Technical Sales
Undergraduate Badge
Grand Rapids • Face to face • 6 Credits
Technical sales involves selling complex products or services that require specialized knowledge and understanding of technical specifications to meet customer needs effectively.
Overview
Grand Valley's Technical Sales badge program focuses on individual and group selling simulations, managing customer relationships, and applying technical language and knowledge in the sales process. This face-to-face program is designed for Seidman College of Business students and those interested in sales, including engineering, STEM, and adult professionals.
The coursework covers:
- Advanced principles and techniques of technical sales.
- The use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
- Formulating effective social selling strategies.
This badge provides practical experience in sales simulations, teaches effective communication and presentation skills, and leverages technology for sales processes. Businesses have an increased need for professionals with sales skills; highly technical or intricate products and services require advanced industry and product knowledge.
A digital badge, or badge, is a record of achievement that recognizes a student's completion of a coherent and meaningful academic experience. GVSU offers both credit and non-credit bearing badges as digital credentials. Credit-bearing badges include anywhere from 0.5 to 15 academic credits and may include additional noncredit criteria. Credit-bearing badges are also posted to the academic transcript.
Admission Information
Admissions to complete a digital badge is open to both degree and nondegree seeking students. If you are not currently a Grand Valley student, start your application here.
For current GVSU students:
- Declare your badge via myBanner. Login to Banner Self-Service, click on Student, Student Records, Add a Certificate or Badge to your Program, Select the appropriate badge from the drop down list, and click Submit.
- Speak with the appropriate badge coordinator to ensure criteria are being met. You will be able to track your progress toward the badge in myPath as well!
- Once you are done with the requirements, apply to receive the badge via myBanner.
- Once the completion of your badge has been verified, the badge will be posted to your student record and will be viewable on your transcript. In addition, your digital badge will be posted on Credly.com.
Seidman College of Business
gvsu.edu/seidman
50 Front
Avenue SW, SCB 3030
(616) 331-7500
Admissions and Recruitment Office
Career Opportunities
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
Top skills- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Negotiation
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 68,534.49 | 10% |
| $ 96,728.04 | 25% |
| $135,252.48 | 50% |
| $185,024.06 | 75% |
| $233,337.02 | 90% |
Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
Top skills- Speaking
- Persuasion
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 36,802.32 | 10% |
| $ 46,166.14 | 25% |
| $ 62,044.47 | 50% |
| $101,385.91 | 75% |
| $131,986.44 | 90% |
Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.
Top skills- Persuasion
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 71,039.99 | 10% |
| $ 81,596.22 | 25% |
| $102,969.20 | 50% |
| $133,309.38 | 75% |
| $177,191.08 | 90% |
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Top skills- Speaking
- Persuasion
- Active Listening
- Negotiation
- Social Perceptiveness
Earnings statistics
| Annual Earnings | Percentile |
|---|---|
| $ 51,072.17 | 10% |
| $ 76,400.17 | 25% |
| $108,153.61 | 50% |
| $155,749.91 | 75% |
| $221,643.89 | 90% |
1-4
Students Participated in Research with Faculty
"One of the Top Public Universities in America"
- Niche.com
94%
Graduates Employed After Graduation
Scholarships
Grand Valley State University offers a wide variety of merit-based
scholarships. For information on all of the scholarships that are
available to students, please visit Scholarships at GVSU.
Grand Valley offers myScholarships
(a scholarship matching tool) to help admitted students match
with GVSU scholarships, as well as external scholarship opportunities.
myScholarships will prompt you to answer questions to help match you
to scholarships for which you might qualify.
Embedded in a Real Business Hub
The L. William Seidman Center sits in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, placing students steps away from major employers, networking events, and internships. This downtown advantage gives students daily exposure to the region’s business ecosystem.
A Unique Real-World Simulation Space
In 2025, Seidman opened a cuttingedge Experiential Learning and Sales Lab, designed to simulate real business environments such as:
-
Negotiation rooms
-
Boardrooms
-
Sales pitch spaces
The lab records verbal and nonverbal communication, helping students refine professional skills. Students who train in this environment show a 50% faster rampup in productivity with employers.
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