Sales Manager Job Profile

February 11, 2025 - February 11, 2025
Find out the typical duties, requirements and opportunities of a Sales Manager…
SALES MANAGER
Job Description
Sales managers must lead a team of sales representatives, by producing the relevant training so that their employees are able to sell to their target audience. The role is dependent on the type of product you are selling and the type of customer you are selling to. As a sales manger you could be in charge of a particular geographical area. The hours are usually 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, however over time may be requested. You will be based in an office, but will spend some time visiting head office, customers and your sales team. There may be a need to attend trade fairs, exhibitions and conferences, depending on the size of area you cover. The job could entail overnight stays away from home, and if your company is selling products abroad, you may have to travel. No matter what product you sell, and regardless of circumstance you’re likely to have the following duties:
Typical Duties
- Recruitment and the training of sales staff
- Allocating areas to sales representatives
- Monitoring your team’s performance and motivating them to reach targets
- Analysing and managing sales figures
- Setting sales targets
- Collecting market research and customer feedback an identifying problems/patterns
- Reporting back to senior managers
- Dealing with major customer accounts yourself
- Developing sales strategies and setting targets
- In some jobs you may also be involved with marketing
- Keeping up to date with products and competitors
Skills and Interests
- Be able to sell well and encourage others to do the same
- Have good negotiation, communication and ”˜people’ skills
- Be business aware
- Be able to motivate and lead a team
- Have self-confidence and an interest in sales
- Be able to input Initiative and enthusiasm
- Have the ability to plan, budget and be extremely organized
- You must show that you can work calmly under pressure
- Have the relevant office and I.T skills
- Be able to provide a full driving license
- And having Foreign language skills can be proved useful
Job Requirements
You may be asked to provide a relevant qualification, such as a business-related BTEC HND or degree. But most companies will be looking for applicants with experience and excellent track records, as this is usually considered more important than having formal qualifications. Although it is not completely necessary to have a qualification in the field, you will find it a lot easier if you do. With that in mind it is usually advantageous to have work-based qualifications, such as NVQs in sales or qualifications from professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM) and the Managing and Marketing Sales Association (MAMSA).You must have proven sales experience, accompanied with a good record of achieving sales targets.
Opportunities
After gaining the relevant experience needed, and building an excellent reputation in the industry you could find yourself promoted to area manger or other senior manager roles. Being a sales manager could mean that you travel to various parts of the UK, and maybe even the world for all kinds of industries and markets including manufacturing, wholesale distribution and consumer goods. The average salary for a sales manager position is £37,500 with the lowest being £32,500 and the highest at £52,500.