Computer Sales Support Person
Job description
An IT sales professional's work falls into the three main areas of pre-sales, sales, and post-sales support of hardware and software:
- The first area involves supporting pre-sales activities by giving detailed information about technical specifications and the ways in which they could meet the customers' needs, often demonstrating those features before a sale;
- The actual sale involves negotiating a commercial agreement to the benefit of both customer and supplier;
- Technical support, which follows the sale, can include solving faults and problems, or maximising the use of software features, as well as advising on appropriate user training.
Typical work activities
Much of the work may take place over a telephone helpline. Typical work activities include:
- ensuring quality of service by gaining a thorough and detailed knowledge of technical specifications and other features of employers' systems;
- maintaining awareness and keeping abreast of constantly changing software, hardware systems and peripherals;
- understanding customers' varying, often quite specific, business needs and applying knowledge of the company's products to meet those needs;
- developing effective sales plans;
- marketing and promoting products by writing and designing sales literature;
- presenting and demonstrating products;
- providing technical advice to customers on all aspects of the installation and use of computer systems and networks, both before and after the sale;
- advising on software features and how they can be applied to assist in a variety of contexts, for instance in accounting or other specialised areas;
- meeting sales targets set by managers;
- identifying and developing new business and clients through networking, courtesy and follow-up calls to new account holders, and cold-calling;
- maintaining existing links with customers;
- providing support to customers, often on a telephone helpline, offering clear advice and solutions wherever possible;
- handling hardware or software problems and faults;
- assisting customers to maximise their use of the hardware or software;
- writing technical proposals, tenders, reports and supporting literature;
- reviewing progress and identifying opportunities for further sales and new areas for development.
Be aware that job descriptions in IT are not as standardised as in some other industries - many systems developers may be called, or choose to call themselves, systems programmers, analysts, or engineers. It is also not uncommon to find others, such as an Applications developer , covering the above tasks as part of their job description.