Which activities appear in relevant job advertisements and how often? What is required in the sales specialist job?

Wie sehen die Stelleninserate für den Verkaufsfachmann Job aus? Welche Tätigkeiten und Anforderungen werden genannt?

Job postings for sales specialist positions list all the requirements a company has for a new employee to fill the open position. Job seekers can find all the important information about the open position in these job postings, such as:

  • the activities
  • the employer's requirements (previous education, professional experience, personal skills and characteristics)
  • the company information

Current job postings include the following job titles, among others:

  • Sales specialist
  • Sales Manager
  • Account Manager
  • Key Account Manager
  • Sales Consultant (Male/Female)
  • In-House Sales Representative (Male) / In-House Sales Representative (Female)
  • Sales Manager (Male or Female)
  • Sales Specialist (Male/Female)
  • Sales Representative (Male or Female)
  • Male Salesperson / Female Salesperson
  • Sales Manager (Deputy)
  • Regional Sales Manager
  • Area Sales Manager
  • Field Sales Manager
  • Field Sales Representative (Male or Female)
  • Field Representative (Male or Female)
  • Customer Service Representative (Male or Female)
  • Technical Consultant (Male or Female)
  • Business Development Manager
  • Sales Representative (Male or Female)
  • Sales Consultant
  • Customer Success Manager (part-time)
  • Technical Sales Representative (Male or Female)
  • Technical Sales Manager (depending on the industry)
  • Inside Sales Manager
  • Sales Representative

Many companies use international or English job titles in their job postings.

An analysis of current job postings reveals roughly the following distribution:

Customer advice and sales approx. 30% of working time
Acquisition of new customers approx. 20% of working time
Support for Existing Customers approx. 15% of working time
Preparing Proposals and Negotiating Contracts approx. 10% of working time
Market and competition analysis approx. 10% of working time
Sales Planning and Reporting approx. 10% of working time
Administrative Tasks about 5% of working hours

Especially in the B2B sector, customer care and relationship management take up a large part of the workday.

Requirements mentioned in job advertisements for the sales specialist job

This information on the sales specialist job varies depending on the employer. We have selected, viewed and summarized* the information from relevant job advertisements on various job portals for you:

Professional requirements
  • Basic commercial or technical training
  • Completed continuing education, further training as a sales specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education
  • Several years of professional experience in business-related areas and sales experience
Specialist knowledge for the sales specialist job
  • Industry knowledge
  • Expertise in areas such as sales techniques, negotiation skills, and key account management
  • Sales experience
  • CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, HubSpot)
  • Product knowledge (usually acquired or refined in the introductory phase)
  • Important sales skills such as:
    • Customer Relationship Management
    • Quotations and Contracts
    • Market and competition analysis
    • Budget and Revenue Planning
    • Project management
    • Presentation techniques
    • Digital Sales and Social Selling
    • Sales Controlling and KPI Management
    • Marketing Fundamentals
  • Language skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
Personal characteristics
  • Strong communication skills and good manners
  • Negotiating skills
  • Customer orientation and listening
  • Personal initiative
  • Persuasiveness
  • Entrepreneurial thinking
  • Finalization Assurance
  • Independent way of working
  • Resilience and flexibility
  • Goal orientation
  • Organizational talent
  • Confident demeanor
  • Depending on the job: Technical skills
Other Sales Specialist Job / Saleswoman Job

Today, sales professionals do much more than just traditional sales. Many companies expect them to build long-term customer relationships, identify market potential, and work closely with marketing, product management, or customer service. Digital sales channels, CRM systems, and data-driven sales analytics are now part of everyday work life at many companies. It’s striking that soft skills are considered almost as important as technical qualifications in many job postings.

Problem-solving skills are important in the role of a sales specialist; in other words, you must be able to quickly and effectively resolve problems that may arise during the sales process.

Sales professionals are particularly likely to work in:

  • Industrial companies
  • Machinery and Plant Engineering
  • Retail trade
  • Wholesale
  • Consumer Goods Industry
  • Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technology
  • IT and software companies
  • Telecommunications
  • Insurances
  • Banks
  • Logistics companies
  • Service Company

This shows that sales skills are in demand across all industries.

Career Development Opportunities for Sales Specialists

For individuals who have completed further training in sales, there are many career opportunities for advancement in various directions. Current job postings highlight the growing importance of topics such as digital communication channels and data-driven sales management. Companies are increasingly seeking to implement digital customer engagement and design hybrid sales processes.

Typical Career Opportunities

As they gain more professional experience, sales professionals often go on to become:

  • Key Account Manager
  • Sales Manager
  • Regional Sales Manager
  • Head of Sales
  • Business Development Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Product Manager
  • Manager of an SME
  • Sales Director
  • Head of Customer Success

This is particularly common in leadership positions or strategic sales roles.

Current Developments in the Job Profile for Sales Specialists

Sales have changed significantly in recent years. Digital communication channels, CRM systems, and data-driven sales management are increasingly shaping the day-to-day work of sales professionals. Many companies are adopting hybrid sales processes that combine in-person consultations with virtual meetings and digital customer interactions. At the same time, social selling, customer experience, and the long-term cultivation of customer relationships are gaining in importance. As a result, sales professionals today are not just salespeople, but also consultants, networkers, and strategic points of contact for their clients.

In addition:Here you will find more interesting links on the subject of job advertisements and job search:

*The information listed here is from an ad hoc study to provide a unique insight into the job market and what is required in a sales professional job.

Schools with sales specialist training