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How to become a Trading Company Sales Representative

Acts as a go-between in buying and selling raw materials and products between countries, regions and companies.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular specialist knowledge or qualifications are needed to start, but most people in the job are university graduates. International trade involves negotiating in foreign languages, so language training continues after joining. For the first few months there is also training in international business practice, starting with the practicalities of trade. Trading companies handle a very wide range of goods, so the specialist knowledge needed depends on where you are placed, and it is usually learned through specialist training and on the job. Relationships with people are central to the job, so you need to be able to state your views clearly, take the initiative, work in a team to move deals forward and have a strong international outlook. Overseas postings are not always in developed countries, so you also need to be able to adapt to many different living conditions.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Trading Company Sales Representative?

No particular specialist knowledge or qualifications are needed to start, but most people in the job are university graduates. International trade involves negotiating in foreign languages, so language training continues after joining. For the first few months there is also training in international business practice, starting with the practicalities of trade. Trading companies handle a very wide range of goods, so the specialist knowledge needed depends on where you are placed, and it is usually learned through specialist training and on the job. Relationships with people are central to the job, so you need to be able to state your views clearly, take the initiative, work in a team to move deals forward and have a strong international outlook. Overseas postings are not always in developed countries, so you also need to be able to adapt to many different living conditions.

How much does a Trading Company Sales Representative earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥6,607,000 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other sales workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Trading Company Sales Representative?

Not always. In this job's census occupation group, 58% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Trading Company Sales Representative?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026