Parts Salespersons
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
Sell spare and replacement parts and equipment in repair shop or parts store.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $21K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $25K
Median Salary: $32K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $43K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $57K
Demand
Core Tasks
Receive and fill telephone orders for parts.
Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock.
Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices.
Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.
Determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions.
Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts.
Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock.
Mark and store parts in stockrooms, according to prearranged systems.
Pick up and deliver parts.
Discuss use and features of various parts, based on knowledge of machines or equipment.
Examine returned parts for defects, and exchange defective parts or refund money.
Maintain and clean work and inventory areas.
Manage shipments by researching shipping methods or costs and tracking packages.
Advise customers on substitution or modification of parts when identical replacements are not available.
Place new merchandise on display.
Demonstrate equipment to customers, and explain functioning of equipment.
Measure parts, using precision measuring instruments, to determine whether similar parts may be machined to required sizes.
Repair parts or equipment.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
81%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Sales and Marketing
76%
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
English Language
71%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical
70%
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management
58%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Clerical
56%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Mathematics
55%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Production and Processing
52%
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Computers and Electronics
51%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Transportation
51%
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
80%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
80%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
78%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation
78%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Persuasion
73%
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Social Perceptiveness
70%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking
65%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
63%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Writing
63%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving
60%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
88%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
83%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension
80%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Near Vision
78%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Clarity
78%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
78%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Information Ordering
70%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Written Expression
70%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
68%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
65%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Top 10 Work Activities
Interacting With Computers
95%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
90%
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Getting Information
89%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Selling or Influencing Others
88%
Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
87%
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
86%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
80%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
80%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
79%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Documenting/Recording Information
77%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities
Take product orders from customers.
Process sales or other transactions.
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Gather customer or product information to determine customer needs.
Prepare sales or other contracts.
Explain technical product or service information to customers.
Monitor inventories of products or materials.
Stock products or parts.
Arrange delivery of goods or services.
Advise customers on the use of products or services.
Examine condition of property or products.
Clean work areas.
Analyze shipping information to make routing decisions.
Calculate shipping costs.
Set up merchandise displays.
Demonstrate products to consumers.
Measure product or material dimensions.
Repair parts or assemblies.
Work Context
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Deal With External Customers
How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Education
Majors
Major
Interests
Enterprising
96%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
86%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic
58%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
43%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Investigative
19%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic
15%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Dependability
91%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail
90%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Integrity
89%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Cooperation
83%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Concern for Others
82%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Initiative
82%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Stress Tolerance
80%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Self Control
79%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Achievement/Effort
76%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
76%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Work Values
Relationships
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Independence
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Support
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
39%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
39%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
