Become A National Sales Manager

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Working As A National Sales Manager

Selling or Influencing Others
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Getting Information
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization

Mostly Sitting
Stressful
$146,040
Average Salary

What Does A National Sales Manager Do

Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.

Duties

Sales managers typically do the following:

Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service
Prepare budgets and approve expenditures
Monitor customer preferences to determine the focus of sales efforts
Analyze sales statistics
Project sales and determine the profitability of products and services
Determine discount rates or special pricing plans
Develop plans to acquire new customers or clients through direct sales techniques, cold calling, and business-to-business marketing visits
Assign sales territories and set sales quotas
Plan and coordinate training programs for sales staff

Sales managers’ responsibilities vary with the size of their organizations. However, most sales managers direct the distribution of goods and services by assigning sales territories, setting sales goals, and establishing training programs for the organization’s sales representatives.

Some sales managers recruit, hire, and train new members of the sales staff. For more information about sales workers, see the profiles on retail sales workers and wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives.

Sales managers advise sales representatives on ways to improve their sales performance. In large multiproduct organizations, they oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.

Sales managers also stay in contact with dealers and distributors. They analyze sales statistics generated from their staff to determine the sales potential and inventory requirements of products and stores and to monitor customers' preferences.

Sales managers work closely with managers from other departments in the organization. For example, the marketing department identifies new customers that the sales department can target. The relationship between these two departments is critical to helping an organization expand its client base. Sales managers also work closely with research and design departments because they know customers’ preferences, and with warehousing departments because they know inventory needs.

The following are examples of types of sales managers:

Business to business (B2B) sales managers oversee sales from one business to another. These managers may work for a manufacturer selling to a wholesaler, or a wholesaler selling to a retailer. Examples of these workers include sales managers overseeing sales of software to business firms, and sales managers overseeing wholesale food sales to grocery stores.

Business to consumer (B2C) sales managers oversee direct sales between businesses and individual consumers. These managers typically work in retail settings. Examples of these workers include sales managers of automobile dealerships and department stores.

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How To Become A National Sales Manager

Most sales managers have a bachelor’s degree and work experience as a sales representative.

Education

Most sales managers have a bachelor’s degree, although some have a master’s degree. Educational requirements are less strict for job candidates who have significant work experience. Courses in business law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, marketing, and statistics are advantageous.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Work experience is typically required for someone to become a sales manager. The preferred duration varies, but employers usually seek candidates who have at least 1 to 5 years of experience in sales.

Sales managers typically enter the occupation from other sales and related occupations, such as sales representatives or purchasing agents. In small organizations, the number of sales manager positions often is limited, so advancement for sales workers usually comes slowly. In large organizations, promotion may occur more quickly.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Sales managers must collect and interpret complex data to target the most promising geographic areas and demographic groups, and determine the most effective sales strategies.

Communication skills. Sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly.

Customer-service skills. When helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs.

Leadership skills. Sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals.

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National Sales Manager jobs

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National Sales Manager Career Paths

National Sales Manager

Director Of Sales And Marketing General Manager

Director Of Sales

10 Yearsyrs

Director Of Sales Business Developer

Director Of Sales & Business Development

13 Yearsyrs

Director Of Sales

Director Of Sales And Marketing

9 Yearsyrs

Senior Sales Manager Director Of Sales

Director Of Sales, Americas

13 Yearsyrs

Business Developer Product Management Director

Director, Product Marketing

11 Yearsyrs

Marketing Director Sales Consultant

District Sales Manager

7 Yearsyrs

General Sales Manager Account Manager

Key Account Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Sales Account Manager District Sales Manager

Major Account Manager

7 Yearsyrs

General Sales Manager Regional Sales Manager

National Account Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Marketing Director General Manager

Regional General Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Sales Account Manager Marketing Manager

Regional Marketing Manager

7 Yearsyrs

General Manager Account Manager

Regional Sales Manager

9 Yearsyrs

General Manager Account Executive

Sales Manager

5 Yearsyrs

Business Development Manager Senior Product Manager

Senior Product Marketing Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Business Developer Business Development Manager

Senior Sales Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Business Development Manager Director Of Sales

Senior Vice President, Sales

14 Yearsyrs

Managing Partner Associate Manager

Store Director

7 Yearsyrs

Business Manager Regional Sales Manager

Strategic Accounts Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Senior Account Manager Account Executive

Territory Sales Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Director Of Sales And Marketing Director Of Sales And Operations

Vice President Of Sales & Operations

12 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Vice President & Sales Manager 5.8 years
Sales Vice President 5.1 years
Divisional Sales Manager 4.7 years
Industry Sales Manager 4.7 years
Major Accounts Sales Manager 4.6 years
National Accounts Sales Manager 4.4 years
Executive Sales Manager 4.3 years
Senior Sales And Marketing Manager 4.3 years
Division Sales Manager 4.3 years
Branch Sales Manager 4.2 years
International Sales Manager 4.1 years
Regional Sales And Marketing Manager 4.0 years
National Sales Manager 4.0 years
Business Development Sales Manager 3.9 years
National Account Manager 3.9 years
Senior Sales Manager 3.8 years
Distribution Sales Manager 3.8 years
Eastern Regional Sales Manager 3.8 years
Northeast Regional Sales Manager 3.7 years
Sales Manager 3.6 years
Sales/Marketing 3.6 years
National Sales Director 3.5 years
Sales And Marketing Manager 3.5 years
Southeast Regional Sales Manager 3.4 years
West Coast Sales Manager 3.2 years
Market Sales Manager 3.2 years
Regional Sales Specialist 2.8 years

Top Careers Before National Sales Manager

Top Careers After National Sales Manager

Director Of Sales 12.0%
Vice President 11.0%
Sales Manager 10.4%
Regional Sales Manager 9.0%
Sales/Marketing 5.8%
Account Executive 5.7%
Business Developer 4.5%
General Manager 4.4%
Business Development Manager 4.3%
Director Of Sales And Marketing 4.2%
Sales Representative 3.9%
President 3.6%
National Account Manager 3.5%
Owner 3.0%
Account Manager 2.9%
District Sales Manager 2.6%
Vice President, Business Development 2.6%
Consultant 2.5%
Regional Manager 2.1%
Sales Consultant 2.1%

National Sales Manager Demographics

Gender

Male
78.6%
Female
19.9%
Unknown
1.5%

Ethnicity

White
84.6%
Hispanic or Latino
7.8%
Asian
5.6%
Unknown
1.5%
Black or African American
0.5%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
43.4%
French
13.2%
German
7.0%
Italian
6.1%
Portuguese
5.3%
Carrier
4.8%
Chinese
4.4%
Mandarin
3.9%
Japanese
3.1%
Dutch
1.8%
Thai
1.3%
Greek
1.3%
Hindi
0.9%
Arabic
0.9%
Swedish
0.4%
Turkish
0.4%
Hakka
0.4%
Korean
0.4%
Hungarian
0.4%
Bosnian
0.4%

National Sales Manager

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

National Sales Manager Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
13.9%
Michigan State University
7.9%
Arizona State University
6.5%
Northern Illinois University
4.8%
Syracuse University
4.7%
Temple University
4.7%
University of Iowa
4.6%
Ohio State University
4.6%
Pennsylvania State University
4.6%
Northeastern University
4.5%
University of Georgia
4.1%
Western Illinois University
4.1%
Florida State University
4.0%
Western Michigan University
4.0%
University of South Florida
4.0%
San Diego State University
3.9%
Villanova University
3.8%
Kent State University
3.8%
University of Missouri - Columbia
3.8%
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
3.8%

Majors

Business 39.5%
Marketing 14.1%
Management 6.8%
Communication 5.4%
Finance 4.0%
Political Science 3.0%
Psychology 2.8%
Economics 2.8%
General Sales 2.6%
Education 2.5%
Specialized Sales And Merchandising 2.2%
Electrical Engineering 2.0%
Accounting 2.0%
History 1.9%
English 1.6%
Public Relations 1.5%
Journalism 1.4%
Hospitality Management 1.4%
Computer Science 1.3%
Liberal Arts 1.2%

Degrees

Bachelors
54.8%
Other
21.3%
Masters
15.7%
Associate
4.5%
Certificate
2.1%
Doctorate
1.0%
Diploma
0.3%
License
0.3%

National Sales Manager

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Real National Sales Manager Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
National Marketing and Sales Manager	Giorgetti USA, Inc.	New York, NY	Mar 25, 2016	$180,211
Executive National Sales Manager	Engineered Air	De Soto, KS	Dec 01, 2011	$170,000 - $240,000
National Sales Manager	Truck Accessories Group, LLC	Elkhart, IN	Jan 07, 2016	$135,845
National Sales Manager	General Espresso Equipment Corporation	Greensboro, NC	Jun 15, 2015	$135,000
National Sales Manager	Architectural Graphics Incorporated	Virginia Beach, VA	Jul 29, 2015	$135,000
National Sales Manager	Truck Accessories Group LLC	Elkhart, IN	Jan 07, 2013	$134,000
National Sales Manager	Bauer Gear Motor LLC	Somerset, NJ	Oct 01, 2014	$133,165
National Sales Manager	Turret Steel Industries Inc.	Imperial, PA	Sep 28, 2011	$133,000
National Sales Manager	Negociants USA Inc.	Napa, CA	Dec 09, 2016	$130,000
National Sales Manager	Impressions Marketing Group, Inc.	Lorton, VA	Sep 24, 2011	$130,000
National Sales Manager	Negociants USA, Inc.	Napa, CA	Mar 24, 2016	$128,379
National Sales Manager	General Espresso Equipment Corporation	Greensboro, NC	Sep 02, 2014	$125,000
National SOL Sales Manager Productivity	Microsoft Corporation	Bellevue, WA	Nov 21, 2013	$122,500
National Sales Manager-Canada Market	Rec Boat Holdings LLC	Cadillac, MI	Jun 10, 2015	$122,429
Fleet and Auto Aftermarket National Sales Manager	Thule, Inc.	Seymour, CT	Oct 01, 2010	$119,300 - $136,000
National Product Sales Manager	Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.	Tustin, CA	Feb 19, 2012	$110,000
National Sales Manager	Clarus Medical LLC	Minneapolis, MN	Oct 01, 2009	$104,500
National Sales Manager	Cllarus Medical LLC	Minneapolis, MN	Aug 30, 2009	$104,500
National Sales Manager, Construction & SP Events P	L/B. White Company, Inc.	Land O Lakes, FL	Oct 01, 2013	$103,000 - $105,000
National Sales Manager	Palacios & Sons, LLC	Dallas, TX	Dec 01, 2011	$102,456
National Sales Manager	Steward Group, LLC	Greensboro, NC	Feb 04, 2016	$100,048
National Sales Manager	Rec Boat Holdings, LLC	Cadillac, MI	Jan 19, 2014	$99,694 - $100,843
National Sales Manager, Asia Pacific	Continental Airlines, Inc.	Berkeley Heights, NJ	Oct 01, 2011	$97,265
National Sales Manager	Steward Group, LLC	Greensboro, NC	Apr 01, 2013	$96,000
National Sales Manager	ACTI Corporation Inc.	Irvine, CA	Jul 07, 2010	$95,722
National Sales Manager	Gemini Industries, Inc.	El Reno, OK	Oct 01, 2011	$95,000
National Sales Manager, Asia Pacific	Continental Airlines, Inc.	Berkeley Heights, NJ	Oct 01, 2011	$88,788
National Sales Manager	Five Spoke Creamery LLC	Goshen, NY	Aug 02, 2016	$85,567
National Sales Manager-Latin America	Hendrickson USA, LLC	Woodridge, IL	Oct 01, 2011	$82,514 - $100,000

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Top Skills for A National Sales Manager

Top National Sales Manager Skills

New Product Development
Sales Growth
Independent Sales Representatives

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Analyze industry trends and provide ongoing input to company senior executives regarding business enhancements and new product development.
Produced marketing and sales growth plan to achieve targeted revenue growth of $2M in first year of sales.
Managed 35 independent sales representatives and set sales goals and customer targets.
Surpassed sales goals eight consecutive years by continually expanding customer base and introducing new distribution channels.
Developed strategies for marketing at national trade shows