Could I Become an Architectural Representative.?
Only very special sales people hold this outstanding position in a high-powered business world. Therefore, the basic requirements for such a job applicant must be accordingly. The following pre-conditions will save you time-consuming research as I take you right to the necessary essentials for a quick understanding of them with the opportunity of a subsequent self- appraisal. .
Pre-condition must be your excellent product knowledge of what you have to offer, plus sales training and physical fitness as you will be have to be physically active all day.
Of paramount importance are your self-confidence and sales skill to succeed in this very competitive field. Eagerness to serve your client and identify or secure an advantage for the company are one of the pre-requisites; your organization needs to be represented as if it was your own!
An architectural representative may, for example, play golf with architects, with fun being had by all, yet, when the time comes and material or products are being specified for building projects, ‘somehow’ the right products will be selected.
To have a service mentality is a great asset and the old adage that service is that little bit of extra the client did not expect comes to the fore.
This, coupled with politeness and the aforementioned eagerness to please, will make you almost indispensible for your client. .
You must be able to think ‘abstract’ as this job necessitates a clear perception of an opportunity, and have the energy to act on it. No product is changing hands, no contract is being signed, yet a business is clearly established and will eventually percolate to the order department!
Such a representative is alert to the stages a building project is momentarily in and reserve the approximate quantities at the right time to have it available when the project reaches the ordering-stage. This is particularly important when your company is handling imported goods and material.
Good manners are imperative as is a winning friendliness as part of his social skills. Plus a kind of endearing honesty that shows in your follow-up of important sales conversations. Promptly forward samples that were discussed to the decision makers, together with all relevant information. It is not important to know everything but to know where to obtain them is a ‘must’. .
Maintaining good client relations by reporting back to an architect about the stage of his project, substantiated with photos and other documentations, this client will soon become accustomed to you, and even dependant, with the result that future projects will have the right products included.
A good architectural representative will be contactable day and night – easily achieved with a cell phone.
He will dress business-like but not ostentatiously, rather blending-in with his clients.
He will converse in the same terminology as the clients, plus be able to explain production-technical features and have an intimate knowledge of the relevant industrial standards of the country.
He must, more than any other sales person, see his clients’ point of view and represent them. The outwards manifestation of this is a stream of ideas and good advice from his vast reservoir of product knowledge and experience.
All these aforementioned attributes can be acquired with discipline and training, securing you a successful career in a prosperous and prestigious industry!
PETER FREDERICK
About the Author:
ABOUT MYSELF
For most of my working life I have been in Sales, either retail, wholesale or manufacturer’s representative. Because of this I have met a lot of people from different cultures and organisations and observed their psychological make-up, and how people interact with one another. This has given me a chance to observe and discover some positive and not so positive fundamentals in contact with one another.
During this time an opportunity presented itself for me to start writing, and since then, I have written a lot because of the pleasure I get from writing. I like the challenge of finding the right words to craft the perfect sentences which, in turn, convey a perfect story. .Whilst I have not achieved this stage of perfection, just to think and be able to write down my thoughts, is for me something very stimulating and satisfying.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Could I Become an Architectural Representative.?