Account sales managers aim to keep employees motivated and customers happy.
An account sales manager oversees what is widely regarded as a company's most important department. After all, sales managers hire, train and organize a team that is responsible for generating income. They work for every company that aims to make a profit, and in order to hold onto their jobs, they must make sure it does.
Basics
Account sales managers assign territories to members of their team, oftentimes based on each member's experience and success. They help set up accounts and handle many of the larger ones themselves. Not only must they find new accounts, they must work on maintaining old ones. That means following up and making sure customers and clients are pleased with the product or service, and perhaps offering specials for making another purchase or renewing. Sales managers also handle a wide array of other duties--from demonstrating and explaining how products work to conducting employee performance reviews.
Skills
Account sales managers are almost always highly energetic with excellent leadership skills. That's because they need to keep their team motivated and working at a high level. They also want to come across as passionate about the products they sell, both to potential customers and their employees. Almost all need to be proficient in math and in computers. On top of those things, sales managers must be extremely organized, resilient, professional, courteous, analytical and capable of overcoming obstacles. They likely also need to be flexible enough to work well with other managers, such as those in the marketing and advertising departments.
Background
There really is no one way to become an account sales manager. As in most fields, most companies prefer candidates who possess a bachelor's degree, especially when promoting someone from sales into a supervisory position. But perhaps as important as an education in the sales field is the ability to move products and keep cash flowing. Those who are required to obtain a college degree should focus on courses in business, marketing, advertising, communications, English and economics.
Prospects
Every company not only needs people to make sales, but managers to motivate and make sure those people are prepared for the job. In other words, opportunities for account sales managers are pretty much endless. As for the immediate future, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that sales managers are expected to see their numbers grow by 15 percent from 2008 through 2018.
Earnings
Account sales managers hold important positions and are often rewarded because of it. In fact, they are among the highest earners in the country. Of course, they are often responsible for their own salary, since many work on commission and receive commissions and bonuses based on what they sell. According to the BLS, sales managers earned a median salary of $97,260 in 2008.
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