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What is an area sales director and how to become one
As the Area Sales Director, you will need to hit or exceed annual sales targets within your assigned territory. You will develop and execute strategic plans to achieve sales targets and expand your customer base. You will need to build and maintain sales and long-lasting customer relationships to keep your sales on track.
As the Area Sales Director, you will own and hit annual sales targets, develop a strategic plan to achieve sales targets, and build and maintain sales staff relationships. You will also need to understand category-specific landscapes and trends and communicate the value proposition through proposals and presentations. You will also report on sales, budget, and customer tactics. It will help if you have proven sales executive experience or sales management experience and can communicate and present to all company levels. It will also be best if you have the skills to articulate the distinct aspect of all products and services offered by your company. Excellent listening, negotiation, and presentation skills will make you a great Area Sales Director. You also need a BA/BS degree or equivalent experience. You can make an annual median salary of $70,000 plus bonuses.
What general advice would you give to an area sales director?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing, Texas Christian University
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.
Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.
Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.
Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.
Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.
Avg. Salary $90,206
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%
Asian 4.07%
Black or African American 3.24%
Hispanic or Latino 9.82%
Unknown 4.41%
White 78.23%
Genderfemale 32.83%
male 67.17%
Age - 46American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 46Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Area sales director career paths
Key steps to become an area sales director
Explore area sales director education requirements
Start to develop specific area sales director skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 10.27% CRM 8.10% Sales Management 6.14% Sales Process 5.80% Revenue Growth 4.36% Complete relevant area sales director training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New area sales directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an area sales director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real area sales director resumes.Research area sales director duties and responsibilities
- Identify key decision makers, demonstrate ROI for proprietary product, drive design wins and achieve preferred print position.
- Achieve continuous profitability improvements through cost reduction programs successful OEM contract negotiations and outsourcing installation program.
- Launch and monitor new CRM system to maximize sales effectiveness.
- Train sales teams in customer relationship management (CRM) software and sales skills.
Get area sales director experience
Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become an area sales director. The most common roles before becoming an area sales director include director of sales, sales manager team lead and regional sales manager.Prepare your area sales director resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your area sales director resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an area sales director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable area sales director resume templates
Build a professional area sales director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your area sales director resume.
Apply for area sales director jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an area sales director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average area sales director salary
The average area sales director salary in the United States is $90,206 per year or $43 per hour. Area sales director salaries range between $57,000 and $141,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do area sales directors rate their job?
Area sales director reviews
Motivating people and helping to create success in each person's day. Honor God serve people in rich people's lives, pursue excellence in service.
Not enough time in each day to get everything accomplished.
Semi-flexible work hours. You have a sales goal and customers to call on in order to achieve said goal, so you have some flexibility of your schedule.
The amount of travel required takes you away from home frequently. If you have a family, being away starts taking a toll on them and work/life balance suffers.
Coming in contact with people, motivating staff, making the numbers, profitability for everyone
I like everything
Updated January 8, 2025
