Sales manager
Sales managers organise, coach and lead teams of sales representatives to meet sales targets.
- Starter salary£28,000 a year
- Experienced£70,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a sales manager, you could:
- recruit and train sales staff
- allocate geographical areas to sales reps
- identify new business opportunities
- develop sales strategies and set sales targets
- provide feedback and coaching to team members
- monitor team performance and motivate staff to reach targets
- analyse and present sales figures and forecasts to senior managers
- keep up to date with products, market trends and competitors
Working environment
You could work at a store, in an office, at a client's business or in a contact centre.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- leadership skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- excellent verbal communication skills
- customer service skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- business management skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a sales manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
University
You could do a degree before joining a company as a graduate sales management trainee. Employers recruit graduates from most subjects. Particularly relevant ones include:
- sales and marketing management
- business management
- retail marketing
- digital marketing
For some jobs, like selling hi-tech scientific or engineering equipment, employers may prefer you to have a qualification in that field.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Sales Executive Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship to join a company as a trainee manager.
For management roles selling to businesses, you could do a Business to Business Sales Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You could work as a sales supervisor or assistant manager and complete professional qualifications , whilst you work. This could help you to move into sales management positions.
Qualifications cover all aspects of sales at different levels of responsibility, and include:
- market research and sales planning
- managing team performance
- strategic sales leadership
Direct application
You'll need experience in sales and a record of achieving targets. Employers will often consider your sales and management experience, market knowledge and track record to be more important than your academic qualifications.
You could also apply for jobs in specialist sales management, if you have a background in designing or manufacturing the products your team is selling, for example, medical technology or construction equipment.
Career path and progression
With experience and a good track record, you could take on larger sales areas or be promoted to regional, national or international sales manager.
Career tips
The ability to speak a second language may be useful if you're employed by an international sales company, or one that requires overseas travel to meet clients.
Guides for this industry
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