Salespeople sell goods or services to retail or wholesale customers. Sales positions require a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, and some require a salesperson exam. Preparation for the exam depends on the field of sales and the formality of the exam process. In industries like insurance and real estate sales, salespeople are paid based on their sales and require more preparation for a formal salesperson’s exam.
A salesperson is an individual who works to sell goods or services to retail or wholesale customers. Most sales positions require a minimum of a high school diploma or a general equivalency development exam (GED), literacy and general arithmetic skills. Some retail sales employers may require employees to take a salesperson exam to confirm basic skills or assess their understanding of the line of business. In the US, every state has laws that require successful completion of a salesperson’s exam for people who sell real estate and insurance products. The specific steps required to prepare for a salesperson exam therefore depend on the field of sales, the formality of the exam process, and the examiner’s individual study requirements.
The area or type of sales the employee plans to work in influences the preparation needed for a salesperson exam. In most industries – such as “big box” retail sales – salespeople are paid an hourly wage with a small fee added according to the level of testing they have performed. Many of these tests involve computerized instructions, followed by tests on topics such as the company’s general business policies, emergency procedures, customer service policy and customer etiquette. Preparing for these types of tests involves organizing time outside of retail assignments to take the test and review any written material provided during a formal orientation, if offered by the company. The topic-by-topic computerized test instructions and assessments require that you pay close attention to the written information and visual displays used during the instructional phase of each unit.
In businesses like insurance and real estate sales, salespeople end up being paid entirely based on their sales, and state law requires successful completion of a formal salesperson’s exam. A real estate or insurance salesperson exam requires more preparation as the test is more formal, more difficult and involves successfully demonstrating knowledge about the field in order to work independently. Many community colleges or professional schools offer classes designed to help potential insurance or real estate salespeople review necessary material and take practice exams in preparation for the real exam. There are also many books, DVDs and websites dedicated to helping potential sellers study and prepare. Regardless of how the seller chooses to study for the required exam, success depends on starting the study process.
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