Sales Trainee

PURPOSE Develops industry-specific knowledge and experience required for promotion to Outside Sales Representative role.  May rotate through various departments observing, learning and performing responsibilities in order to acquire industry knowledge, functional processes and practices as well as sales techniques. This role is not eligible for sales commissions.   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Receives training and performs progressively responsible duties in various areas such as:  yard operations, production, dispatch/scheduling/delivery, and inside sales while learning the outside sales role. Successful Trainees will typically transition to the OSR I role in about 90 – 180 days. Accompanies Outside Sales Reps or Sales Manager on customer calls to become familiar with effective sales and customer service techniques. Assigned various inside sales/counter responsibilities, including but not limited to, answering phone, taking orders, and other responsibilities.  Assigned various Outside Sales responsibilities, including but not limited to, performing take offs, taking and processing orders, obtaining signatures on tickets, making sales calls to new and existing customers. Sets individual performance goals and monitors own progress with assigned management and trainers. Participates in and completes assigned sales training programs. Understands and observes all safety procedures and practices and ensures that employees observe all safety procedures and practices in order to prevent injuries or damage.  May be directed to conduct periodic safety meetings and solicits recommended changes to improve safety procedures. Other duties may be assigned.   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job has no supervisory responsibilities.   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.   Bachelor’s Degree in Sales, Marketing or related field plus 0 - 2 years related industry operations/sales; or equivalent combination of education and experience.   COMPETENCIES   Strong customer service skills both face-to-face and telephone Previous selling experience helpful Good mathematical aptitude Strong verbal and written communication skills Solid interpersonal skills, including tact and influencing, with internal and external contacts Good computer aptitude, particularly with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and ERP applications   WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL ACTIVITY The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   Subject to both typical office environment and outside locations with temperature and weather variations. Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds frequently and on occasion up to 80 pounds. Work is performed on both company and customer sites and involves driving to customer locations May be required to perform specific tasks that involve climbing, lifting, pushing or kneeling.