Jobs › Ecolab

Market Sales Representative

Ecolab · Chicago, IL · $83,200–$124,700 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you used consultative selling to grow an existing account.

What they are checking: Whether they sell by understanding the customer's operation instead of pushing products.

Tell me about a time you missed a sales target. What did you do about it?

What they are checking: Whether they own shortfalls honestly and adjust their approach instead of making excuses.

Tell me about a time you built trust with a customer who didn't want to talk to a salesperson.

What they are checking: Whether they can earn credibility through useful help rather than pressure.

What would you do

Walk me through how you'd plan your first 90 days in an existing Chicago territory.

What they are checking: Whether they can learn an inherited territory quickly and find growth without losing current accounts.

A restaurant owner says your competitor is cheaper. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can show total value like food safety and labor savings instead of matching on price.

How would you go about winning a large account that's been with a competitor for ten years?

What they are checking: Whether they have the patience and strategy to break into a loyal competitive account.

What does outsized growth look like to you, and how do you push for it without burning out customers?

What they are checking: Whether they balance aggressive targets with keeping long-term customer relationships healthy.

About the work

How do you manage your pipeline in a CRM so it actually helps you instead of just being admin work?

What they are checking: Whether they use CRM data to plan their week and forecast honestly rather than just logging calls.

What do you know about cleaning and sanitation standards in foodservice or hospitality?

What they are checking: Whether they can speak credibly to customers about inspections, food safety and sanitation programs.

How would you help a customer write or improve a standard operating procedure for cleaning?

What they are checking: Whether they can add operational expertise that makes them more valuable than a product seller.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Ecolab from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Ecolab.

Join Ecolab’s sales team as a Market Sales Representative in the Chicago, IL market. Within our industry leading Institutional division, grow sales within an existing territory of accounts by utilizing consultative sales techniques to enhance Ecolab’s total value to the customer. Own customer relationships, expand solution adoption, and drive new business. Cultivate customer and industry relationships that result in increased sales and trust for Ecolab's brand and leverage market knowledge to identify and close competitive sales opportunities in cleaning and sanitation, safety, quality and operations. How You’ll Make an Impact: • Drive outsized growth, in major, high growth markets, by meeting or exceeding growth and revenue targets across assigned accounts or geography • Leverage market knowledge to identify, develop, and gain new competitive business opportunities within assigned geographic area • Build and manage a healthy sales pipeline using CRM and digital sales tools • Communicate our total value to the customer and grow solutions within existing customer accounts • Provide industry expertise to customers in terms of cleaning and sanitation, safety, quality and operations by recommending sanitation plans and programs, implementing and evaluating standard operating procedures, identifying and implementing operational efficiencies and providing employee training • Partner with service and internal teams to ensure best in class value delivery • Serve as the face of Ecolab, establishing strong, multi level relationships with customers and industry partners through consultative engagement • Partner with Corporate accounts to activate and close franchise opportunities • Evaluate conditions of account and proactively take action to ensure account meets Ecolab Brand Standards for aligned customers Position Details: • Candidate must reside within commutable distance from Chicago, IL • Territory covers about a 60-mile radius of the surrounding area • 10% overnight travel required Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree • 2 years of sales experience • Experience in broadline distribution, customer service, foodservice, hospitality, or a related industry • Position requires a current and valid driver’s license • Ecolab conducts a background check and drug screens on all candidates who receive a job offer • No Immigration Sponsorship available Physical Requirements: • Drive a company vehicle as required to perform job duties (pre-employment and ongoing motor vehicle record checks will be performed to determine eligibility to drive a company vehicle) • Ability to perform essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation Ecolab is committed to providing reasonable  accommodation  to qualified individuals with a disability. Preferred Qualifications: • Previous business to business commercial sales experience • Sales specific education or certifications • Prospecting or new business development experience • Ability to sell value and outcomes, not just products • Comfort using CRM and digital sales tools What’s in it For You: • Starting on Day 1 : – Access to our comprehensive  benefits package  including medical, dental, vision, matching 401K, company-paid pension, stock purchase plan, paid parental leave, select discounted childcare resources, and more! • The opportunity to take on some of the world’s most meaningful challenges, helping customers achieve clean water, safe food, and healthy environments • Work with the world’s most recognized and iconic brands • Gain experience in Ecolab sales with a consultative approach • The ability to make an impact with a company that is passionate about your career development • On the job training where you will learn from subject matter experts with proven success • Enjoy a flexible, independent work environment • Receive a non-decaled company vehicle for business and personal use • Develop experience in cross-team relationship building to coordinate service execution About Ecolab Institutional Discover how our partnership with customers helps serve 45 billion restaurant meals and clean more than one billion hotel rooms annually. From restaurants, hotels, and long-term care facilities, to schools, commercial buildings, and military facilities, Ecolab’s Institutional division provides a comprehensive program of customized cleaning and sanitizing solutions to help meet the specific needs of our customers. Join us and help the biggest and best brands ensure guest safety and satisfaction and protect their reputation. Annual or Hourly Compensation Range: The total compensation range for this position is $83,200 - $124,700, which includes base pay and target incentive based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws. Benefits Ecolab provides the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, auto insurance, home insurance, pet insurance, identity theft protection, short-term and long-term disability, 401k, pension plans, retirement health care benefits, short-term incentives, vacation (12 days), holidays, parental leave, employee stock purchase plans (Full-Time Associates), discount on day care services and caregiver services, adoption assistance, group legal services, employee assistance program, employee discount program, and education assistance program, on-Site childcare and fitness facilities may be available at select Ecolab locations. Click here  for additional benefits information.  If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here . Potential Customer Requirements Notice To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to: - Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.

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