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What is an outside sales/account manager and how to become one
A lot of people go into sales thinking that it is an easy and lucrative career. While working in sales does present lucrative incentives and benefits, it definitely is not an easy job. You need to meet targets, depending on your assignment. Some people are assigned to work in stores or to manage key accounts. Others may be assigned to go out in the field and manage clients outside of the store or office setting. They are outside sales account people, supervised by the outside sales account manager.
Outside sales account managers are often tenured employees in the company. Most of the time, they rose from the ranks based on their skills and product knowledge. They create strategies to meet targets. They handle employees assigned to their team. They ensure that these employees are working to their full potential. It is a daunting role, given the wide scope and various responsibilities. However, it is fulfilling to have tangible contributions to the achievement of the company's goals.
If you have a talent for sales and you don't mind working in the field, build a career as an outside sales specialist! You may also get opportunities to handle key accounts. Do well, and you are guaranteed to rise to the top.
What general advice would you give to an outside sales/account manager?
Bill Thorne
Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation
Avg. Salary $55,425
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 28.17%
male 71.83%
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
Outside sales/account manager career paths
Key steps to become an outside sales/account manager
Explore outside sales/account manager education requirements
Start to develop specific outside sales/account manager skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 16.34% CRM 12.09% Trade Shows 8.88% Product Knowledge 5.70% Sales Volume 5.48% Complete relevant outside sales/account manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New outside sales/account managers 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 outside sales/account manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real outside sales/account manager resumes.Research outside sales/account manager duties and responsibilities
- Manage and coordinate daily sales activities through target cold calling and telemarketing.
- Utilize CRM and analyze sales data to effectively grow stores customer base.
- Log sales in CRM system and maintain contact with client until production are complete.
- Assist in initiating personnel requisitions; monitor overtime and attendance records; assist in preparing and monitoring employees' payroll.
Prepare your outside sales/account manager resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your outside sales/account manager 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 outside sales/account manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable outside sales/account manager resume templates
Build a professional outside sales/account manager 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 outside sales/account manager resume.
Apply for outside sales/account manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an outside sales/account manager 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
How did you land your first outside sales/account manager job
Are you an outside sales/account manager?
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Average outside sales/account manager salary
The average outside sales/account manager salary in the United States is $55,425 per year or $27 per hour. Outside sales/account manager salaries range between $40,000 and $75,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do outside sales/account managers rate their job?
Outside sales/account manager reviews
Dealing with other professional engineers and managers that show higher levels of integrity when discussing requirements or a problem to solve.
The constant program delays and slow manufactures in support of opportunities that could be won with quicker responses.
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.
Updated January 8, 2025
