Opportunities for construction sales professionals - representatives, sales engineers, territory or regional managers or directors - are expected to go strong through the year 2008.
Demand for these professional however will depend on geographic location of employment and specialty within construction/building process among other factors and influences. Along with whether the salesperson actively services the public or private sector.
Those involved in the residential and specialty-trade sectors should have opportunities consistent with the past several years (with some sales erosion due to the popularity of DIYing).
Sales persons involved with commercial construction projects will surely follow with the prevailing economic climate that affects business to business transactions and governmental expenditures distributed for their related projects.
While other determining factors are more industry-specific. Regulations, such as environmental (wastewater, transmission of water flow, etc) will play a role in the success of companies that supply products like precast concrete – those putting forth environmentally compatible/placed products will benefit.
Consider too upstream supply. All of us are familiar with the quality and price of lumber associated with deforestation & reforestation.
But actually, many factors can cause construction shortages, unforeseen and not, both on the supply and contractors’ service end.
Just call to mind the drywall shortage over recent years across the country. While supply levels like this can and do touch upon a salespersons botton line source those who manage to help purchasers better cope may help gain favor as these type of incidences are only likely occur as an unavoidable part of the business (product substitutes, as one possible alternative anyway).
Beyond natural supply levels, another affecting factor is the environment that sales representatives and engineers tend to operate within (namely for commercial). Which will undoubtedly become more complex over the next few years (including software programs used as tools of the trade). Those Pro’s poised at the forefront will probably enjoy success. As will those representing innovation-driven and/or unique products or representing uniquely qualified company services. Examples abound throughout construction.
To be sure, as has been the case for some time, sales professionals who manage to fit a creative handle on continually rising cost cycles while at the same time being effective with decision makers will be gearing for success.
Construction Sales 