O*NET Role Library
1016 occupations available
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Advertising Sales Agents
41-3011.00·Sales and Related·Job Zone 4
Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
20Tasks
24Tech Skills
16Technical Tools
Technology Skills
24 technologies · 16 technical tools
Technology Skills
Technical Tools
Adobe Creative Cloud softwareIN DEMANDAdobe IllustratorIN DEMANDAdobe InDesignIN DEMANDAdobe PhotoshopIN DEMANDCanvaIN DEMANDFacebookGoogle AnalyticsIN DEMANDMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelIN DEMANDMicrosoft Office softwareIN DEMANDMicrosoft OutlookIN DEMANDMicrosoft PowerPointIN DEMANDMicrosoft WordIN DEMANDSalesforce softwareIN DEMANDWordPress
Other Technologies
Contact management softwareCustomer relationship management CRM softwareEmail softwareFileMaker ProGoogle AdsMicrosoft PublisherQuarkXPressWeb browser software
Task Statements
19 core · 1 supplemental
Task Statements
Core Tasks
- Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
- Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
- Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
- Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
- Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
- Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
- Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer.
- Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts.
- Draw up contracts for advertising work, and collect payments due.
- Deliver advertising or illustration proofs to customers for approval.
- Inform customers of available options for advertisement artwork, and provide samples.
- Recommend appropriate sizes and formats for advertising, depending on medium used.
- Write copy as part of layout.
- Determine advertising medium to be used, and prepare sample advertisements within the selected medium for presentation to customers.
- Gather all relevant material for bid processes, and coordinate bidding and contract approval.
- Consult with company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies to develop promotional plans.
- Identify new advertising markets, and propose products to serve them.
- Arrange for commercial taping sessions, and accompany clients to sessions.
- Attend sales meetings, industry trade shows, and training seminars to gather information, promote products, expand network of contacts, and increase knowledge.
Supplemental Tasks
- Write sales outlines for use by staff.
Top Skills
Ranked by importance score
Top Skills
Sales and Marketing4.9
Customer and Personal Service4.5
Speaking4.1
Persuasion4.0
English Language4.0
Social Perceptiveness3.9
Service Orientation3.9
Communications and Media3.8
Negotiation3.8
Active Listening3.8
Mathematics3.6
Reading Comprehension3.4
Administrative3.4
Computers and Electronics3.3
Critical Thinking3.3
Judgment and Decision Making3.3
Administration and Management3.1
Coordination3.1
Writing3.1
Monitoring3.0
Top Abilities
Ranked by importance score
Top Abilities
Oral Expression4.1
Speech Clarity4.1
Speech Recognition4.0
Oral Comprehension4.0
Written Comprehension3.9
Written Expression3.5
Near Vision3.4
Originality3.3
Fluency of Ideas3.3
Deductive Reasoning3.1
Problem Sensitivity3.1
Inductive Reasoning3.1
Information Ordering3.0
Selective Attention3.0
Category Flexibility3.0
Visualization2.9
Flexibility of Closure2.9
Time Sharing2.9
Speed of Closure2.8
Number Facility2.8
Work Activities
Ranked by importance score
Work Activities
Selling or Influencing Others4.9
Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.5
Thinking Creatively4.3
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.3
Getting Information4.2
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.2
Working with Computers4.1
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others4.1
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.0
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.0
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.7
Performing Administrative Activities3.5
Processing Information3.5
Developing Objectives and Strategies3.5
Scheduling Work and Activities3.4
Documenting/Recording Information3.3
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.3
Providing Consultation and Advice to Others3.2
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.2
Education, Training & Experience
Percentage of respondents reporting each level
Education, Training & Experience
Required Level of Education
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)30%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)1%
Some College Courses13%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)4%
Bachelor's Degree52%
Related Work Experience
None16%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months4%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year2%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years29%
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years33%
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years8%
Over 10 years8%
On-Site or In-Plant Training
None14%
Up to and including 1 month20%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months34%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months19%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year2%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years12%
On-the-Job Training
None or short demonstration1%
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month20%
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months22%
Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months28%
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year3%
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years25%
Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years1%