How to Become a Sales Manager

The growing field of sales has opened up management opportunities in large and small cities across the nation. Meeting customers, working with vendors, promoting and even testing some products are just a few of the responsibilities of a sales manager.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree
• Certified sales executive exam certificate

Use Education to Become a Sales Manager

1. Obtain a degree in marketing, business administration, communications, advertising or public relations. Other degrees are acceptable as well, including English, accounting, liberal arts, psychology and sociology.

2. Choose a specialty on which to focus and tailor your education toward that field. For example, if your interest is in health care, you may wish to take nursing courses to familiarize yourself with tools and terms of the trade. This experience could help your career as a sales manager in pharmaceuticals.

3. Engage in public-speaking activities during high school and college to ward off presentation shyness. Many aspects of a sales manager's job involve selling colleagues on ideas and presenting information on sales and productivity within a company. Sales managers will invariably spend some time selling products to potential customers and can benefit from public-speaking experience.

4. Study and take the exam to become a certified sales executive through the program offered on the Sales and Marketing Executives International website (see Resources below). This certificate is not required to become a sales manager, but it may increase your chances of landing a job.

Find Work as a Sales Manager

5. Find employment in a larger company for more advancement opportunities. Many sales managers start as retail sales associates and work up to management.

6. Participate in continuing-education programs while working to become a sales manager. Once you are a sales manager, continue education in management, sales techniques, promotional programs and any other training made available to you by your employer. Companies more readily increase responsibility for people who are interested in learning new things.

Tips & Warnings

• Master a foreign language if you plan on working in a global market, such as technology. Having a second language may provide opportunities to work for more companies and travel throughout the world.

Resources

• The Sales and Marketing Executives International website for certification and training details

Who Can Help Sponsored

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• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

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