Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of post-secondary education.
How AI Impacts Each Task
36 tasks analyzed
Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.
Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
Emphasize product features based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products.
Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs.
Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.
Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.
Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.
Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.
Identify prospective customers using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.
Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.
Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.
Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.
Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations.
Provide customers with ongoing technical support.
Advise customers on product usage to improve production.
Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations.
Verify accuracy of materials lists.
Verify customer credit ratings.
Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values.
Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products.
Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.
Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products.
Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.
Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.
Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales.
Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products.
Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal.
Research and convey information to customers about tax benefits or government rebates associated with energy-efficient scientific or technical products, such as solar panels.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements. | 40.97Observed | 31.4% | 3% | |
| Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders. | 41.67Observed | 65.9% | 2% | |
| Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 3% | |
| Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 1% | |
| Maintain customer records, using automated systems. | 31.17Observed | 61.7% | 2% | |
| Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms. | 51.68Observed | 35.7% | 3% | |
| Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications. | 44.33Observed | 66.9% | 2% | |
| Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs. | 38.8Observed | 30.5% | 3% | |
| Emphasize product features based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations. | 50Observed | 35.0% | 3% | |
| Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 2% | |
| Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 2% | |
| Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 1% | |
| Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations. | 56.9Observed | 37.8% | 2% | |
| Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications. | 50.92Observed | 47.4% | 2% | |
| Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 1% | |
| Identify prospective customers using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance. | 48.35Observed | 68.5% | 2% | |
| Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery. | 77Estimated | 80.0% | 1% | |
| Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products. | 37.28Observed | 64.1% | 2% | |
| Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information. | 42.12Observed | 31.9% | 2% | |
| Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 2% | |
| Provide customers with ongoing technical support. | 48.5Observed | 46.4% | 2% | |
| Advise customers on product usage to improve production. | 61.78Observed | 39.7% | 2% | |
| Obtain building blueprints or specifications for use by engineering departments in bid preparations. | 60.95Observed | 73.6% | 1% | |
| Verify accuracy of materials lists. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 1% | |
| Verify customer credit ratings. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 1% | |
| Appraise equipment to determine contract terms or trade-in values. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 1% | |
| Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 1% | |
| Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products. | 41.77Observed | 43.7% | 2% | |
| Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments. | 51Observed | 47.4% | 13% | |
| Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales. | 52.73Observed | 36.1% | 15% | |
| Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 8% | |
| Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 5% | |
| Research and convey information to customers about tax benefits or government rebates associated with energy-efficient scientific or technical products, such as solar panels. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 3% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
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Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis