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One of the most attractive benefits of a career in sales management is the diversity of the position, including the paths to take in becoming a sales manager. Depending on the industry and individual organization, a variety of education, experience, and skill requirements will need to be met to enter into this field.
Education
Often, a degree is not a specific requirement to enter into a sales position. However, most organizations will require for managers to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. This is also true for sales management positions. A future professional in sales management might consider completing an undergraduate degree in a discipline such as sales and marketing, advertising, or general business. Each of these major areas of study will provide a solid foundation for continuing to build skills and expertise in the art of selling.
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Increasingly, a master’s degree is the required or preferred qualification to have in order to be in a management position. A graduate degree in management can be a particular benefit in this role because it prepares graduates to handle a number of different types of situations that will be faced as a manager. Courses completed, for instance, include employee evaluation, human resources management, information technology for managers, and management styles and techniques. Managers must be able to perform all types of tasks dealing with personnel, budgeting, and general operations.
Experience
Having the right experience is another consideration to be sure to keep in mind when building the skills and qualifications to begin a job search for a career in sales management. In addition to having extensive experience in sales, overall experience in a specific industry can also be required, or sometimes preferred. The more knowledge a prospective manager has of overall operations, the more likely he or she is to be able to make the decisions and drive the strategies for the organization to be successful.
Working in a supervisory role is another type of experience that can be helpful for meeting requirements for a sales management position. Examples of supervisory positions other than direct management include corporate trainer, foreman, and lead agent or employee. It is often experience and proven abilities in managing people, clients, and accounts that is most heavily weighted in consideration for sales manager positions.
Skills and Certifications
Sales professionals must be able to build relationships with people, and this is closely connected with a sales manager’s ability to connect to a team, leading effectively. Charisma, teamwork, organization, critical thinking, creative thinking, multi-tasking, and being detail oriented are also skills and qualities that are helpful in being successful as a manager of a sales division. Additionally, completion of professional certifications can help to differentiate candidates. Examples of professional designations that can be beneficial for sales managers can be found at the Sales and Marketing Executives International website at https://www.smei.org/?courses.
For individuals who enjoy working with people, are charismatic, and like to invest in their own abilities, pursuing a career in sales can provide professional satisfaction. Understanding future opportunities on the path to becoming a sales manager is the first step in making decisions on what education, job roles, and certifications to complete to begin qualifying for career positions.
