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Sales internship vs sales support specialist

The differences between sales interns and sales support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a sales internship and a sales support specialist. Additionally, a sales support specialist has an average salary of $50,782, which is higher than the $34,460 average annual salary of a sales internship.

The top three skills for a sales internship include customer service, sales intern and powerpoint. The most important skills for a sales support specialist are customer service, sales support, and powerpoint.

Sales internship vs sales support specialist overview

Sales InternshipSales Support Specialist
Yearly salary$34,460$50,782
Hourly rate$16.57$24.41
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs341,195238,995
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a sales internship do?

Sales internship is a program that requires work in the business and sales development. Sales interns work as assistants to managers and senior staff. Their duties and responsibilities are administrative. They do research, send emails, update records, and make calls. It is their job to maintain good client relationships. They observe the process and other details related to sales. Also, they help in identifying and tracking sales leads, evaluating success, and generating sales reports.

What does a sales support specialist do?

A sales support specialist is primarily responsible for performing clerical tasks to support a sales team. Typically, they gather sales leads and data, produce progress reports and presentations, maintain records of all transactions, and liaise with different accounting personnel. A sales support specialist may respond to calls and inquiries, resolving customers' complaints and concerns promptly and professionally. Furthermore, one may arrange meetings and appointments with clients, develop sales strategies for profit growth, and process orders, all while ensuring customer satisfaction.

Sales internship vs sales support specialist salary

Sales interns and sales support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales InternshipSales Support Specialist
Average salary$34,460$50,782
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $45,000Between $31,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew Jersey
Best paying companyIBMMicrosoft
Best paying industryTechnologyProfessional

Differences between sales internship and sales support specialist education

There are a few differences between a sales internship and a sales support specialist in terms of educational background:

Sales InternshipSales Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales internship vs sales support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between sales interns' and sales support specialists' demographics:

Sales InternshipSales Support Specialist
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 52.2% Female, 47.8%Male, 36.1% Female, 63.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between sales internship and sales support specialist duties and responsibilities

Sales internship example responsibilities.

  • Track leads and manage accounts with SalesForce.
  • Produce press releases and distribute via multiple platforms such as the company website, email, twitter, etc.
  • Generate content for YouTube videos and penned the channel s description.
  • Redesign the public website with a focus on SEO, CRM, usability, and social media.
  • Create value proposition presentation decks that outline return-on-investment (ROI) models, competitive analysis and case studies.
  • Audit and categorize their website's incoming links on excel, for search engine optimization purposes (SEO).
  • Show more

Sales support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage planning parameters in ERP via the item master (lead times, min/max, safety stock, pay terms).
  • Position demand high degree of accuracy, product knowledge and math skills.
  • Act as liaison to sales organizations and attend sales calls as necessary to address RFP or project management type activities.
  • Assist AE/VP in maintaining pipeline/ forecast in SalesForce.
  • Assist outside sales personnel in HVAC job preparation.
  • Coordinate commercial loan process from application through booking, maintaining efficient workflow in fast pace environment.
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Sales internship vs sales support specialist skills

Common sales internship skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Sales Intern, 15%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • CRM, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 3%
  • Salesforce, 3%
Common sales support specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 17%
  • Sales Support, 12%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • CRM, 4%
  • Salesforce, 4%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%