National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
6 - Sales and service occupations
This broad category comprises middle management occupations in wholesale and retail trade, and customer services, as well as occupations concerned with wholesale and retail sales, and customer, personal and support service occupations related to a wide range of industries, such as accommodation and food services, travel, tourism and cleaning services.
64 - Sales and service representatives and other customer and personal services occupations
This major group comprises sales and service representatives and other customer and personal services occupations. These occupations come with Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER) identified as TEER 4. Occupations classified in TEER 4, as those included in this group with a 4 as the second digit of their code, typically require completion of secondary school; or several weeks of on-the-job training with some secondary school education; or experience in a related occupation from TEER 5, when applicable (TEER 5 includes occupations with a 5 as a second digit in their code).
641 - Retail salespersons and non-technical wholesale trade sales and account representatives
This sub-major group comprises retail salespersons and non-technical wholesale trade sales and account representatives.
6410 - Retail salespersons and non-technical wholesale trade sales and account representatives
This minor group comprises retail salespersons and non-technical wholesale trade sales and account representatives. They are employed by petroleum companies, food, beverage and tobacco producers, clothing manufacturers, motor vehicles and parts manufacturers, hotels, business services firms, and transportation companies, and other establishments that produce and provide goods and services; also by stores and other retail businesses, as well as wholesale businesses that sell on a retail basis to the public.
64100 - Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers
Retail salespersons sell, rent or lease a range of technical and non-technical goods and services directly to consumers. Visual merchandisers plan, create and implement windows and in-store displays. They are employed by stores and other retail businesses, as well as wholesale businesses that sell on a retail basis to the public.
Illustrative example(s)
- audio equipment salesperson
- automobile salesperson
- car rental agent
- clothing salesperson
- computer salesperson - retail
- counter clerk - retail
- department store clerk
- display designer
- furniture salesperson
- hardware store clerk
- jewellery salesperson
- retail sales associate
- retail sales clerk
- retail salesperson
- sales consultant - retirement homes
- window display designer
Exclusion(s)
- Cashiers (See 65100 Cashiers)
- Sales clerk supervisor (See 62010 Retail sales supervisors)
- Stock clerk - retail (See 65102 Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Retail salespersons
- Greet customers and discuss type, quality and quantity of merchandise or services sought for purchase, rental or lease
- Advise customers on use and care of merchandise, and provide advice concerning specialized products or services
- Estimate or quote prices, credit terms, trade-in allowances, warranties and delivery dates
- Prepare merchandise for purchase, rental or lease
- Prepare sales, rental or leasing contracts and accept cash, cheque, credit card or automatic debit payment
- Assist in display of merchandise
- Maintain sales records for inventory control
- Operate computerized inventory record keeping and re-ordering systems
- May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce.
Visual merchandisers
- Design and implement window and interior displays
- Assemble visual retail displays to promote products, promotional events and seasonal change overs;
- Ensure visual displays comply with brand guidelines and standards, including organization's culture, image and target markets
- Set up lighting systems to create a visual atmosphere.
Retail salespersons may specialize and act as consultants in home entertainment systems, computers and other products and services.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- A university degree or college diploma may be required by some employers.
- Specific subject matter courses or training may be required.
- Demonstrated sales ability and product knowledge are usually required for retail salespersons who sell complex or valuable merchandise, such as automobiles, antiques or computers.
- Previous visual merchandising experience may be required.
Additional information
- Technical or sales training programs may be provided by employers.
- Progression to retail supervisory positions is possible with additional training or experience.
64101 - Sales and account representatives - wholesale trade (non-technical)
Sales representatives in wholesale trade (non-technical), sell non-technical goods and services to retail, wholesale, commercial, industrial, professional and other clients domestically and internationally. They are employed by establishments that produce or provide goods and services such as petroleum companies, food, beverage and tobacco producers, clothing manufacturers, motor vehicles and parts manufacturers, hotels, business services firms, and transportation companies. Auctioneers are included in this unit group. Sales representatives in wholesale trade who are supervisors are also included in this unit group.
Illustrative example(s)
- advertising time sales representative
- food products sales representative
- freight sales agent
- graphic design sales representative
- hotel accommodations sales executive
- liquor sales representative
- magazine sales representative
- oil distributor
- security services sales consultant
- transfer company agent
- wholesale trade representatives supervisor
Exclusion(s)
- Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (See 10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers)
- Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers (See 64100 Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers)
- Royalties manager - arts (See 50011 Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts)
- Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade (See 62100 Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Promote sales to existing clients
- Identify and solicit potential clients
- Provide clients with presentations on the benefits and uses of goods or services
- Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties and delivery dates
- Prepare or oversee preparation of sales or other contracts
- Consult with clients after sale or signed contracts to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support
- Review and adapt to information regarding product innovations, competitors and market conditions
- Represent companies that export and import products or services to and from foreign countries
- May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce
- May supervise the activities of other sales representatives.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A university degree or completion of a college or other program may be required.
- Experience in sales or in an occupation related to the product or service is usually required.
- Fluency in a foreign language and/or foreign country work or travel experience may be required for sales representatives seeking employment with companies that import or export goods or services.
- Supervisors and senior sales representatives require experience.
- Voluntary certification is available from the Canadian Professional Sales Association.
Additional information
- Progression to sales management positions is possible with additional training or experience.
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