• Sales staff duties include answering customers' calls.operator image by Sly from Fotolia.com
  
  Salespeople work in retail outlets that may specialize in something like shoes, cosmetics, vehicles or computers. Other outlets offer a wider assortment of products. The main duty of a salesperson is to add value to a customer's shopping experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wages of a salesperson range between $8 and $18, as of 2012. Although there isn't any formal education requirement, most employers prefer applicants with at least high school diplomas. In larger retail establishments, employers generally ask for a college degree.
  
  

Communication

• A salesperson welcomes customers into the store, assesses their requirements and answer their queries. Keep in mind that when a customer enters a store, he relies on the salesperson for guidance. A customer also expects friendly behavior from the salesperson. Since a large component of this job involves customer relations, an ideal candidate for a sales job is someone who enjoys working with people.
  
  

Customer Assistance

• A salesperson's main purpose is to assist the customer. She must start by determining a customer's needs. Does the customer need help looking for an item or does she prefer to find it herself? A salesperson must be able to assess how much interaction a customer wants. She should deliver the level of assistance required by the customer.
  
  

Product Knowledge

• A salesperson strives to increase the total sales by convincing customers to buy the products suitable for them. This task can only be accomplished by having adequate product knowledge. If a customer is unsure about the product, it is a salesperson's job to help him locate the right product. For example, if you are working at a cosmetic store in the skin-care section and a customer asks for an anti-blemish product, you must present a variety of anti-blemish products of different brands, their pros and cons, prices and the best ways of using them.
  
  

Financial Transactions

• The salesperson is often required to carry out financial transactions. Financial transactions involve operating the cash register, receiving payments from the customer in the form of cash, credit/debit card or check payment, and bagging or packaging the purchased items.
  
  

Showcasing

• The salesperson arranges and displays products on the shelves to attract customers. He puts price tags on products and adjusts the prices of promotional or sales items. It is also his job to keep the merchandising area clean.