Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities
Did You Know:*
- Most positions require a bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting or economics; a master's degree in business or professional certification is helpful for advancement.
- Applicants face keen competition for jobs, especially in investment banks.
- Turnover is high for newcomers, but those who are successful have a very strong attachment to their occupation because of high earnings and considerable investment in training.
Industry Areas
- Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage
- Depository Credit Intermediation
- Other Financial Investment Activities
Day-to-Day Tasks*
- Complete sales order tickets and submit for processing of client-requested transactions.
- Interview clients to determine clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, or financial objectives.
- Record transactions accurately, and keep clients informed about transactions.
Overall Kind of Work*
Each day, hundreds of billions of dollars change hands on the major United States securities exchanges. This money is used to invest in securities, such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds, which are...
Work Environment*
Civilian
Most securities and commodities sales agents work in offices under somewhat stressful conditions. The pace of work is fast, and managers tend to be very demanding of their workers since both commi...
Workweek Breakdown
The hours worked per week by people currently pursuing this career.
- 1.41% (21-34 Hours)
- 2.29% (35-39 Hours)
- 61.74% (40 Hours)
- 4.64% (41-49 Hours)
- 29.92% (Over 50 Hours)
This data also pertains to Sales Agents, Securities and Commodities(41-3031)
Type of Work
The level of day-to-day involvement with data, people or things.
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Things: 
Skills at a Glance
The levels of different skills helpful in this career.
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Workplace at a Glance
The level of different environmental factors you would experience on the job.
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Business Breakdown
The different sectors people in this career currently work in.
- 83.60% (Private For-Profit)
- 1.51% (Private Not For-Profit)
- 0.13% (State and Local Govt)
- 0.28% (Federal Government)
- 14.48% (Self-Employed)
This data also pertains to Securities, Commodities, And Financial Services Sales Agents