Potential earnings
£54,247.84
Telephone salespersons obtain, receive, process and record telephone orders for goods and services.
Main tasks
- Maintains record of sales statistics, customers contacted and changes to customer details.
- Arranges despatch of goods and services, information and/or brochures to customers.
- Receives orders for goods/services by telephone and records relevant details.
- Quotes prices, credit terms and delivery conditions and records details of orders agreed.
- Telephones potential customers, explains purpose of call, discusses their requirements and advises on the goods/services being offered.
- Learns about the product(s)/service(s) to be sold.
Source: Office for National Statistics.
Salary and earnings
Average earnings
£27,879.00
Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
Skills & knowledge
The top 5 most important skills and knowledge requirements relevant to this career.
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.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
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.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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.
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
What course level do I need to study?
The level of study required will vary with each job, sector and company. The table below shows the level of study achieved by those currently working in this career choice.
Educational requirements: Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at grades A*-C
Source: Office for National Statistics.
| Level of study | Percentage achieved |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | 4% |
| Level 1 | 5% |
| Level 2 | 32% |
| Level 3 | 30% |
| Level 4-5 (Higher Education) | 5% |
| Level 6 (Bachelors) | 20% |
| Level 7 (Masters or equivalent) | 4% |
| Level 8 (Doctorate) | 0% |
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS) data.
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Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.
