Sales Representative Job Description

A compelling sales representative job description is your first step in building a high-performing sales team. Whether you're expanding into new markets or shoring up your inside sales team, hiring the right entry-level sales representative can accelerate pipeline velocity and customer acquisition.

Start your job post strong by framing the role in a way that attracts motivated, results-driven candidates. A well-structured overview sets expectations and builds excitement around the opportunity and growth potential. This is a sales representative job description template designed to help employers communicate expectations and value effectively. It’s fully adaptable across industries and team sizes, ideal for hiring entry-level or junior reps tasked with driving sales and expanding customer relationships.

Sales Representative Duties and Responsibilities

This section brings focus to what the candidate will do day-to-day. Outlining sales representative job responsibilities with clarity helps applicants visualize their role and determine if they’re the right fit. It also keeps your internal hiring team aligned on expectations.

The following sales representative duties and responsibilities reflect core sales execution tasks required to support business growth:

• Identify and reach out to potential clients via cold calls, emails, and social platforms to build the top of the sales funnel.
• Present product or service offerings confidently, addressing client needs and demonstrating how your solution solves their problems.
• Conduct follow-ups and lead nurturing activities to move prospects through the sales cycle.
• Maintain and update CRM records to ensure lead data is accurate and actionable.
• Achieve or exceed monthly and quarterly sales targets, contributing to individual and team performance.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales leadership to refine pitches, campaign strategies, and product positioning.
• Collect customer insights and market trends to improve messaging and influence product development.

Pro Tip: Accelerate accuracy of performance forecasts to 70% by using structured Sales Representative Interview formats.

Objective of the Sales Representative Role

Beyond daily responsibilities, candidates should understand why the role matters. This section communicates the bigger picture—how the sales representative role fits into business strategy and contributes to revenue growth. The primary objective of a sales representative job profile is to generate leads, build customer relationships, and close deals that support revenue targets. Reps act as the frontline of your brand, identifying opportunities and delivering value through informed consultative selling.

• Generate new business through proactive outreach and follow-up.
• Build trust with potential customers by understanding their pain points.
• Educate prospects on how your offering meets their unique needs.
• Support client acquisition, onboarding, and account transition processes.
• Act as a brand representative in client-facing conversations and meetings.

Qualification and Skill Requirements

To refine your candidate pool, it’s important to list clear and realistic qualifications. This section ensures alignment between job expectations and the applicant’s background, helping you screen for candidates with the right mix of personality and sales readiness.

The sales representative job description should include the following skills and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field: Education in communication, negotiation, or economics is a plus.
• 0–2 years of sales or customer-facing experience: Entry-level candidates are encouraged to apply, especially if they have internship or volunteer-based sales experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: Ability to present information clearly and tailor messaging to different personas.
• CRM and sales tools proficiency: Exposure to Salesforce, HubSpot, or equivalent tools enhances onboarding speed.
• Goal-driven mindset and resilience: Comfortable with rejection and driven by target achievement.
• Listening and discovery skills: Capable of identifying prospect needs and recommending fitting solutions.

Trending Strategy: Employers use Sales Representative Assessments to avoid 9 in 10 bad hires that lack EQ (Emotional Quotient). 

Perks and Benefits of the Sales Representative Role

Sales professionals are often motivated not just by pay, but by growth, recognition, and culture. Use this section to present a well-rounded picture of what the candidate will gain—especially if you want to appeal to high-potential talent at the start of their sales careers.

To make your sales representative job profile more attractive, consider offering:

• Competitive base salary plus performance-based commission
• Structured sales training and certifications
• Clear advancement paths into account management, sales ops, or sales management
• Monthly sales challenges and team rewards
• Flexible work hours and hybrid opportunities where applicable
• Travel allowance or remote setup stipend (if field-based)
• Access to wellness programs and mental health resources

Tips for Employers to Craft an Effective Sales Representative JD

Hiring entry-level sales talent can be a balancing act. You want ambition, but also professionalism. You want coachability, but also drive. A well-written JD acts as both filter and invitation—clarifying expectations while marketing the opportunity.

Here are best practices to ensure your sales representative job description attracts the right candidates:

• Incorporate search-optimized keywords like sales representative responsibilities, sales representative job duties, and sales representative job profile to increase visibility.
• Be specific about your sales process—inside, field, or hybrid—so candidates understand the engagement style.
• Clarify performance metrics like monthly targets, conversion goals, or pipeline size to set transparent expectations.
• Add a tone that reflects your sales culture—fast-paced, supportive, competitive, or consultative.
• Mention career pathing early if you want candidates to see this as more than just an entry role.