How to become a Sales Manager

Overview, Courses, Exam, Colleges, Pathways, Salary

Finance and Accounts Sales & Marketing
img
Growth
img19%
Salary
img40,000-65,000

Overview

Who is Sales Manager ?

A sales manager is in control of a company's sales department, which includes salespeople as well as sales-related rules, objectives, and activities. They play a significant role in the revenue generated by the company. From setting sales targets to analyzing the sales data, a sales manager takes up the primary responsibility of increasing the product/service sales. the company by expanding the customer base. They are responsible for identifying and implementing ways of increasing customer engagement and audience size. Sales managers are essential to nearly all businesses to maximize their profitability by winning clients and customers. In order to accomplish so, the sales manager employs and educates salespeople, as well as continuously reviewing and coaching their performance. The sales manager will design methods to successfully tap into the wants and motivations of the target clients by acquiring a deep grasp of their requirements and motivations.

Typical day at work

What does Sales Manager do?

Following are the typical duties of a sales manager:

  • Assess the evolving needs of the target demographic and emerging trends in the business. 
  • Establishing sales targets and objectives, develop sales quotas for specific regions/areas, provide sales forecasts.
  • Devise strategies and programs to expand the consumer base, increase the product/service reach, and achieve the set targets and ensure implementation of the same.
  • Recruit and undertake training programs for members of the sales team for generating fresh leads and closing deals.
  • Manage and motivate the sales team, assign individual targets and territories for each member.
  • Monitor and assess the performance data of the sales team, ensure the use of effective sales tactics, provide feedback for improvement.
  • Building and maintaining relationships with clients.
  • Provide sales support to add value to the sales process.
  • Prepare reports to present to top management and maintain data regarding sales activities, customer interactions, and business accounts.

Abilities and Aptitude needed

What are the skills, abilities & aptitude needed to become Sales Manager?

To be a successful sales manager, an individual must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills as it is at the core of all sales and negotiations which they shall be tasked with. An individual who is hardworking, with a competitive spirit coupled with the excellent market knowledge and a keen sense of business is best suited for this role. As the sales manager has to manage the sales staff of the organization, the skills needed to hire, train, and provide mentorship to a team is another requisite for this job. They should be able to lead a team by uniting them under a shared vision and inspiring productivity while also holding them accountable. This is where the delegation and collaboration skills of a sales manager become necessary. Strategic planning, decision-making, and time management abilities are some of the other crucial factors. A sales manager must have strong analytical abilities to create individual sales objectives and yearly quotas, as well as anticipate sales volume, using sophisticated data from product research, market research, and sales team performance data. Ambitious individuals who are results-oriented and innovative tend to thrive in this career.

Salary

Salary for Sales Manager?

  • Minimum Monthly Salary: Entry-level Sales Managers may earn a minimum monthly salary of around INR 40,000 to INR 60,000. These are typically individuals starting their careers in sales management and may be responsible for managing small teams or territories.
  • Maximum Monthly Salary: Experienced and highly successful Sales Managers with a proven track record of achieving sales targets and managing large teams may earn anywhere from INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,50,000 or more monthly. Those who work in high-demand industries or for large multinational companies may have higher earning potential.
  • Annual Salary: For entry-level or junior Sales Managers, the annual salary may range from INR 4,80,000 to INR 7,20,000. As Sales Managers gain more experience, demonstrate strong leadership skills, and consistently drive sales performance, their annual income can increase from approximately INR 12,00,000 to INR 30,00,000 or higher.
  • Highest Paying Jobs and Scope: The sales management field in India offers various opportunities for career growth and higher earning potential. Successful Sales Managers who consistently deliver strong sales results and contribute to the company's success may have the opportunity to move up the corporate ladder and take on more significant roles, such as Regional Sales Managers, National Sales Managers, or Vice Presidents of Sales.Some of the highest-paying jobs in sales management include roles like Chief Sales Officers (CSOs) or Sales Directors, where individuals oversee the entire sales department and develop sales strategies at a company-wide level. These positions command lucrative compensation packages due to their critical role in driving revenue and business growth.

Ready to become a Sales Manager ?

Take the world’s best assessment test !

Take a Test

Pathways

How to become an Sales Manager?

Entrance Exam

Entrance Exam for Sales Manager ?

The entrance exam is a gateway to seek admission to the college/institute of your choice. Mostly, all professional courses select students through percentile scored by them. So it is important to prepare for exams and be aware of various exams that are conducted to grant admission.

Diploma Level

Diploma level exams are conducted by every state separately. Polytechnics of each state conduct these courses and students become job ready after pursuing diploma from polytechnics.

Undergraduate Level

DU JAT

IPMAT 2018

NPAT 2018

Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)

AIMA UGAT 2018

GGSIPU CET BBA 2018

Postgraduate Level

CAT (Common Admission Test)

AIMA-MAT (Management Aptitude Test)

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

IIFT (Indian Institute Of Foreign Trade)

SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)

NMAT By GMAC

CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)

IBSAT (IBS Aptitude Test)

MICAT (MICA Admission Test)

MAH - MBA/MMS CET (Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test)

 

Doctoral Course

Research management aptitude test R-MAT

Symbiosis University PhD entrance examination

UGC NET

XIMB-RAT (Research Aptitude Test)

IIIT Delhi PhD Admission Test

Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University PhD entrance test

Aligarh Muslim University PhD Entrance exam

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Entrance Exam

Courses

Which course I can pursue?



Industries

Which Industries are open for Sales Manager?

  • Manufacturing
  • Scientific
  • Technical
  • Consumer goods company
  • Export firms
  • Government commercial enterprises
  • Market research
  • Wholesale
  • Retailing
  • Hospitals and health product manufacturers
  • Consultancies
  • IT firms
  • Consumer durables industry
  • Finance and Insurance
  • Education.

A Sales Management graduate will never find a dearth of jobs in the market. Be it any industry or profession, there is always a requirement of marketing personnel to enhance the visibility of products and services. Business expansion is possible only with considerable marketing efforts.

 

internship

Are there internships available for Sales Manager?

Cultivating Sales Manager experience by taking on an internship or shadowing a Sales Manager is a great way to learn about the field and gain experience while still in school. Make the most of your marketing internship by gaining as much experience as possible. You may have to make copies and answer phones, but volunteer for other projects and demonstrate your eagerness to learn. An internship may also be a good way to network and build essential connections in the field, which will help you in the future if you want to work in the marketing department of a firm.

Career outlook

What does the future look like for Sales Manager?

Sales managers are highly sought after by most businesses to enhance the visibility of their products or services and generate new sales which are crucial for the expansion of the business. They are expected to work for extended hours, in the evenings or on weekends, following an often unpredictable schedule as their work is highly dependent on the specific project/s they must be working on. Additionally, many sales managers have to travel to local or regional offices as a part of the job. Most sales managers start as retail sales workers or purchasing agents, although, it is only by acquiring extensive experience in the field that they progress to securing a position as sales managers. It is not uncommon for professionals from the marketing or advertising department to switch over to this career. Sales managers are most often employed in the wholesale and retail trade sectors, the service sector, the manufacturing industry, and insurance firms.