Occupation Details
Parts Salespersons
Sell spare and replacement parts and equipment in repair shop or parts store.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,790.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$39,130.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$53,420.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
10,910
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
13,690
+278 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
1,738
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.3%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Computer laser printers
- Digital still cameras
- Electronic cash registers
- Laptop computers
- Microfiche viewing equipment
- Multiline telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Tablet computers
Technology
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Customer information databases
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP business and customer relations management software
- SmugMug Flickr
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- advise customer on substitution of parts
- determine placement part required
- use cash registers
- use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
- maintain records, reports, or files
- manage inventories or supplies
- collect deposit or payment
- clean rooms or work areas
- inspect products or materials for damage, defects, or shortages
- examine returned parts for defects
- balance cash register
- process credit transaction
- use industry terms or concepts
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use oral or written communication techniques
- use product knowledge to market goods
- use inventory control procedures
- use sales techniques
- use knowledge of written communication in sales work
- use knowledge of metric system
- answer customer or public inquiries
- greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers
- sell merchandise
- read vehicle manufacturer's specifications
- use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Receive and fill telephone orders for parts.
- Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock.
- Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices.
- Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
- Determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions.
- Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts.
- Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock.
- Mark and store parts in stockrooms, according to prearranged systems.
- Pick up and deliver parts.
- Discuss use and features of various parts, based on knowledge of machines or equipment.
- Examine returned parts for defects, and exchange defective parts or refund money.
- Maintain and clean work and inventory areas.
- Manage shipments by researching shipping methods or costs and tracking packages.
- Advise customers on substitution or modification of parts when identical replacements are not available.
- Place new merchandise on display.
- Demonstrate equipment to customers, and explain functioning of equipment.
- Measure parts, using precision measuring instruments, to determine whether similar parts may be machined to required sizes.
- Repair parts or equipment.

