Sales Manager Career

sales-manager-500Sales managers have the advantage of working in a variety of industries. They are responsible for working with upper management to set sales goals and then to track those goals using metrics or analytics. A sales manager will also be expected to execute those goals.

Managers in sales must support and develop sales representatives for the brand and assign sales categories or geographic territories to reps.

The ability to work well with people and manage them effectively is very important for sales managers.

Sales Manager Career Snapshot

Sales managers usually work in an office/corporate environment whether as an employee or freelance, but they may frequently find themselves on the road while they accompany sales reps to new and existing clients. They work a regular 40-hour week as an exempt employee (not subject to overtime), but often put in extra hours.

Further details on a career as a sales manager are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$113,860

is the average annual salary for sales managers.

5%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

65%

have a Bachelor’s degree while 13% have an Associate’s degree.

Sales Manager Education

Most sales manager hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration and possess a strong background in data analysis and customer relationship management software, though it is not unusual for someone to rise through the sales ranks to attain a management position. Though no official certification is required, many managers may join a professional organization such as the Sales Management Association.

Sales Manager Job Duties

Daily tasks involve good communication skills in resolving client or customer conflicts, meeting with associates from marketing to identify new sales leads and meeting with sales reps to address any concerns. A sales manager will often have to review and set budgets and follow expenditures for staff.

Sales Manager Salaries

Salaries range from $55K a year to $187K, depending on level of experience and education as shown in the May 2015 statistics from the BLS.gov. Another factor that may affect salary is location with more expensive locales such as Manhattan paying more per year than other, less expensive cities.

Sales Manager Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected job growth for sales managers is expected to grow (on average) anywhere from 5 to 8 percent through 2024, which is better than the national average in many fields. As commerce grows, both brick-and-mortar and online brands are always on the lookout for qualified managers to implement their strategies and find new and creative ways to increase sales.

Sales Manager Skills & Abilities

Sales Manager Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Sales Managers:Typical Work Activities:
• Persuasion
• Active listening
• Speaking
• Coordination
• Critical thinking
• Oral comprehension
• Oral expression
• Written comprehension
• Deductive reasoning
• Speech clarity
• Desktop/notebook computers
• Scanners
• Analytical or scientific software
• Enterprise resource planning software
• Selling or influencing others
• Communicating with others
• Building relationships
• Creative thinking

Related Careers

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Bachelor’s Degree

Advertising Sales Agents

High School Diploma or Equivalent

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