Sales Manager / Area Manager

Job Description

Sales Managers sell products and services to customers on behalf of a company, usually developing a unique skillset to find unique ways of developing and sustaining relationships and trust to obtain sales and increase an audience or database. Sales Managers are also commonly referred to as Area Managers.  A Sales Manager may be responsible for overseeing a department within a store or specialising in managing the sales within a division of a company, whereas an Area Manager manages sales to clients at local, regional, or national levels.   

Sales Managers and Area Managers work closely with management to determine KPIs and sales targets and may consult with the marketing team to decide on appropriate marketing campaigns.  They pursue new business and solve the customers problem by introducing them to a service or product.   They answer questions, offer alternative solutions, discuss bulk discounts, and disclose periodical promotions. They build relationships and ensure a smooth sales process, processing, or organising payment or setting up an account.  Sales Managers will seek out new leads, through business directories, client referrals, and networking.  They can work in a B2C (Business to Consumer) environment or B2B (Business to Business).   Sales Managers are also often responsible for overseeing Sales Representatives within their team or region, ensuring they follow company protocol, achieve set targets and act as an Ambassador for the company.  This aspect of the role may involve team leadership meetings, coaching, mentoring, training, and guidance.

 

Qualifications

There are no formal educational requirements to work as a Sales Manager, however qualifications in Business, Business Administration, Management and Marketing would be highly regarded.

Most companies will give you training on the job about their products and services. 

You may also need particular qualifications if you plan to work in a specialised industry. For example, if you work a company selling heavy plant and equipment, you may benefit from having a mechanical background, or if you work in a retail store selling computers, you may benefit from having IT qualifications. 

Attributes

  • Acumen 
  • Ambitious
  • Articulate
  • Assertive
  • Communicator
  • Customer Orientated
  • Ethical
  • Impressionable
  • Innovative
  • Focused
  • Motivated
  • Persuasive
  • Resilient
  • Self-Motivated
  • Thorough

Key Skills

  • Prospecting
  • Discovery
  • Social Selling
  • Storytelling
  • Active Listening
  • Objection-Handling
  • Sales
  • Management
  • Business

Future Prospects

Some transferable skills can be utilised in other relatable roles such as;