Außendienstmitarbeiter/Außendienstmitarbeiterin

For more information about this profession, you can refer to publications such as etailment - Das Digital Commerce Magazin von Der Handel, FOREIGN TRADE, handelsjournal, Sales Excellence, and W&V - Werben & Verkaufen.

Field sales representatives primarily work in offices, meeting rooms, and at customer sites.

Core competencies required for this profession include acquisition, order acceptance and processing, field service, corporate client business, customer consulting and support, presentation, sales, sales talks, and advertising communication. Additionally, other competencies that may be significant for practicing this profession include a class B driver's license (cars/small buses), commercial law, calculation, customer loyalty systems, marketing, complaint handling, administrative tasks, social media communication, sales promotion, contract law, distribution, and advertising. Language skills are also among the relevant abilities and knowledge.

Field sales representatives usually perform their tasks independently, but also collaborate with specialists from the production department, for example. When discussing contract terms with customers, they need negotiation skills in addition to communication abilities. Therefore, a high degree of flexibility, as well as organizational talent and resilience, are required. Field sales representatives are frequently on the road to visit their customers and present their company's services. In the office, field sales representatives prepare for and follow up on customer appointments and handle other organizational tasks on the computer, such as processing customer data in CRM systems. They usually work within specific targets, which can often only be achieved with good time management. Depending on the assignment, business appointments or trade fair visits may also take place on weekends.

An example of a collective bargaining gross basic salary (monthly) ranges from 3,204 € to 3,544 €. This information is sourced from the collective bargaining data of the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales. Please note that these figures are for orientation purposes only, and no claims can be derived from them. For current salary information, please check BERUFENET.

Individuals in this profession can work in various sectors such as chemistry, pharmaceuticals, plastics; electrical engineering, electronics; vehicle manufacturing, maintenance; financial services, real estate; glass, ceramics, raw material processing; trade; wood, furniture; IT, software, telecommunications; media; metal, mechanical engineering, precision mechanics, optics; musical instruments, sports equipment, toys, jewelry; food, luxury goods manufacturing; and textiles, clothing, leather.

Employers often expect a commercial Ausbildung (vocational training) or Weiterbildung (further training), or a corresponding Studium (university degree).

Commercial Business Administration (undergraduate), Commercial Business Administration (postgraduate), Industrial Business Administration (undergraduate), Industrial Business Administration (postgraduate), Marketing, Sales (undergraduate), Marketing, Sales (postgraduate), Technical Sales (undergraduate), Technical Sales (postgraduate), Business Administration (postgraduate), Business Administration (undergraduate), Service Management (undergraduate), Service Management (postgraduate).

Field Sales Representatives find employment in companies across almost all economic sectors.

Field Sales Representative. Also common job titles/synonyms: Specialist Consultant in Field Sales, Customer Advisor in Field Sales. Job title in English: Field Sales Representative (m/f). Job title in French: Conseiller/Conseillere commercial et clientèle.

A Class B driving license is required for Field Sales to visit customers.

Field Sales Representatives support customers on-site and acquire new orders.

Job and applicant portals such as autojob.de, handelsvertreter.de, Marketing-Stellenmarkt.de, runningoffice, salesjob, vertriebsjobs.de.

Professional associations and organizations like Berufsgenossenschaft Handel und Warenlogistik (BGHW) and ver.di - Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft.

They have customer contact, advising and supporting existing customers competently and attentively, and introducing company products and services to potential customers. They are frequently away from home, engaging in constant field work and covering long distances depending on their area of responsibility. They perform screen work using PCs and laptops. They also work in offices, for example, handling administrative tasks. Working hours can be irregular, such as evening customer appointments or weekend trade fair visits.

They use data and documents such as company and customer data, offer and order documents, purchase and leasing contracts, product presentations, market analyses, and advertising materials. They also utilize office equipment and communication tools like laptops, internet access, telephones, and tablets.

Field sales representatives personally attend to customers and strive to build long-term business relationships. They advise on products or services and provide information on service offers and payment terms. They also establish contacts and seek to acquire new orders. They receive customer complaints and forward them to the internal department for processing. The goal of their activity is to increase sales and ensure customer satisfaction.

Access professions include Certified Specialist for Sales (Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Vertrieb), Business Administrator (Betriebswirt - dual qualification training) for general business administration, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for general business administration / Bachelor Professional in Business, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for trade, Certified Trade Specialist (Geprüfter Handelsfachwirt - dual qualification training), Certified Trade Specialist (Geprüfter Handelsfachwirt - further training), Certified Industrial Specialist (Geprüfter Industriefachwirt), Industrial Clerk (Industriekaufmann), Clerk for Wholesale and Foreign Trade Management specializing in foreign trade or wholesale, Practical Business Administrator (Praktischer Betriebswirt), Certified Technical Business Administrator (Geprüfter Technischer Betriebswirt - further training), Certified Technical Specialist (Geprüfter Technischer Fachwirt).

Adaptive further training helps to keep professional knowledge up-to-date and to adapt it to new developments (e.g., in the areas of sales, new customer acquisition, product knowledge, or commercial law).

Depending on prior professional education, further career opportunities arise through advanced training for career advancement (e.g., as a 'Handelsfachwirt/in' - Certified Business Administrator in Trade), a 'grundständiges Studium' (undergraduate degree) or a 'weiterführendes Studium' (postgraduate degree) (e.g., in marketing or sales). Under certain conditions, it is also possible to study without a general higher education entrance qualification. For more information: Access to higher education in the individual 'Bundesländer' (federal states).

To look after customers, visit and advise existing customers (e.g., introduce new or improved products and services). To acquire new customers (e.g., at trade fairs or sales events). To manage and maintain customer data. To receive, process, or forward complaints and inquiries. To offer and sell products and services. To present services and products, demonstrate products if necessary, and explain technical innovations. To inform about payment modalities (e.g., leasing and installment payment offers). To take orders and forward them to the internal department. To conclude purchase or leasing contracts. To undertake marketing tasks. To observe markets, conduct or evaluate market analyses. To develop product presentations, provide samples and promotional items.

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the initial profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants. Furthermore, employers can consider individuals from these professions as alternatives for filling a position in the initial profession. Some alternative professions only comprise partial activities of the initial profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of 'Außendienstmitarbeiter/in': Job and staffing alternatives for the overall activity (usually without induction): 'Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für Vertrieb/Geprüfte Berufsspezialistin für Vertrieb' (Certified Sales Specialist), 'Bezirksleiter/Bezirksleiterin' (District Manager), 'Fachberater/Fachberaterin für Vertrieb' (Specialist Sales Consultant), 'Handelsvertreter/Handelsvertreterin' (Commercial Agent). In related professions: 'Verlagswerber/Verlagswerberin' (Publisher Advertiser). A list of all possible degrees of relatedness can be found here: Explanations.