What does a Sales Manager do?
sales manager typically work for corporations across industries to help them meet their revenue needs. They work closely with other department heads like the Finance Manager, Customer Service Manager or Marketing Manager to establish a department budget, encourage sales through marketing campaigns and address customer complaints. Their job is to hold meetings with sales staff to review monthly goals, highlight new products to sell and cultivate sales pitches. They may also be responsible for attending in-person meetings with clients to renew their contract or discuss new company products.
Sales Manager skills and qualifications
In order to drive up sales while maintaining good relationships with customers, sales manager should have a passion for selling, be self-driven and have the following set of skills and qualifications:
- Ability to set sales targets and achieve them effectively
- Excellent interpersonal, customer service and communication skills
- Experience using CRM to manage the sales process and forecast sales
- Strong analytical skills to identify trends and sales patterns
- Ability to design and implement a successful sales strategy
- Ability to guide and mentor sales representatives
- Planning, organization and problem-solving skills
- Advanced time management skills
Sales Manager salary expectations
A Sales Manager makes an average salary of $75,752 per year. This salary may vary depending on a candidate’s education and level of experience as well as your specific company and industry.
Sales Manager education and training requirements
The ideal Sales Manager candidate has a bachelor’s degree in sales and marketing or business management from an accredited university. A master’s degree in business administration or marketing is a plus, though most companies do not require it. sales manager also look for candidates who have training in sales management and promotion tactics or certifications, such as the Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL) or the Certified Sales Executive (CSE).
Sales Manager experience requirements
Sales Manager candidates should have at least 5 years of experience working in sales or marketing to get on-the-job training, and they should have a good understanding of your company’s specific market. Most employers also look for candidates who demonstrable experience in budgeting, planning and executing sales campaigns and overseeing local and regional sales activities. Experience hiring, managing and mentoring Sales Representatives is a plus.
Job description samples for similar positions
If you’re interested in hiring candidates for other related sales roles, take a look at our job description samples for similar positions: