Sales Associate

NOC (National Occupational Classification)

  • NOC 6421 Retail Salesperson

Who am I?

Sales Associates and sales persons sell or rent a range of HVACR products and service plans in retail stores, for manufacturers of equipment and in wholesale businesses that sell to the public.

Other Titles

Salesperson
Sales Order clerk
Sales Associate/Representative
Technical Sales Person
Field Sales Representative

Essential Skills

Essential Skills are not the technical skills required by particular occupations but rather the skills applied in all occupations. These skills provide the foundation for learning all other skills and apply to careers in HVACR. See Employment and Social Development Canada for more details.

The most important Essential Skills for Sales Associates are:

  • Oral Communication – Interacting with customers, supervisors, colleagues  and suppliers: both receiving and providing information
  • Numeracy – Mathematical calculations to compare sales data, costing of product or service to provide quotes
  • Thinking Skills - Job task planning and organizing, strategic organization of work plan and time management to reach sales goals

What do I do?

As a Sales Associate you may do some of the following:

  • Estimate or quote prices, credit terms, trade-in allowances, warranties and delivery dates
  • Prepare sales, rental or leasing contracts and accept cash, cheque, credit card or automatic debit payment
  • Maintain sales records for inventory control - computerized inventory record keeping and re-ordering systems
  • Business and lead development
  • May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce
  • Retail salespersons may specialize and act as consultants
  • Communicate, educate and provide information for customer.

Education/Training

  • Completion of secondary school usually required
  • A university degree or college diploma may be required by some employers
  • Specific subject matter courses or training may be required
  • Demonstrated sales ability and product knowledge are usually required for retail salespersons who sell HVACR equipment or related services
  • Technical or sales training programs may be provided by employers.