still to learn prospect new regional contracts required
- optional, not held deliver a sales pitch optional
- optional, not held provide advertisement samples optional
- optional, not held work with advertising professionals optional
- optional, not held apply social media marketing optional
- optional, not held develop promotional tools optional
- optional, not held show diplomacy optional
- optional, not held speak different languages optional
- still to learn sales strategies required
- still to learn consumer goods industry required
- still to learn customer relationship management required
- optional, not held e-procurement optional
- optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
- optional, not held market pricing optional
- optional, not held office equipment optional
- optional, not held outdoor advertising optional
- optional, not held advertising techniques optional
- optional, not held credit card payments optional
- still to learn carry out sales analysis required
- optional, not held monitor after sales records optional
- optional, not held stay up to date with social media optional
- optional, not held analyse consumer buying trends optional
- optional, not held monitor media industry research figures optional
- optional, not held perform media outlets research optional
- still to learn ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations required
- optional, not held beverage products optional
- optional, not held clothing and footwear products optional
- optional, not held dairy and edible oil products optional
- optional, not held electronic and telecommunication equipment optional
- optional, not held glassware products optional
- optional, not held electronic communication optional
- optional, not held production processes optional
- optional, not held solar products optional
- optional, not held issue sales invoices optional
- optional, not held develop media strategy optional
- optional, not held handle financial transactions optional
- optional, not held process payments optional
4 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a commercial sales representative role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 advise on merchandise features practise this
- 02 carry out sales analysis practise this
- 03 ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 26 skills that carry over
- already held answer requests for quotation skill
- already held apply technical communication skills skill
- already held characteristics of products knowledge
- already held characteristics of services knowledge
- already held communicate with customers skill
- already held contact customers skill
- already held demonstrate motivation for sales skill
- already held demonstrate products' features skill
- already held ensure client orientation skill
- already held ensure compliance with legal requirements skill
- already held guarantee customer satisfaction skill
- already held have computer literacy skill
- already held implement customer follow-up skill
- already held implement sales strategies skill
- already held keep records of customer interaction skill
- already held keep records on sales skill
- already held produce sales reports skill
- already held product comprehension knowledge
- already held prospect new customers skill
- already held record customers' personal data skill
- already held respond to customers' inquiries skill
- already held sales promotion techniques knowledge
- already held use customer relationship management software skill
- already held implement marketing strategies skill
- already held types of aircraft knowledge
- already held types of maritime vessels knowledge
The 4 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held media formats optional
- optional, not held media planning optional
- optional, not held types of media optional
- optional, not held ICT software specifications optional
- optional, not held e-commerce systems optional
- optional, not held hardware industry optional
- optional, not held household products optional
- optional, not held perfume and cosmetic products optional
- optional, not held consumer protection optional
- optional, not held chemical products optional
41 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held ICT software specifications optional
- optional, not held beverage products optional
- optional, not held chemical products optional
- optional, not held clothing and footwear products optional
- optional, not held dairy and edible oil products optional
- optional, not held deliver a sales pitch optional
- optional, not held e-commerce systems optional
- optional, not held e-procurement optional
- optional, not held electronic and telecommunication equipment optional
- optional, not held glassware products optional
- optional, not held household products optional
- optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
- optional, not held issue sales invoices optional
- optional, not held market pricing optional
- optional, not held media formats optional
- optional, not held monitor after sales records optional
- optional, not held office equipment optional
- optional, not held outdoor advertising optional
- optional, not held perfume and cosmetic products optional
- optional, not held provide advertisement samples optional
- optional, not held stay up to date with social media optional
- optional, not held work with advertising professionals optional
- optional, not held advertising techniques optional
- optional, not held analyse consumer buying trends optional
- optional, not held apply social media marketing optional
- optional, not held consumer protection optional
- optional, not held credit card payments optional
- optional, not held develop media strategy optional
- optional, not held develop promotional tools optional
- optional, not held electronic communication optional
- optional, not held handle financial transactions optional
- optional, not held hardware industry optional
- optional, not held media planning optional
- optional, not held monitor media industry research figures optional
- optional, not held perform media outlets research optional
- optional, not held process payments optional
- optional, not held production processes optional
- optional, not held show diplomacy optional
- optional, not held solar products optional
- optional, not held speak different languages optional
1 further entry not listed here
7 held skills the commercial sales representative role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role capital goods industry knowledge
- not needed by the target role industrial tools knowledge
- not needed by the target role machinery products knowledge
- not needed by the target role maintain relationship with customers skill
- not needed by the target role manage schedule of tasks skill
- not needed by the target role provide customer follow-up services skill
- not needed by the target role supervise sales activities skill
28 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn sales strategies required
- still to learn consumer goods industry required
- still to learn customer relationship management required
- optional, not held ICT software specifications optional
- optional, not held beverage products optional
- optional, not held chemical products optional
- optional, not held clothing and footwear products optional
- optional, not held dairy and edible oil products optional
- optional, not held e-commerce systems optional
- optional, not held e-procurement optional
- optional, not held electronic and telecommunication equipment optional
- optional, not held glassware products optional
- optional, not held household products optional
- optional, not held international commercial transactions rules optional
- optional, not held market pricing optional
- optional, not held media formats optional
- optional, not held office equipment optional
- optional, not held outdoor advertising optional
- optional, not held perfume and cosmetic products optional
- optional, not held advertising techniques optional
- optional, not held consumer protection optional
- optional, not held credit card payments optional
- optional, not held electronic communication optional
- optional, not held hardware industry optional
- optional, not held media planning optional
- optional, not held production processes optional
- optional, not held solar products optional
- optional, not held types of media optional
Other moves recorded from technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment
- technical sales representative 78% covered · moderate
- advertising sales agent 63% covered · moderate
- after-sales service technician 56% covered · moderate
- rental service representative in water transport equipment 39% covered · substantial
Full index of moves from technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment
Common questions about this move
Can a technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment become a commercial sales representative?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment already covers 51% of what a commercial sales representative is expected to do: 26 skills carry over, 23 of which the commercial sales representative role treats as required.
What skills does a technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment need to become a commercial sales representative?
9 required skills are missing, plus 41 optional ones. They fall into 10 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is advise on merchandise features.
How hard is the move from technical sales representative in machinery and industrial equipment to commercial sales representative?
Its learning distance is 62.5 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.