Career: Sales Engineers
Suppose you own a toy factory. You have many decisions to make: Which electronic parts will give your toys that added zing? Should you use polystyrene or polyethylene to package them? And just how much RAM do your managers need in their computers?
Don’t worry -- you’ll get plenty of help from sales engineers who, in their efforts to sell products, will advise you on the details of each purchase decision.
Sales engineers use their background in engineering to sell complex products and services. They also help customers choose, customize, and, troubleshoot products.
Did You Know?
- Many sales engineers start out as engineers.
Are You Ready To...?
- Spend long hours on the road
- Work irregular hours
- Keep up with new technology and products
- Explain products or services to potential clients
- Follow up visits to clients with phone calls
- Find out what clients want and need
- Draw up contracts
- Write reports
- Keep track of your expenses
It Helps to Be...
A math and science fan who also loves the challenge of persuading others. If you like knowing how things work, but would rather travel and talk to others than spend time in a lab, this could be the career for you.
Make High School Count
- Go for challenging math and science courses, including calculus, physics, and chemistry.
- Sign up for computer science and computer-aided drafting.
- Practice your skills of persuasion on the debate team and in speech and drama.
- Practice sales skills when you raise money for class trips and other events.
- Join an engineering club or get others involved in engineering competitions, such as the one offered by JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society).
Did You Know?
- This is a great job if you’re not keen on working nine-to-five. Sales people often set their own hours.
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for sales engineers to grow as fast as the average for all careers through 2016.
Compensation
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the average yearly earnings of sales engineers in 2008 as $89,770. Some companies also offer their sales engineers incentives for good performance, such as vacations or gifts.
Independent sales engineers, who are not employees of a specific company, usually work on commission. This means that they earn a certain percentage of each sale they make. Working on commission can mean higher overall pay, but it also means that earnings can be unstable; there's no paycheck to fall back on if that year's product line isn't selling well.
