Automatically apply for jobs with Zippi

Upload your resume to get started.

West coast sales manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.,

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical west coast sales manager skills. We ranked the top skills for west coast sales managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.8% of west coast sales manager resumes contained coast region as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a west coast sales manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 west coast sales manager skills for your resume and career

1. Coast Region

Here's how west coast sales managers use coast region:

Support company distributors within the West Coast Region; acting as product expert and strategic lead for sales.
Staffed and then transformed the West Coast Region and Sales Team into the company's most profitable territory.

2. 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 west coast sales managers use product knowledge:

Develop and maintain customer base through rapport building, product knowledge, emphasizing features based on customers' needs.
Performed training meetings to enhance product knowledge and increase sales.

3. C-Level

C-Level refers to corporate-level jobs such as chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO). These positions are the highest level of management within a company and are typically earned after years of working at various positions within a single company. As C-level executives oversee large teams, excellent communication and management skills are required for these positions.

Here's how west coast sales managers use c-level:

Marketed web-based software to C-level for institutions between $250M - $4B in assets in 15 Western states.
Worked with C-level executives to secure business and create strategic partnerships to ensure future success.

4. Coast Territory

Here's how west coast sales managers use coast territory:

Initiated conversations and introduced Ratings & Review site capabilities with high-level executives at clients and agencies in West Coast territory.
Developed and executed sales and marketing plan for West Coast territory which include market specific product assignment and pricing.

5. Client Relationships

Here's how west coast sales managers use client relationships:

Travel to all current and perspective retail shops to maintain and expand client relationships.
Established personalized client relationships while building $300,000 in new sales in 5 months.

6. 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 west coast sales managers use crm:

Handled CRM functions which included promoting enduring relationships with a diverse clientele.
Reported all customer contact through Capsule CRM.

7. Distributors

A distributor is a supplier who provides stores with goods to sell. This maintains the separation between wholesalers and manufacturers, which is required in some state markets like alcoholic beverages. Distributors are responsible for quickly and safely delivering products to wherever the product is sold in addition to offering special deals for larger packages of product and even introducing a manufacturing company to more wholesalers.

Here's how west coast sales managers use distributors:

Educated and developed relationships with distributors and distributor representatives to gain new business in territory.
Connected with customers and distributors via social media to develop sales and distributor relationships.

8. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how west coast sales managers use customer satisfaction:

Recommend product and service enhancements to improve customer satisfaction and sales potential.
Managed the daily activities of account executives; oversee lead control, pricing, safety, and customer satisfaction.

9. Business Relationships

Here's how west coast sales managers use business relationships:

Developed new markets and strong business relationships with Hispanic business owners.
Nurtured business relationships through a highly consultative sales process with primary targets being SMBs.

10. Trade Shows

Here's how west coast sales managers use trade shows:

Worked various industry trade shows and found new distribution opportunities in previously-untapped markets.
Initiated company's participation in National Trade Shows and industry conferences.

11. 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 west coast sales managers use business development:

Increased revenue Developed new accounts Skills Used Public Speaking Promotions Training Business development Sales
Direct customer service and business development.

12. Product Line

Product line is a collection of similar or related products that may be under a single brand manufactured by the same company. It may include different varieties of a specific product of a brand which comes in different categories. In other cases, the product line may differ in some characteristics despite being from the same manufacturer.

Here's how west coast sales managers use product line:

Developed and tailored optimal product lines for each account and established in-depth training programs to promote growth.
Managed and trained 150 manufacturer's sales representatives responsible for promoting and selling product line.

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 west coast sales managers use account management:

Delegated account management duties by assigning and monitoring retirement accounts; supported Customer Service Manager with conflict resolutions and customer complaints.
Delivered proactive account management by providing business solutions to clients, as well as offering ideas/methods of increasing revenue through merchandising.

14. Sales Volume

Here's how west coast sales managers use sales volume:

Achieved the second largest growth and sales volume of the six territory representatives.
Have grown annual sales volume in California from $1.7M to $4.3M.

15. Sales Process

Here's how west coast sales managers use sales process:

Process all the documentations and drive compliance with relevant sales processes in completing the sales transactions.
Developed retail sales module, reducing hidden costs up to 50% & shortening sales process.

What skills help West Coast 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 west coast 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 west coast 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 west coast 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 west coast 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 west coast 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 west coast 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 west coast sales manager skills to add to your resume

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

Coast Region
Product Knowledge
C-Level
Coast Territory
Client Relationships
CRM
Distributors
Customer Satisfaction
Business Relationships
Trade Shows
Business Development
Product Line
Account Management
Sales Volume
Sales Process
Revenue Growth

Sales Strategies
Sales Presentations
Business Plan
Product Development
Sales Revenue
POS
ROI
Territory Sales
Sales Plan
Sales Training
Sales Growth
Direct Sales
Market Trends
RFP
Account Executives
OEM

Sales Performance
Sales Reps
Brand Development
Market Research
Saas
Direct Reports
Product Training
Event Planning
Contract Negotiations
PowerPoint
Sales People
Apple
Honda
Corporate Accounts

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

Browse executive management jobs