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Job outlook for sales team managers in the United States
Sales team manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sales team manager job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 23,800 new jobs for sales team managers are projected over the next decade.
Sales team manager salaries have increased 12% for sales team managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 102,206 sales team managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 147,216 active sales team manager job openings in the US.
The average sales team manager salary is $65,856.
Are sales team manager jobs in demand?
Sales team manager job and salary trends over time
Sales team manager jobs over time
Sales team manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102,206 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 88,541 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 91,983 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 87,252 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 85,846 | 0.03% |
Average sales team manager salary over time
Sales team manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,856 | $31.66 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $63,044 | $30.31 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $61,839 | $29.73 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $60,266 | $28.97 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $58,723 | $28.23 | +3.6% |
Sales team manager jobs by state
Most common states for sales team managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 472 | 68% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 353 | 33% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 318 | 33% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 999 | 32% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,642 | 31% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,623 | 29% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,148 | 28% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 172 | 28% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,613 | 27% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,536 | 27% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,304 | 26% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,705 | 26% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 922 | 26% |
| 14 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 352 | 26% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 200 | 26% |
| 16 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,524 | 23% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 246 | 23% |
| 18 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,323 | 22% |
| 19 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,615 | 22% |
| 20 | California | 39,536,653 | 8,296 | 21% |
Most common cities for sales team managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookfield | 1 | 3% | $64,010 |
| 2 | Marlborough | 1 | 3% | $68,811 |
| 3 | Menomonee Falls | 1 | 3% | $64,030 |
| 4 | Hoboken | 1 | 2% | $75,341 |
| 5 | Olathe | 2 | 1% | $49,780 |
| 6 | Tampa | 2 | 1% | $52,558 |
| 7 | Deerfield Beach | 1 | 1% | $52,154 |
| 8 | Downey | 1 | 1% | $81,284 |
| 9 | Franklin | 1 | 1% | $58,043 |
| 10 | Austin | 2 | 0% | $73,727 |
| 11 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $86,862 |
| 12 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $68,459 |
| 13 | Chesapeake | 1 | 0% | $71,946 |
| 14 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $72,095 |
| 15 | Cincinnati | 1 | 0% | $53,265 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $71,046 |
| 17 | Minneapolis | 1 | 0% | $55,538 |
| 18 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $92,500 |
Sales Team Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sales team manager experts
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
University of Maryland
San Francisco State University
Baylor University
Adecco USA
Liberty University
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
St. John Fisher College
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
University of Vermont
SUNY New Paltz
State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo
Emsi
Texas A&M University
Manhattan College
Sacred Heart University
Christopher Newport University
What Sales Team Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jaunelle Celaire: Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.
What will help Sales Team Managers increase their earning potential?
Jaunelle Celaire: 2. Leadership - the world needs more of these; the ability to lead, craft and grow. Digital literacy - this world is definitely turning digital and virtual is the new trend. Emotional intelligence - there is a vast number of personalities in our world today; individuals grow and it is our job to stay emotionally connected, so we can operate more effectively.
Ken Corbit Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in MarketingTexas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Sales Team Manager?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.
Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.
Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.
Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.
Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.
What Sales Team Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: AI-Integrated Consultative Selling: Recognize the evolving role of AI in sales. Embrace AI tools that enhance your pre-call preparation, role-playing, agenda setting, and call talk track development. Stay ahead by incorporating AI into your sales strategies to deliver personalized and efficient client engagements.
What will help Sales Team Managers increase their earning potential?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Holistic
Knowledge Mastery:
Become an expert in your industry, staying abreast of market trends, and thoroughly understanding the products/services you sell. This comprehensive knowledge will empower you to provide exceptional value, resulting in higher sales success and increased client
retention.
Strategic
Question-Based Selling:
Master the art of question-based selling. Use insightful questions to uncover client needs, address pain points, and tailor your approach. This strategic skill will not only boost initial sales but also contribute to secondary sales and long-term client satisfaction.
Compensation
Structure Expertise:
Understand your organization's compensation structure thoroughly. This includes baseline compensation, commission and bonus plans, and additional benefits. This knowledge allows you to set realistic targets, maximize your earnings, and take full advantage
of uncapped commission structures.
Consistent
Target Achievement:
Consistently meet or exceed targets and quotas to demonstrate your value. This not only enhances your immediate success but also positions you for continuous earning potential, especially in roles with uncapped commissions.
Negotiation
and Value Recognition:
Develop negotiation skills to ensure you are compensated appropriately. Recognize your worth and, when appropriate, discuss compensation adjustments or additional benefits with your employer. A proactive approach to recognizing and articulating your value
contributes to your overall salary potential.
In a rapidly evolving sales landscape, continuous learning, tech adaptability, and proactive career management are fundamental for achieving sustained success in consultative sales.
Dr. Brandon Chicotsky
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing at the TCU Neeley School of BusinessTexas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What soft skills should all Sales Team Managers possess?
Dr. Brandon Chicotsky: Ability to listen, humility, empathy toward clients, due diligence regarding pre-meeting research, authenticity (i.e., engaging personnel with honesty and with thoughts, words, and actions all aligning), and integrity with the client and within your firm.
Roland Rust Ph.D.
Distinguished University Professor, David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Service, Ph.D., Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MarketingUniversity of Maryland
Robert H. Smith School of Business
What skills stand out on Sales Team Manager resumes?
Roland Rust Ph.D.: One might think that a stellar sales record would be most important, but that would be most relevant only if the individual has prior sales manager experience. If promoting a salesperson to sales manager, the thing that may be missing is administrative and managerial skills. In addition, we are in a technological revolution, driven by AI, which means that prior knowledge and experience with AI-related analysis would also definitely stand out (although probably hard to find).
What hard/technical skills are most important for Sales Team Managers?
Roland Rust Ph.D.: Artificial intelligence is taking over many thinking tasks throughout the economy (see our recent book). Few salespeople or sales managers are AI experts, but at least they need to be aware of the state-of-the-art in that field, enough to know how best to manage human-AI teams. In the sales context, this generally means using AI in the "backroom" and using people for customer contact, although AI salespeople (e.g., chatbots) are becoming more widespread.
Bruce Heiman Ph.D.
Professor of International BusinessSan Francisco State University
Department of International Business
What soft skills should all Sales Team Managers possess?
Bruce Heiman Ph.D.: -Languages beyond English (fluency in written and oral)
-Ability to work collegially in a diverse cultural setting
-Ability to identify good problems on which to work in a competent manner
-Ability/flexibility to interact/work productively with people who have serious constraints on their time owing to other work or personal commitments/issues
-Some of my answers to Q1 above would also apply here
What skills will help Sales Team Managers earn the most?
Bruce Heiman Ph.D.: -Previous internship/practicum experience in the industry
-Ability to identify and solve problems in an effective manner
-Ability to deploy design/creativity tools in the service of finding and solving problems
-Evidence of ability to manage in the relevant non-English language(s)
-Prior job experience/deep training in a related area
-Prior experience/training managing people/teams
-Ability/experience in working in a team and concretely increasing the team's performance in measurable ways
-Ability to speak with and relate well to people at all levels of an organization, including below, peers, above, and outsiders
-Skills (deep) in working in other cultures and respecting the values and conventions of that culture. Multiple cultures would be worth more
What hard/technical skills are most important for Sales Team Managers?
Bruce Heiman Ph.D.: -Analytical skills (ability to gather data, clean it, analyze it, write-up results and present on what the meaning of the analysis suggests for action (the last one is most important--"what does it really mean?"
-Some experience and skills with coding in any language (at the moment, Python or C++ are preferred, though Ruby on Rails is also good)
-Deep spreadsheet skills (pivot tables and macros, as examples).
-Relational database skills, including programming (e.g., MySQL)
-Data mining
-AI/Machine Learning experience
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021Baylor University
Hankamer School of Business
What skills stand out on Sales Team Manager resumes?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: Like salespeople, sales managers must focus their resumes on tangible, objective performance results that are achieved by their teams.
Growth in revenue or quota attainment for the overall team are examples of the types of objective performance results that matter.
High-performing sales managers also highlight long-term performance indicators, which includes both long-term revenue growth by the unit
AND investment metrics that signal the sales manager is building company results for the long run. For example, a high-performance sales manager focuses on building and maintaining a high-performing unit. Such a manager looks to move low performers to other roles where they can be successful.
Another investment metric that a sales manager can signal is the percent of their unit promoted to managerial roles in the organization.
What soft skills should all Sales Team Managers possess?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: 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 Team Managers?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: 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 skills will help Sales Team Managers earn the most?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: People who can recognize patterns (in data, in people), build connections with and across others, create a focus on high-performance behaviors, and lead with a confident humility are those who will win today and in the future business environment.
What technical skills for a Sales Team Manager stand out to employers?
Madeleine Felion: - In many hourly positions, math and measurement skills are increasingly sought after by companies - these skills can apply to several jobs from quality to CNC machining.
- Data entry and accuracy is a skill many nontraditional jobs are asking for as machines become more automated. Computer skills continue to stand out as it also applies to many in-demand roles.
- Other skills include experience working with ERP software systems such as SAP, Oracle and Syteline. Niche skills such as lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S and a variety of ISO quality standards are highly desired in most manufacturing companies.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sales Team Manager job market given the pandemic?
Madeleine Felion: - Increased wages and a focus on upskilling and reskilling are some of the biggest trends we're seeing, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic further accelerates the demand for certain skillsets.
- The ability to work from home - if the position allows, remote work and the flexibility it offers is here to stay.
- Safety is also top of mind for employers. Companies have made production schedule changes to accommodate social distancing, as well as implemented virtual processes for the application and onboarding phases, such as video and telephone interviews replacing in-person interviews.
How have salaries changed over time for Sales Team Managers?
Madeleine Felion: - While we recruit in a wide range of positions, we are seeing hourly pay rates increase as the demand for a shrinking labor pool grows. Some career fields, where there is a significant skills gap, such as CNC machinists, industrial maintenance technicians and quality technicians, have seen significant salary growth as demand for these skills increases and the candidate pool remains stagnant.
- Salaried positions are also growing as the demand increases for experience in niche skills sets.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sales Team Manager job market given the pandemic?
Chris Huseman Ph.D.: I can foresee several business reconsidering their business structure from a brick and mortar to continuing in a virtual office space. This can be a wonderful opportunity for businesses to gain a more diverse work force with enhanced skillsets that may have been limited in the past to geographical barriers, travel and moving expenses. Businesses will also, with this in mind, want to see more proof of a job candidate's competencies and offer them virtual "tests" to assess their abilities. This now can be done with far less costs than it was before. Candidates will be challenged to showcase their skillsets and a greater importance on their production, critical thinking and creativity will be demanded. We have seen many new graduates finish their schooling in a virtual on online context. Candidates are going to have to embrace a digital world but yet develop ways to still ensure they and the company they work for are able to communicate and provide a personable experience and brand to customers they serve. There will also be a high importance placed on a candidate's ability to be flexible and adapt to change like never before.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Sales Team Managers?
Chris Huseman Ph.D.: Certifications are being offered by a variety of organizations and entities. Job prospects need to critically evaluate the offering organizations of such and their reputations. Having several certifications myself and reviewing many that are offered, the Professional Certified Marketer certifications offered by the American Marketing Association are among the best investments a person in marketing can make. The PCM Digital Marketing, for example, is a rigorous certification that covers the digital marketing landscape extremely well. It is very affordable and is backed by one of the leading organizations in the field of marketing. In addition, specifically to the digital marketing field, Google Garage's Digital Marketing Certification is good and it's free along with several other free ones from Google. As well, Hubspot offers several wonderful certifications that are free and speak to the heart of skills required in the field of Digital Marketing.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sales Team Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
What technical skills for a Sales Team Manager stand out to employers?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: Of course, there is variation across industries, but the long lockdown months have highlighted the need for skills that make telecommuting and work from home more efficient and effective. The ability to use not just technologies but also work habits that allow collaboration mediated by information and communication tools has only become more valuable. With this, I mean that it is important to use Zoom, Teams, Skype, and similar technologies, but even more than that, scheduling, collaboration, creative, professional-grade, and timely delivery (in the absence of face-to-face interaction) is vital. If a higher proportion of work-from-home becomes predominant (as many commentators expect), these skills are likely to differentiate high-performers from their counterparts.
How have salaries changed over time for Sales Team Managers?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: Again, there is wide variation across industries and occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a nationwide drop (relative to the previous month) of 4 cents in average hourly earnings for workers on private payrolls, but an increase of 2 cents for private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees; little changes were observed for healthcare and information employers (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm). The largest gains (on a yearly basis) were reported by the Financial activities sector, and the lowest by Mining and logging (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm). Unfortunately, the BLS does not publish regional data, but I am confident that some states have observed more gains than others.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sales Team Managers?
Clair Smith Ph.D.: Yes, I'm sure there will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates. The latter part of their college experience was fundamentally different from what they expected. Besides the obvious changes to how classes were conducted, social, athletic, and internship opportunities were all diminished or altered. They lived something very different from what they were expecting. It was often hard. Yet for many of them, these challenges and struggles formed the crucible in which students developed adaptability and resilience. And those traits will be valuable for them going forward both personally and professionally.
What will help Sales Team Managers increase their earning potential?
Clair Smith Ph.D.: St. John Fisher is at its core a liberal arts college, and I'm a firm believer that a grounding in how to reason and make sound independent judgments is critical. And in Economics, that's what we do. I believe that graduates who can effectively reason and think through the implications of important decisions, who have quantitative skills to analyze and interpret data to inform those decisions, and who can powerfully communicate those arguments to others through the written and spoken word will have the greatest professional success and financial remuneration.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sales Team Managers?
Dr. LaRae Jome Ph.D.: Yes, while we might try to get back to "normal" or pre-pandemic times, there will likely be an enduring impact on psychology graduates.
For those psychology students who have been finishing their college degrees during this time, they may not have been able to participate fully in internship, volunteer, or research experiences with faculty. These out-of-classroom experiences can be useful in obtaining employment after college or in having a more competitive applications to graduate schools in psychology. On the positive side, many of the "soft skills" that psychology undergraduates learn in college will be very valued in the post-pandemic workplace. We are seeing an increased need for workers who have good critical thinking, listening, and empathy skills.
What will help Sales Team Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. LaRae Jome Ph.D.: As with other fields, the higher the degree you have, the greater your earning potential. The master's degree in counseling typically requires two years of graduate school and a year of supervision before getting licensed as a counselor. The highest degree is the doctoral degree (either a PhD or a PsyD) and you need a doctorate and to be licensed in your state in order to be a psychologist.
One of the ways that counselors and psychologists can potentially increase their earning potential is by having their own private practice or by launching other services beyond individual client sessions, such as providing groups, workshops, and coaching or consulting services.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Sales Team Managers?
Lisa Elliott Ph.D.: In human factors, there have been several attempts to create a licensing structure, but none has gained traction. Students who have a good electronic portfolio, know the basics of experimentation, know statistics, and have several user experience or human factors projects are very competitive in the job market. An electronic portfolio on any of the predominant portfolio sites or a website is best.
What will help Sales Team Managers increase their earning potential?
Lisa Elliott Ph.D.: We are starting to see demand for data visualization in addition to the traditional user experience education requirements. Students who can take unstructured data sets and create a meaningful story helps the organization and the user understand complex situations. We expect that data visualization and data modeling will be a future skill for those in human factors psychology and for user experience design professionals.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sales Team Managers?
Madison Berry: There will definitely be an enduring impact on students who graduate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, I think this may be more of an emotional or mental impact than a career one. Everyone will have that shared experience of a very strange year. They may be more likely to jump at new opportunities and feel a little more comfortable taking risks to get experience. Everyone is worried about "falling behind" and also tired of being in quarantine - so that may fuel some big career moves in the first few years out of college!
I think expectations for work-life balance and flexibility for work may also come out of this. Students know a lot more about their own working styles now - they have been forced over this time to try online, in-person, and hybrid learning, and they've seen how all of those options suit them. I think there will be a higher desire for remote work opportunities for some, while others now know remote is *definitely* not the work environment they want.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Sales Team Managers?
Madison Berry: The bachelor's degree is still the gold standard for employment out of college, but a specific degree isn't as necessary as we might think. We have UVM alumni come visit us to talk about their storied careers in Finance, and they graduated with Political Science, Engineering, and Sociology degrees. Some industries are more rigid than others - having a Masters of Accountancy and passing your CPA is key for working in many accounting areas, for example - but when it comes to wanting to work in business, being able to show transferrable and useful skills is most important. Critical thinking, problem solving, willingness to learn, and communication skills are key.
Felicia Hodges
InstructorSUNY New Paltz
Deptment of Digital Media and Journalism
What will help Sales Team Managers increase their earning potential?
Felicia Hodges: Flexibility and willingness to adapt will help all media practitioners increase their earning potential. If you are a photojournalist who shoots still images for print and/or online publications, get familiar with video. If you are passionate about covering crime or government beats, have more than a working knowledge of sports and education, too. Heck, learn photojournalism basics! In other words, versatility is necessary and it will be expected.
Dr. Ian Alam
Professor of MarketingState University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo
School Of Business
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Sales Team Managers?
Dr. Ian Alam: Micro credentials are an important tool that all graduates must have in this tough employment market. In all areas of business and economics education, some type of micro credentials are available. Some are free of charge and some have small fees. For example, in the field of marketing, two organizations offer free credentials for social media marketing to the students enrolled in a college. These are Hootsuite and Hubspot, which offer micro credentials for social media marketing. For others who are not students, a fee applies. Besides, there are several organizations that are offering credentials after the completion of short online courses in a variety of fields. I believe students must look at these micro credentials right after the college to make themselves more marketable.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Sales Team Managers?
Rob Sentz: The key thing as people begin the search in the labor market is to not be so locked into a specific degree or certification. We try to (a) highlight those areas of work that need people, (b) show the key skills that are needed, and (c) allow people to line up to where their strengths, interests, and skills can really flourish.
All this is to say, that it is hard to pit degree against degree. Can you do well with an English degree? Well, yes. If you understand where to apply your interests, knowledge, and skills to help other people. Should everyone pursue an English degree? Well, no. Start with where you can solve problems and apply what you have learned / the skills you have gained to help other people. And think about how your knowledge and skills relate to key sectors of work that really have a lot of problems that need solving.
Finally, the ability to combine human (soft) skills with technical (hard) skills seems to be the key to thriving in a wicked labor market. People who do well have the ability to manage, communicate, lead, and do technical things like code, market, sell, and so on.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sales Team Manager job market given the pandemic?
Rob Sentz: Ultimately the pandemic is a blip that is accelerating some changes that were already in the market. More people and companies are opting for remote work and tech skills remain vitally important. What I think people really need to understand is that what we saw in 2020 was an accelerate to a broad set of trends that were already in place, but likely not being noted amongst many people in the labor market:
- Yes, we have experienced the loss of millions of jobs, but we have also seen the labor force participation rate decline at an even faster rate. This means that there are fewer working age adults interested in work than we have ever seen
- As huge numbers of baby boomers retire, they are going to leave millions of open positions that will be hard-to-fill
- Many sectors today (logistics, healthcare, tech, core business functions (like sales, marketing, CS, finance, HR, and operations), education, skilled trades, and public safety are desperate for talent.
- The replacement rate for workers isn't as great as the need for labor
For more: www.economicmodeling.com
And www.economicmodeling.com
How have salaries changed over time for Sales Team Managers?
Rob Sentz: As demand increases and supply decreases, wages are going up. Weekly wages increased 7% last year and we are seeing the companies have raised their advertised wages (the amount they are willing to pay to get you in for an interview) by as much as 16%. This means that there is a lot of opportunity and companies are willing to pay to get the talent they need.
Janet Turner Parish
Clinical Professor and Associate Department HeadTexas A&M University
Department of Marketing
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sales Team Managers?
Janet Turner Parish: It will be some time before we know the enduring impact, but I do believe there will be one. Some students who are very self-directed will likely thrive in a company that continues to give them the flexibility to work wherever they are. However, many students will be craving structure and face-to-face time. Studying the generational cohorts fascinates me. Some of the early information about Gen Z indicated that they wanted to work in-office, that they wanted more separation between work and "life". It will be very interesting to see how/if this changes. This is surely to be one of the defining moments for Gen Z.
What's a good job out of college for Sales Team Managers?
Janet Turner Parish: For students who have good listening skills and enjoy solving problems, professional selling is a great career path. Sales roles are critical for a company's success. Sales skills are industry independent and beneficial for all types of organizational roles, especially leadership. The earning potential is significant and there are multiple career paths from a start in sales (operations, HR, sales management, CEO, etc.).
What will help Sales Team Managers increase their earning potential?
Janet Turner Parish: Being coachable, adaptable, productive and committed to live long learning.
Students will need to be more open-minded to various career opportunities. They will need to be much more aware of their own strengths when they approach the job market. Aligning one's strengths to the roles that they seek will naturally lead to more satisfaction and productivity.
What technical skills for a Sales Team Manager stand out to employers?
Dr. John Leylegian Ph.D.: I think almost any graduate will finish school with the same skill set in terms of technical knowledge. What can stand out is an ability to code and use various professional-grade software packages - the actual programming languages and software packages are secondary. If you can code in VBA, moving to Matlab or Python is not a big deal - it's just a matter of syntax. If you can use one CFD code or one FEA code, others will be much easier to learn. The foundation will be attractive to employers. Of course, the non-technical skills are SO important as well, most notably communication (speaking and writing).
What technical skills for a Sales Team Manager stand out to employers?
Keith Hassell: Employers are increasingly looking for applied skillsets and additional certifications to set a candidate apart. Sacred Heart University has recently launched a remote work certification, which houses three modules - focusing on the remote worker, the remote team and the remote leader, providing the tools and resources to comfortably leverage and utilize virtual platforms at various organizations. Additional specialized training, certifications and more are great selling tools pending on the specific area of interest. Certifications are common in areas such as project management, sales, IT/network/software, Google application and more. The candidate needs to think, "What can I do that is beyond my coursework to show I am passionate about my field? How do I make myself stand out?" Certifications is an attainable way to do this.
In addition, soft skills continue to be equally important in today's job market. NACE (the National Association of Colleges and Employers) identified seven core competencies that employers seek from entry level candidates which include critical thinking/problem solving, oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, digital technology, leadership, professionalism/work ethic, career management and global/intercultural fluency.
Todd Lee Goen
Instructor & Internship DirectorChristopher Newport University
Department of Communication
What's a good job out of college for Sales Team Managers?
Todd Lee Goen: Pandemic or no pandemic, the best job out of college is one that sets you on the path to achieve your ultimate career goal(s). Reflect on where you want to be in five or ten years or even twenty-five years. Then consider positions that will set you on the path to achieve that goal. Very few people land their dream job upon graduation - dream jobs are typically those we're not qualified to do without some additional work experience and training. A good job is one that will help you achieve your goal(s) - just don't frame it that way in the interview.
Good jobs pay a livable salary for the location, offer benefits (health insurance and retirement at minimum), and provide professional development opportunities (these can take a variety of forms). Too often, college grads overlook professional development. If an employer isn't willing to invest in you, there's no guarantee you will succeed in the job. Good employers understand they need qualified employees who continually develop their skills and abilities, and good employers will make sure employees have the resources they need to succeed.