all about sales manager jobs.

Sales managers play a pivotal role in improving the revenue of a company. Your job is to contribute to the organization's success through pushing sales and hitting revenue targets. You develop strategies to boost sales and manage your agents in the day-to-day operations. Since it is a leadership role, you need to be a motivator.

what do sales manager jobs entail?

Your job as a sales manager is to supervise sales agents and representatives to ensure they meet the set goals. You also recruit new agents for upcoming sales projects and train them on the company's processes, sales techniques and product features. Sometimes, you participate in lead generation and brand promotion by preparing banners and flyers for strategic locations.

what is a typical work schedule for sales managers?

As a sales manager, your workday runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a full-time schedule. The regular work schedule covers 40 hours a week, but you will work overtime in the evenings. You also have to meet with the field sales agents after their workday. Since sales representatives push more sales over the weekends when many people shop, you have to work weekends to supervise the teams. Part-time opportunities are available for sales managers, but they are rare since most duties require their presence. As a sales manager, you can work on short-term contracts when running a single promotion.

what are the pros of sales manager jobs?

Some of the benefits of a sales manager job include:

• Great income: While most jobs pay salaries only, becoming a sales manager allows you to earn bonuses, commissions and various incentives for hitting targets. A sales manager enjoys huge rewards for generating revenue for their organization and boosting customer satisfaction. Your income also increases as you gain experience.
• Limitless opportunities: As a sales manager, you can work in various industries. That means you don't have to sell a product you don't like. For instance, some sales managers work in the pharmaceutical industry promoting medical products while others work in motor vehicle sales or retail stores.
• Job security: In most companies, sales departments are the primary revenue generators. Hence, if your team hits the set targets, the upper management will ensure your department doesn't face budget cuts and retrenchment.
• Tangible accomplishments: A sales manager position produces tangible results. Your efforts are measurable and clearly defined by the sales reports and the revenue collected from the sales. Being able to quantify your accomplishments is fulfilling and rewarding.

what are the cons of sales manager jobs?

The disadvantages of sales manager jobs include:

• Pressure to meet targets: As a sales manager, you ensure the sales teams meet their goals and hit the revenue target. When the representatives fail to achieve the objectives, you will have to make up for the reduction in revenue which can be somewhat stressful.
• Juggling multiple tasks: Sales managers are responsible for identifying the best candidates for field sales and creating strategies for improving the sale of various products. The increased responsibilities can pile up pressure on sales managers. Fortunately, many companies provide ways to efficiently complete tasks like introducing sales management systems and customer relationship management software.
• Working long hours: While sales managers don't do fieldwork, you still have to work long hours to help the field agents achieve their targets. You also have to hold meetings in the evenings when sales representatives are back from the field or interview and train recruits. The duties are time-consuming, and without proper planning, you will not have time for your loved ones.

what are common sales manager interview questions?

Here are the questions to expect from the hiring manager when preparing for a sales manager interview:

• What does the daily routine of a sales manager look like? The hiring manager seeks to determine your familiarity with the roles of a sales manager. Your response should provide a list of duties briefly and concisely.
• Why did you apply for the sales manager position? The interviewer wants to understand your ambition and motivation for becoming a sales manager. Your response should provide a convincing answer on what drives you to become a better sales manager.
• What mistake have you made in your role? The hiring manager seeks to know how you handle mistakes. Your response should describe the mistakes and lessons learnt from them.

sales manager resume and cover letter requirements

A sales manager's resume should contain the following information:

• Personal contact details like home address, email and phone number
• Work experiences relevant to the sales job
• Skills and competencies
• Record of accomplishments and accolades
• Relevant educational qualifications
• Hobbies and personal interest

Aside from revamping your sales manager CV, you should also improve your cover letter to capture the attention of the recruiting team. For instance, your cover letter should use strong action verbs and keywords relevant to the sales role. If you have hard figures to highlight your achievements, it can improve your prospects.

what is the job outlook for sales managers?

The sales manager position is usually the first step into a managerial role in the sales and marketing department. When you are a sales manager, you can specialize in field sales or administrative roles or focus on one product line and a specific geographic location. After gaining a few years of experience, it is possible to scale your career to top-level management like sales director, vice president of sales or move into a marketing position.

what are the different types of sales manager jobs?

Some of the types of sales managers include:

• Administrative sales manager: As an administrative sales manager, you integrate and coordinate company sales activities. You are responsible for sales planning, including recruiting new personnel, organizing the distribution network and merchandising. You also create policies for distribution, determine the sales process and strategize on prices.
• Field sales manager: A field sales manager is responsible for implementing the sales plans and policies. Your job is to manage field representatives, from recruiting to training and mentoring them. You also set sales targets with the field teams and provide resources for actualizing the goals. That means you track the teams' tasks and monitor expenses to ensure they are within the allocated budget. It is also your job to scrutinize market trends and adapt the sales procedures to them.
• Product-line sales manager: If a company deals with various products, they usually have product-line sales managers for each product. As a product-line sales manager, you are responsible for increasing sales for one or a group of products. Unlike other sales managers, who only focus on sales, your job also involves research and development to improve the products. You work with production managers to rebrand products and enhance the features according to market trends. You can also propose substitute products or complimentary designs to improve revenue in the product line.
• Regional sales manager: Your job is to manage long-term sales goals for your employer within a specific geographical region. That means you will oversee the planning and setting of sales goals based on the selling patterns in your area. You are also responsible for the recruitment and training of sales managers.
• Branch sales manager: A branch sales manager oversees daily sales activities within a company's branch. Your job is to initiate sales goals and encourage the team to achieve the targets. You also find strategies to increase the company's revenue.

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what is the average salary for a sales manager?

The average salary of a sales manager in Canada is $65,000 per year, which translates to $33.33 per hour. Your starting salary will be $45,000 per year at an entry-level position. However, when you have honed sales skills or improved your educational qualifications, you can earn up to $100,000 per year. Aside from salary, sales managers receive overtime pay for working extra hours. While you may not earn commissions, you receive bonuses for hitting revenue targets. If you want to boost your earnings, gain additional academic qualifications or experience. You should also move to an urban location where the demand for sales managers is high, and companies pay more due to the high cost of living.

average sales manager salaries in canada

• annual: $65,000
• monthly: $5,417
• weekly: $1,250
• hourly: $33.33

Top paying areas for sales managers in Canada include Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

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what are the duties and responsibilities of sales managers?

While specific tasks vary depending on your employer, some duties include:

• Setting sales goals: As a sales manager, it is vital to set goals for your sales team. That means you need to analyze real-time and historical data to develop realistic targets for field sales teams. You can also liaise with the agents to ensure the goals are achievable.
• Developing sales plans: Once you set the goals, you need to map out ways to achieve the targets. You can assist the teams in developing sales strategies that increase revenue. Help the sales representatives map out the customer buying process and determine sales channels for closing deals. Assigning quotas to each representative also makes it easy to monitor the performance of each employee in a team.
• Hiring the sales team: Your core responsibility is to recruit sales agents and field teams. You need to headhunt potential candidates and organize interviews with prospective teams to build your sales team. While you can get help from the human resource team, it is crucial to hand-pick a team with the skills that match your sales strategies.
• Training and mentoring your sales representatives: Your job is to ensure your team has all the resources and skills they need to close deals. Therefore, it is vital to train them on the sales processes and strategies. You also train them on the company's services and products and their benefits to customers. Since sales trends change regularly, you need to keep up with the changes and organize workshops. When you identify the weakness of the teams, you can offer mentorship to help them improve.
• Motivating the sales team: Your sales workforce needs to be excited about their work to achieve targets. Encouraging your team cultivates energetic work personalities and increases revenue. You can provide work perks and financial incentives to boost morale. For instance, some sales managers host social events or provide free after-work beers to motivate workers. Alternatively, discuss with the management about increasing commissions.

where do sales managers typically work?

As a sales manager, you can work in the following industries:

• Retail stores like supermarkets and chain stores to improve sales and ensure customers get all the products they want.
• Car dealerships where you work with other sales representatives to help customers find their dream cars.
• Finance and insurance companies to manage the sale of financial products and insurance policies.
• Wholesale trades where your job is to boost sales to major supplies or distribution channels.
• Manufacturing services where you help companies introduce new products to the market and increase sales.

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what skills and competencies do sales managers need?

You should perfect the following skills to become a successful sales manager:

• Leadership skills: As a sales manager, you lead the sales teams and field representatives. You need to motivate and inspire your employees to boost productivity instead of giving orders and micromanaging. Leadership skills help you make the team feel appreciated and nurtured. You should be a good listener to address your workers' challenges and improve productivity.
• Communication skills: A sales manager collaborates with various people, including marketers, customer service representatives, and field sales agents. Hence, your prowess in conveying messages cannot be understated. It is important to relay your messages compassionately and find the appropriate tone for every situation. For instance, you need to be reassuring when handling complaints and assertive when instructing employees.
• Problem-solving skills: Problems often emerge in sales processes and cycles; a deal may stall, or a customer could be disappointed. Your role is to put out the fires and resolve any issues. When you have problem-solving skills, you can anticipate problems and react calmly. Find creative ways to solve issues arising and seek help from other professionals if you need it. Problem-solving skills also help you develop a process for handling high-pressure situations.
• Customer service skills: As a sales manager, it is crucial to understand a customer's needs and resolve any problems. Customer service skills enable you to be empathetic and build better relationships with your customers. When you understand your customers' perspective, you can serve them better and improve the company's products to suit their needs.
• Organizational skills: Sales managers undertake multiple responsibilities, from attending meetings to liaising with field agents or hiring new employees. Therefore, you should organize your schedule to complete all the daily activities. Organizational skills help you plan your work and avoid a last-minute rush to complete some duties.

what training and certifications do sales managers need?

Most sales managers join the career as sales representatives or sales agents. However, you need academic qualifications to back your skills and experience. For instance, a sales manager in Canada needs at least a high school diploma. Most employers prefer sales managers with a bachelor's degree in marketing, economics, business management or finance. When pursuing the degree, it is crucial to take up part-time jobs and internships to improve your hands-on experience in sales. Gaining relevant experience improves your chances of securing a sales manager position.

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