Sales Managers Go Back to List Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Data mining software

Tasks
	Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
	Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
	Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
	Determine price schedules and discount rates.
	Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
	Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
	Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
	Advise dealers and distributors on policies and operating procedures to ensure functional effectiveness of business.
	Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
	Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.

Skills
	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Knowledge
	Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
	Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
	Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.   Related Experience:   A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $146,890.00 $70.61  $40.69  $49.02 - $83.13  Bridgeport/Stamford $158,679.00 $76.29  $42.65  $50.17 - $89.17  Danbury $144,473.00 $69.46  $38.79  $46.80 - $81.68  Hartford $146,033.00 $70.21  $41.88  $49.81 - $82.32  New Haven $140,454.00 $67.52  $39.70  $47.69 - $81.30  New London/Norwich $132,245.00 $63.58  $35.86  $42.31 - $81.45  Waterbury $145,798.00 $70.09  $36.50  $44.36 - $83.78  Torrington $127,400.00 $61.25  $37.96  $46.66 - $71.88

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   706   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow about as fast as average, and the number of annual openings will offer excellent job opportunities.

Related Occupations
	Advertising and Promotions Managers
	Marketing Managers
	Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
	Financial Managers, Branch or Department
	Transportation Managers
	Logistics Managers
	Human Resources Managers
	Training and Development Managers
	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.