Sales Engineers

Sales engineers must have academic backgrounds in the areas in which they specialize. They must also have sales experience and training before they can work independently as sales engineers. In training, they learn sales techniques and may partner with senior-level sales engineers who explain the business practices of their employer, the types of customers they have, and the company's culture. Sales engineers must have strong scientific and technological knowledge to understand the products and services that they sell. They must also have solid interpersonal skills and be able to clearly communicate the benefits of the products to customers. They should be confident, outgoing, and able to make persuasive presentations. Strong problem-solving skills are also needed, particularly when listening to customers' concerns and offering suggestions for customizing products that address these concerns. The desire to continually learn is essential in this field, since technology is constantly changing and sales engineers must keep up to date with the latest innovations in their industry. Retraining is common in the sales engineer profession.