What Do Sales Managers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Sales Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers. They also direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.

Other tasks include:

• Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
• Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
• Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
• Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
• Determine price schedules and discount rates.
• Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.

We asked Sales Managers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

75% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Sales Managers direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions. They oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.

A typical day for a Sales Manager will also include:

• Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
• Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
• Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
• Assess marketing potential of new and existing store locations, considering statistics and expenditures.
• Determine price schedules and discount rates.

We asked some Sales Managers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	33% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	38% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	33% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Sales Managers also review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability. They may also confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Sales Managers Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service. They might also Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.

In addition, they Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.

To some Sales Managers, it is also their responsibility to Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Sales Manager, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/management/sales-managers.htm

http://salesmanagement.org/