What does an account executive/outside sales do?
An account executive/outside sales representative is in charge of overseeing and handling sales processes, ensuring to secure sales and customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to find sales opportunities, identifying market and consumer needs, and analyzing the current trends. Moreover, it is essential to reach out to customers through calls, correspondence, and face to face communication to offer products and services, even arrange appointments to discuss more details. They may also process payments and resolve any issues, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Account executive/outside sales responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real account executive/outside sales resumes:
- Hire and manage production, creative and copywriting team members who execute the development of say marketing platform.
- Log CRM sales calls daily to keep accurate account of progression.
- Develop and execute pipeline sales funnel utilizing CRM tool while consistently exceeding organizational revenue expectations.
- Prepare and present professional corporate business proposals and executive presentations to purchasing manager, directors and c-level suite.
- Prepare, deliver and sell custom multi-media integrate cross promotion presentations to key decision makers at brand management and advertising agencies.
- Present Groupon as a unique way for businesses to acquire new customers.
- Present Groupon as a unique way to attract new customers and design specific features base around their needs.
Account executive/outside sales skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Account Executive/Outside Sales are proficient in Salesforce, Customer Service, and Digital Marketing. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Interpersonal skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Account Executive/Outside Sales that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Salesforce, 10%
Document sales calls information timely and accurately in Salesforce.
- Customer Service, 7%
Implemented total Responsibility for New Business Development and Cultivated New Business by Establishing Great Customer Service with Canon's Clients.
- Digital Marketing, 7%
Contributed to a small product and executive team in developing strategic direction concerning product development, digital marketing and sales operations.
- Customer Satisfaction, 7%
Maintained cooperative working relationships with all necessary departments to ensure sales were generated and processed efficiently to achieve customer satisfaction.
- Facebook, 5%
Develop and cultivate partnerships for Deal Promotions, Events and Facebook solutions using a variety of offline and online sources.
- Business Sales, 5%
Received national recognition award (Presidents Club) for best in class business sales division two years in a row.
Most account executive/outside sales use their skills in "salesforce," "customer service," and "digital marketing" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential account executive/outside sales responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an account executive/outside sales to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale." Account executive/outside sales often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "gathered/analyzed customer needs/budgets requirements to deliver sales presentations focused on unique key buying factors and close sales. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling account executive/outside sales duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to work well with many types of people." According to an account executive/outside sales resume, here's how account executive/outside sales can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "utilize interpersonal skills with active accounts - cold call leads for potential customers - continually show growth within geographical territory. "
Physical stamina. account executive/outside sales are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to account executive/outside sales responsibilities, because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are often on their feet for a long time and may carry heavy sample products." An account executive/outside sales resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "marketed and sold mobility and rehabilitation equipment to physical therapists specializing in the treatment of pediatric patients. "
Self-confidence. account executive/outside sales responsibilities often require "self-confidence." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." This resume example shows what account executive/outside sales do with self-confidence on a typical day: "resulted in better solution selling and customer confidence in product knowledge. "
The three companies that hire the most account executive/outside saless are:
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Compare different account executive/outside sales
Account executive/outside sales vs. Sales development representative
A sales development representative qualifies leads at the sales funnel's initial stages. Sales development representatives need to conduct research for prospective clients and qualify the leads before handing them to the sales team. They develop sales strategies to attract buyers or solicit potential customers. They need to build relationships with their customers to determine their needs and qualify the viability of interests to drive sales. Also, they collaborate with the sales executives making certain that corporate targets and goals are met.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, account executive/outside sales responsibilities require skills like "salesforce," "facebook," "business sales," and "sales territory." Meanwhile a typical sales development representative has skills in areas such as "sdr," "linkedin," "outbound calls," and "saas." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Sales development representatives tend to make the most money working in the start-up industry, where they earn an average salary of $54,512. In contrast, account executive/outside sales make the biggest average salary, $76,535, in the technology industry.On average, sales development representatives reach similar levels of education than account executive/outside sales. Sales development representatives are 1.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Account executive/outside sales vs. Sales specialist
A sales specialist is responsible for offering the best goods and services to customers in order to boost the company's sales. Sales specialists also promote strategies and solutions to contribute to the company's growth and profitability. A sales specialist must have extensive knowledge of the current market trends and the best sales skills to perform marketing tasks. Sales specialists should have excellent communication and customer service skills to assist existing and potential clients with their inquiries and concerns.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that account executive/outside sales responsibilities requires skills like "salesforce," "digital marketing," "facebook," and "business sales." But a sales specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "building relationships," "customer complaints," "customer orders," and "patients."
Sales specialists earn similar levels of education than account executive/outside sales in general. They're 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account executive/outside sales vs. Sales agent
A sales representative is responsible for offering goods and services to potential and existing clients. Sales representatives must display a strong knowledge of the company's products to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. A sales representative should have exceptional communication skills and extensive knowledge of the sales industry to deliver sales pitches and negotiate pricing offers with the clients. Sales representatives must also keep themselves updated with the current market trends to provide service recommendations, improving their sales to increase revenues.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an account executive/outside sales is likely to be skilled in "salesforce," "digital marketing," "facebook," and "business sales," while a typical sales agent is skilled in "life insurance," "insurance products," "work ethic," and "develop leads."
Most sales agents achieve a similar degree level compared to account executive/outside sales. For example, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account executive/outside sales vs. District sales representative
District sales representatives are professionals who are responsible for selling the products and services of a company through product education, training, and product presentations. These representatives must work with team members to identify opportunities within their sales territory so that they can increase revenue. They should assist the district manager in presenting sales reports while aiding their customers with inventory management responsibilities. District sales representatives must also attend all business-related trade shows to represent their company.
Types of account executive/outside sales
Updated January 8, 2025
