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What does a sales management trainee do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

Typically, sales management trainees are recruited at the entry-level, where they learn to manage sales. The trainees assist with tasks associated with sales management. They work under the supervision of executives and managers in business enterprises. They are equipped with the knowledge to become managers in the fields of sales, operations, and marketing. Among the necessary skills for this job include management skills, problem-solving, leadership, communication skills, attention to detail, time management, and organizational awareness.

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Sales management trainee responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real sales management trainee resumes:

  • Monitor and manage payroll and controllable expenses within company guidelines.
  • Manage customer database, product updates/upgrades, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll.
  • Assist management team in daily facility operations that include managing performance of associates and inventory shrink management.
  • Inform on how to navigate through Salesforce.
  • Identify prospective clients and assist clients using CRM software.
  • Perform, multiple, complex CRM and customer maintenance activities.
  • Assist in the design and ensure the proper installation of treasury management services.
  • Develop and present PowerPoint presentations for use in the field for sales meeting and marketing initiatives.
  • Prepare reports and presentations for senior leadership.
  • Demonstrate positive leadership characteristics, which inspire employees.
  • Contact prospective customers in order to develop new treasury management business.
  • Leverage consultative sales strengths to identify opportunities, nurture relationships and close deals.
  • Leverage industry trends in customer industries/marketplaces to shape value-ad solutions and approaches for key audiences.
  • Supervise problem solving and conflict management situations, using creative organizational techniques, in a team-base environment.
  • Assist patients with Critical/Triage calls; document necessary symptoms for medical assistants to determine what medical intervention is necessary.

Sales management trainee skills and personality traits

We calculated that 21% of Sales Management Trainees are proficient in Business Development, Business Sales, and Enterprise Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Leadership skills.

We break down the percentage of Sales Management Trainees that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Business Development, 21%

    Generated new business by conducting business development activities regarding diagnostic product/services and laboratory based drug screen/confirmation programs to multiple target markets.

  • Business Sales, 10%

    Managed sales territory for business-to-business sales in the replacement vehicle market.

  • Enterprise Management, 10%

    Participated the nationally recognized Enterprise management training program.

  • Management Training, 8%

    Completed a Corporate Management Training Program that provided a comprehensive introduction to the sales function of hospitality.

  • Store Management, 8%

    Focus on store productivity in partnership with store management and participate in a structured management trainee program for store manager.

  • World Class, 7%

    Managed large inventory of world class and nationally recognized vehicles to ensure industry standard or above.

Most sales management trainees use their skills in "business development," "business sales," and "enterprise management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential sales management trainee responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a sales management trainee to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what sales management trainees do because "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." Additionally, a sales management trainee resume shows how sales management trainees use analytical skills: "maintained weekly, the westwood inventory database, offering products to current customers and cold calling new customers. "

Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform sales management trainee duties is communication skills. Sales management trainees responsibilities require that "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." Sales management trainees also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provided a high-level of communication between insurance companies, body shops, and customers. "

Leadership skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of sales management trainees is leadership skills. This skill is critical to many everyday sales management trainee duties, as "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "demonstrated positive leadership characteristics, which inspired employees. "

Customer-service skills. sales management trainee responsibilities often require "customer-service skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This resume example shows what sales management trainees do with customer-service skills on a typical day: "utilize varying sales techniques to problem solve, and influence customers and effectively communicate with co-workers. "

See the full list of sales management trainee skills

The three companies that hire the most sales management trainees are:

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Compare different sales management trainees

Sales management trainee vs. Commissioned sales associate

Commissioned sales associates are professionals who conduct sale transactions that can generate additional compensation by increasing selling operations. These associates are must collaborate successfully with fellow associates in regard to sales and commission distribution. They must provide excellent customer service so that they can establish long term relationships with customers and ensure high satisfaction. Commissioned sales associates must also assist the department managers with visual merchandising to arrange racks so that they can place and stock new merchandise.

We looked at the average sales management trainee salary and compared it with the wages of a commissioned sales associate. Generally speaking, commissioned sales associates are paid $10,451 lower than sales management trainees per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both sales management trainee and commissioned sales associate positions are skilled in product knowledge, sales associates, and customer satisfaction.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a sales management trainee are more likely to require skills like "business development," "business sales," "enterprise management," and "management training." On the other hand, a job as a commissioned sales associate requires skills like "excellent organizational," "excellent interpersonal," "customer relationships," and "commission sales." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Commissioned sales associates tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $38,946. In contrast, sales management trainees make the biggest average salary, $48,502, in the manufacturing industry.commissioned sales associates tend to reach similar levels of education than sales management trainees. In fact, commissioned sales associates are 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Sales management trainee vs. Business sales associate

A business sales associate's primary goal is to secure sales and reach sales targets. To make this possible, a business sales associate conducts market research and analyses to identify new business and client opportunities, generates leads, and develops sales strategies. They usually reach out to potential clients or representatives through calls or correspondence, arrange appointments, discuss product or service specifications, organize payment plans, and negotiate contracts, building positive business relationships along the way. Moreover, they produce progress reports and coordinate with managers regularly.

Business sales associate positions earn higher pay than sales management trainee roles. They earn a $12,085 higher salary than sales management trainees per year.A few skills overlap for sales management trainees and business sales associates. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "business development," "business sales," and "product knowledge. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, sales management trainee responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "enterprise management," "management training," "store management," and "world class." Meanwhile, a business sales associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "crm," "customer support," "inbound calls," and "sales quota." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Business sales associates earn similar levels of education than sales management trainees in general. They're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Sales management trainee vs. Real estate internship

When it comes to a real estate internship, an intern's responsibilities will depend upon the directives of a supervising officer. Typically, their tasks will revolve around preparing and processing documents, posting real estate listings on different areas and platforms, assisting in creating marketing content, and even handling social media accounts. A real estate intern may also run errands, manage an information database, conduct research and analysis, and participate in various negotiations. Furthermore, it is essential to learn and understand the policies and regulations, as well as the mission and vision of the company.

On average, real estate interns earn lower salaries than sales management trainees, with a $14,738 difference per year.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, sales management trainees are more likely to have skills like "business development," "business sales," "enterprise management," and "management training." But a real estate internship is more likely to have skills like "real estate market," "powerpoint," "financial analysis," and "data entry."

Most real estate interns achieve a higher degree level compared to sales management trainees. For example, they're 5.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Sales management trainee vs. Store sales associate

A store sales associate is responsible for assisting store customers, directing them to the correct area of their needs, and responding to their inquiries and concerns regarding a product. Store sales associates also support the store's promotional campaigns, selling goods and services to the customers by demonstrating the product and its benefits. They keep the store premises clean and tidy to avoid any potential hazards during operations. A store sales associate must have excellent communication skills, especially on resolving customer complaints, processing replacements, and issuing refunds.

Store sales associates typically earn lower pay than sales management trainees. On average, store sales associates earn a $17,116 lower salary per year.While both sales management trainees and store sales associates complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like store management, product knowledge, and sales associates, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A sales management trainee uses "business development," "business sales," "enterprise management," and "management training." Store sales associates are more likely to have duties that require skills in "store sales," "stock room," "floor stock," and "facebook. "The hospitality industry tends to pay the highest salaries for store sales associates, with average annual pay of $32,458. Comparatively, the highest sales management trainee annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.The average resume of store sales associates showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to sales management trainees. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of sales management trainee

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.