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Sales Manager skills for your resume and career

Q: How to build a sales team

To build a sales team, you must talk with other sales professionals, do market research, and hire professionals in each role of your sales team. Here are some steals on these steps and others you can take to build a sales team:

Q: How to calculate projected sales

To calculate projected sales, follow these steps: Determine how much revenue you want to project. This should include a specific period and a dollar value in revenue. Approximate units sold. Next, you must estimate how many units of your product or service you expect to sell within the specific period. You should try to get precise, and if possible, exact figures from your sales department. If you can not get exact figures, you can use averages from the units you have sold in previous times, such as months or weeks. Estimate cost of unit and sales price. You then must determine how much it will cost to produce each sales unit. These can be manufacturing costs or other costs associated with unit production. Then determine what sales price can be placed on each unit. If this information is not readily available, you should consult with the accounting department or other relevant departments. Multiplication step. Next, multiply your estimated units sold for the projection period by the price per unit, and then multiply that figure by the number of months your projected revenue will cover. This sum is the projected revenue you can expect for your product or service sales during this time. Annual projections. When projecting how many units of a product or service will be sold over an entire year, you must add all of your monthly projections, then take the total and multiply that figure by 12 to get an annual sales projection. You can also use this formula for smaller time increments, such as business quarters or weeks.

Q: How to calculate sales commission

To calculate sales commission, you must multiply the sales revenue by the sales commission percentage rate. For example, if you have a 10% percent sales commission and a sales revenue of $10,000 from purchasing a product or service, then the sales commission would be $1,000 on that particular sale. Here is that concept in formula form:

Q: How to manage a sales team

To manage a sales team, you should be results-oriented, manage expectations, and incentivize your team. Identifying where you are and what you need when managing your sales team is crucial, as this is the starting point for great management.

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted Experts

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.,

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

One of the most important hard skills a sales manager can have is a strong familiarity with every aspect of the sales process. Sales managers need to demonstrate a history of meeting and exceeding sales goals and an extensive product knowledge. Sales managers need these hard skills in order to provide guidance and create objectives for sales teams.

When it comes to soft skills, sales managers should have strong strategic planning and business development skills. In leading teams, sales managers also need strong delegation and prioritization skills as well.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sales manager skills. We ranked the top skills for sales managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.8% of sales manager resumes contained product knowledge as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sales manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sales manager skills for your resume and career

1. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is the skill of having better information and knowledge about the product you are selling. Product knowledge is essential for the employees of the companies so they can communicate and inform the customers about the product. Having great product knowledge is essential for a better sales pitch and to give the customer a better and complete idea of the product that will influence him to buy the product eventually.

Here's how sales managers use product knowledge:

Provide resourceful industry and product knowledge to clients while surpassing customer expectations and building relationships through attention to detail.
Implemented a successful sales program that established individual and departmental quotas, improved sales techniques and increased product knowledge.

2. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how sales managers use customer satisfaction:

Established best practices relating to purchasing, customer service, and quality assurance standards accelerating cost controls and customer satisfaction index.
Created a Just-in-time scheduling procedure that lowered labor cost and increased customer satisfaction by accurately staffing the store according to demand.

3. Sales Performance

Here's how sales managers use sales performance:

Worked directly with customers to deliver excellent service on various home electronic products and consistently maintained a high ranking sales performance.
Demonstrated ability to comprehend new environment and make an immediate impact leading dramatic improvement in sales performance over 3-month period.

4. CRM

CRM stands for Customer relationship management and it is a complete process through which a business or organization monitors and administers its interactions with the customers. A process in which large amounts of data are collected through marketing via a company's website, polls, surveys, and other social media applications. The basic goal of CRM is to target the right audience for their product, and then fulfill their needs, to increase the sales and revenue of the company.

Here's how sales managers use crm:

Utilized information technology expertise to develop and maintain web presence, create marketing opportunities, CRM management, and increase productivity.
Designed and implemented new protocol for utilization of SalesForce CRM software and social media management methodologies.

5. Sales Process

Here's how sales managers use sales process:

Assumed accountability for achieving defined revenue targets through personal involvement and understanding of every aspect of the sales process.
Achieved personal sales and profitability goals by consistently and pro-actively engaging guests utilizing the Company s sales process.

6. Work Ethic

Here's how sales managers use work ethic:

Managed own business by successfully understanding the importance of high quality customer service relationships and a solid work ethic.
Received numerous promotions for unwavering work ethic and superior performance.

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7. Multitasking

Here's how sales managers use multitasking:

Proved excellent at multitasking during high demand situations.
Developed excellent multitasking and project management skills.

8. Sales Associates

Here's how sales managers use sales associates:

Introduced and implemented various contests and incentives for sales associates as additional motivational tools to increase sales, productivity and morale.
Administered monthly sales and service reports with sales associates to identify areas of opportunity and to recognize achievements.

9. Sales Strategies

Here's how sales managers use sales strategies:

Designed sales strategies using proven framework that incorporated data on customers' interests, budget parameters, and technical requirements.
Designed and executed ancillary and insurance product sales strategies that have become huge drivers behind branch and district level profitability.

10. Sales Floor

The sales floor is the area in a company or a business that is specified for retail activities or is designated as the selling area of the shop. A car showroom can be considered a sales floor, as it has cars in its display which are to be sold. A sales floor is generally crowded with sales assistants who are there to help you out while you can search and check out the products. Generally a sales floor has free access to the public and they can observe, view and get information about the product that is being sold.

Here's how sales managers use sales floor:

Conducted evaluation of employees training and sales floor experience to ensure eligibility to maintain proper conductivity.
Maintain, organize and directed sales floor activities meeting and/or exceeding business operating standards.

11. HR

HR stands for human resources and is used to describe the set of people who work for a company or an organization. HR responsibilities revolve around updating employee records and carrying out management processes like planning, recruitment, evaluation, and selection processes. HR is a key contributor to any company or organization's growth as they are in charge of hiring the right employees, processing payrolls, conducting disciplinary actions, etc.

Here's how sales managers use hr:

Provided HR support in recruiting and developing professional account executives targeting SMB/Enterprise clients.
Work directly with HR directors to implement Corporate Wellness Program within organization.

12. Sales Training

Here's how sales managers use sales training:

Participated with executive team setting financial goals and identifying new opportunities through marketing information, relationship building, and sales training.
Instructed and provided advanced sales training to target goals of generating new business, enhancing productivity and increasing employee/company profits.

13. Account Management

The process of strengthening the relationship between a company and client is called account management. Effective account management has two key objectives, one is to retain loyal customers and the second one is to help the company grow by creating connections with new customers.

Here's how sales managers use account management:

Monitor performance against strategic account management objectives/directives.
Managed individual and corporate account sales, overseeing day to day business operations including prospecting, account management and financial reporting.

14. Taking Inventory

Here's how sales managers use taking inventory:

Managed operational activities such as taking inventory, executing the fulfillment process and maintaining visual standards
Perform sales floor work such as greeting and assisting customers, arranging test drives, stocking shelves, or taking inventory.

15. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how sales managers use business development:

Develop and initiate sales and marketing strategies triggering new business development including via internet, networking, and referral-based lead generation.
Cultivated and maintained strong relationships with customers and key account representatives, while driving new business development initiatives through face-to-face presentations.

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What skills help Sales Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Sales Manager resumes?

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.

Director, Western Oregon University

The skills that stand out on resumes fall into two categories: 1) Skills required to do the job and 2) Skills almost all employers look for. The most important aspect of resumes is to make sure it reflects exactly what the employer needs. Study the job description, identify key skills, and have them reflected on your resume. Think about transferrable skills, not the specific roles you've had.

Most employers look for skills such as communication (written/oral), flexibility, proactivity, problem-solving, project management, and technical. Make sure to cultivate those skills in whatever role you have, and have examples that demonstrate those skills.

What soft skills should all Sales Managers possess?

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021, Baylor University

Since sales professionals have a lot of information available to them today via customer relationship management (CRM) systems, the sales manager's "supervisory" role is less important (especially for experienced sellers). Consequently, the sales manager needs to be more of a coach and enabler of high performance. Having confidence balanced with humility allows the sales manager to engage more effectively with their salespeople.
One of the critical soft skills for sales managers going forward will be the ability to connect members of the sales team to others in the organization - in other words, the sales manager of the future needs to have strong skills in network building for others. Sellers have access to data which helps them build success.
They also need access to the right people to turn to when they need specific expertise or assistance.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Sales Managers?

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021, Baylor University

One of the growing technical skill requirements for sales managers is in the area of data analytics. Our performance and customer systems provide a myriad of data, and the role of the sales manager is to be a sense-maker of that mound of data. What are the implications for changes in strategy or behavior evident in last quarter's activity? How can the sales manager help a specific seller "see" where the data suggest new approaches?

What Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kerri Orders

Assistant Professor of Business, Aquinas College

In terms of a gap year, I recommend that international business students acquire tangible skills, relevant experience and/or certifications which will enhance their success in their desired area of interest. For example, a gap year could consist of gaining technical or digital training overseas, which would also further the students' cultural intelligence and language proficiency. These types of enriching gap year experiences will assist students to distinguish themselves in a highly competitive market. Furthermore, students should focus on broadening and maintaining their global network during a gap year in order to be ready for the job market once the gap year is concluded.

What type of skills will young Sales Managers need?

Michael Mikitka

Executive Vice President, MHI – Material Handling Industry

Courses and internships are essential. While the required depth of knowledge may vary from one position to another, employers are generally looking for candidates with strong "people-related" skills, those who are willing to continue to learn, and those with the ability to be flexible and adapt.

By "people-related" skills, I mean the abilities associated with effective communication (listen and express ideas and direction) and the skills related to working independently and a team.

As for the interest to continually learn... from a technology, data, and equipment perspective, today's supply chain looks very different than it did 10-years ago. The willingness and ability to continually learn are essential for anyone in a leadership role.

As for flexibility and adapting...supply chain/logistics is as much about responding to disruption and demand as it is planning for it. There is a predictable demand (i.e., seasonal...everyone knows when back-to-school shopping begins). Then there is the unpredictable demand (i.e., power-outages, wildfires, pandemic) that impact market and the ability to operate. Candidates that express flexibility and problem-solving skills will be much sought-after.

What technical skills for a Sales Manager stand out to employers?

Todd Lee Goen

Instructor & Internship Director, Christopher Newport University

Technical skills are often industry and/or position specific. Applicants should highlight any technical skills related to the position advertisement and those that add value to the position/organization. Most importantly, requirements for technical skills change with time and technological advances. This means employers value workers capable of adapting to change and continually improving and acquiring new technical skills. Thus, it's usually more important to demonstrate you are capable of learning and developing technical skills than it is to have a specific skill set upon hire (although this is not true for some positions/industries).
That said, technical skills related to online presentations, virtual meetings, virtual networking, remote working and the like are hot commodities right now. While most organizations were in the process of adopting many of these technologies and ways of doing business pre-pandemic, the pandemic accelerated the process. Organizations are making it work, but they often don't know best practices or the most efficient means of working in the largely virtual, pandemic environment. Post-pandemic, many of the remote/virtual changes the pandemic brought will stay in some form. Technical skills that support this type of workplace will make applicants stand out to many employers because they need/want to do virtual/remote business better.

Do you want to know more?

List of sales manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a sales manager resume and required skills for a sales manager to have include:

Product Knowledge
Customer Satisfaction
Sales Performance
CRM
Sales Process
Work Ethic
Multitasking
Sales Associates
Sales Strategies
Sales Floor
HR
Sales Training
Account Management
Taking Inventory
Business Development
Customer Relations
Sales Techniques

Sales Plan
Product Line
Trade Shows
Sales Targets
Client Relationships
Direct Reports
Sales Quota
Sales Presentations
Business Relationships
Sales Professionals
Direct Sales
Store Operations
Sales Objectives
POS
Business Plan
Develop Strong Relationships
Sales Reps

Sales Growth
Sales Revenue
Inventory Control
Sales Reports
Sales Volume
Customer Complaints
Sales Efforts
Sales People
Cold Calls
Lead Management
Territory Planning
Enterprise Sales
Exceptional Guest
Customer Inquiries
Inventory Management
Gross Profit

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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Sales Manager skills for your resume and career

15 sales manager skills for your resume and career

Choose from 10+ customizable sales manager resume templates

7. Multitasking

11. HR

14. Taking Inventory

12 Sales Manager Resume Examples

What skills stand out on Sales Manager resumes?

What soft skills should all Sales Managers possess?

What hard/technical skills are most important for Sales Managers?

What Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

What type of skills will young Sales Managers need?

What technical skills for a Sales Manager stand out to employers?

List of sales manager skills to add to your resume

Sales Manager skills FAQs

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