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Sales supervisor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.,

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sales supervisor skills. We ranked the top skills for sales supervisors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.9% of sales supervisor resumes contained ladders as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sales supervisor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sales supervisor skills for your resume and career

1. Ladders

Here's how sales supervisors use ladders:

Bend and stoop to grasp objects and climb ladders.

2. 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 supervisors use sales floor:

Utilized time management and organization skills to replenish sales floor while still providing quality customer service.
Identify opportunities to increase sales and communicates merchandising and sales floor operational opportunities to supervisor.

3. Inventory Control

Here's how sales supervisors use inventory control:

Tire Technician Tire Department Supervisor Customer Assistance Installed Tires onto Vehicles Inspected Proper Installation of Tires Translation Services Inventory Control
Maintained inventory control, drastically reduced inventory write-off by 70% during my term as location supervisor.

4. Sales Training

Here's how sales supervisors use sales training:

Developed and implemented motivational techniques, sales training and coaching mechanisms to improve performance and ensure quality customer encounters.
Designed and instituted New Sales Training Program utilizing value based selling strategies to increase productivity, efficiency and accountability.

5. Loss Prevention

The steps taken by a business to prevent theft is called loss prevention. There are multiple methods for loss prevention for example usage of automated cash handling, secure physical location, product security staff buy-in, and attentive customer service.

Here's how sales supervisors use loss prevention:

Supervised cashiers to ensure store protocols were followed, specifically customer service and loss prevention guidelines and training.
Participated in Loss Prevention and Safety Awareness meetings, summarized and distributed main points to associates.

6. Drive Sales

Here's how sales supervisors use drive sales:

Managed the operational execution of corporate directives to ensure a positive customer experience and to drive sales.
Identified ways to drive sales by utilizing merchandise-related reports to direct-product placement decisions.

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7. Basic Math

Here's how sales supervisors use basic math:

Read, write and perform basic math.
Operate the cash register quickly and do basic math.

8. 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 supervisors use product knowledge:

Ensured sales associates are utilizing appropriate sales techniques and communicating product knowledge to customers to maintain strong customer relationships.
Perceived expert and facilitator when implementing selling tools/programs and product knowledge information resulting in both company and mall awards.

9. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how sales supervisors use customer satisfaction:

Monitored activities, which included monitoring associate performance to ensure compliance with established guidelines and procedures and to ensure customer satisfaction.
Retail sales supervisor responsible for in-store advertising and customer loyalty strategy implementation that increased store sales and new customer satisfaction ratings.

10. POS

POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

Here's how sales supervisors use pos:

Increase availability and visibility of brands on POS of assigned territory.
Assisted in visual merchandise, floor moves, inventory, stock, mark downs, POS transactions, online orders and delivery

11. Store Operations

Here's how sales supervisors use store operations:

Supervised, managed and executed key service processes and business initiatives to ensure efficient store operations and achieve profitability goals.
Support General Manager in store operations including serving as a liaison between the optical laboratory and patient/client needs.

12. Sales Plan

Here's how sales supervisors use sales plan:

Solved currency overages and shortages- Developed strong, sustainable relationships with customers- Met or exceeded sales plan - Processed invoices
Implemented merchandise promotions and sales plans Coordinated daily staffing needs for the sales area Prepared annual employee performance evaluations

13. Store Sales

Here's how sales supervisors use store sales:

Design sales forecasts and align individual store product demands for revenue maximization by the comparison of year-to-year same store sales data.
Train store sales associates, provide daily motivation and coaching regarding customer service to ensure clients' experience exceed their expectations.

14. Math

Here's how sales supervisors use math:

Created and led staff development sessions on solution selling techniques/running effective promotions/POS execution/trade math.
Utilize math skills to verify qualities, make adjustments, fill out worksheets, and complete order paperwork correctly.

15. Sales Performance

Here's how sales supervisors use sales performance:

Worked closely with sales manager to increase sales performance through documentation of proven techniques and sales representative assessments.
Supervised a team of sales representatives and increased sales performance year-over-year while managing attendance and performance.

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What skills help Sales Supervisors find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on sales supervisor 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 supervisors 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 supervisors?

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 supervisor 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 supervisors 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 supervisor stand out to employers?

Linda Hajec

Assistant Teaching Professor of Accounting, Associate Chair, Student Recruitment, Retention and Outreach, Penn State Behrend

I think the basics are still important - the feedback from employers still says that they want to see excellent skills in Excel - but if we are talking about changes as a result of the pandemic, job candidates that can also show a comfort level with remote meeting software will feel more natural and less awkward going forward. If you are going to meet on Zoom, make sure you know where to find the features on the screen and if you need to, practice with someone who knows you are just needing to mess around with the settings.

The last thing you would want to do is accidentally exit your interview halfway through because you didn't know where the "share screen" button was. Being familiar with other online collaboration software such as Teams or GoogleDocs is important, too. Even companies that are not working 100% remote are finding great use for these kind of sites, even just to house documents such as policy manuals that they want to share with a group of employees. The fact that a group can work together an collaborate asynchronously is a reality that many companies had not faced before, so the employee needs to be prepared to remember to follow up on team projects instead of waiting for a meeting to see where everything stands.

Do you want to know more?

List of sales supervisor skills to add to your resume

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

Ladders
Sales Floor
Inventory Control
Sales Training
Loss Prevention
Drive Sales
Basic Math
Product Knowledge
Customer Satisfaction
POS
Store Operations
Sales Plan
Store Sales
Math
Sales Performance
Direct Reports

Cleanliness
Data Entry
HR
Timekeeping
Force Management
Customer Service
Customer Relations
Store Associates
Cash Handling
Inventory Management
Sales Techniques
Customer Issues
Brand Awareness
Performance Evaluations
Sales Strategies
Performance Management

Sales Results
PowerPoint
Sales Reps
Sales Targets
Performance Reviews
Bank Deposits
Punctuality
Customer Complaints
Sales Volume
Sales Reports
Performance Appraisals
Sales Quota
Sales Process
Costumes
Sales Objectives
Product Handling

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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