Are you a fresh graduate or a young professional seeking to embark on a career path that offers vast growth opportunities and lucrative salary packages? Look no further than Sales manager, a role that has emerged as one of the most popular career choices in India's job market.
With the rise of e-commerce, startups, and digital marketing, companies are in dire need of skilled sales managers who can drive revenue growth and expand their customer base.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of becoming a Sales Manager, along with job potential and career paths.
Who is a Sales Manager?
Sales managers play a crucial role in driving revenue growth for businesses. As a sales manager, you will be responsible for leading a team of sales representatives and executing strategies to achieve sales targets. You will also be responsible for managing relationships with clients, identifying new business opportunities, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Skills required to be a sales manager
To succeed as a sales manager, you need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong leadership abilities, and the ability to motivate your team to achieve their targets.
Education and Certification Options for Sales Managers
While there is no specific degree required to become a Sales Manager, it is beneficial to have a formal education in marketing or business administration.
Several colleges offer courses such as a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (BBA) or a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) with specialisations like Marketing or Sales Management.
Moreover, diploma courses in Sales Management help develop the specialised skills necessary for this field. Some popular certification courses include:
- Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)
- Certified Marketing Executive (CME)
- Diploma in Retail Management (DRM)
The duration of these programmes varies from 4 months to one year, with fees ranging from INR 20,000 to INR 50,000.
Job Potential and Career Paths for Sales Managers
Sales managers are in high demand across a variety of industries, such as FMCG, pharmaceuticals, real estate, insurance, banking, and finance. According to recent research conducted by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, employment for sales managers is expected to grow by 5% from 2019 to 2029.
Aspiring sales managers can choose from various job roles such as Key Account Manager, Channel Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, or Business Development Manager based on their interests and skillset.
Some of the responsibilities of different types of Sales Managers include:
- Key Account Manager: managing relationships with key clients
- Channel Sales Manager: overseeing sales through distributors or intermediaries
- Regional/Area/Zone Sales Manager: managing sales teams across multiple territories within the country
- Business Development Manager: identifying new business opportunities and driving growth
- Inside Sale Managers: managing sales from inside the company
- Retail Sale Managers: managing sales teams in retail settings
Salaries and Benefits for Sales Managers
Salaries for sales managers vary depending on the industry, specialisation, and experience level.
On average, entry-level sales managers earn around ₹8 lakhs per annum, which increases with years of experience up to ₹20 lakhs per annum at senior levels.
The following table provides a summary of average salary ranges based on industry level:
Apart from competitive salaries, sales managers often receive benefits such as performance incentives, bonuses, and health insurance. Additionally, many companies offer incentives such as bonuses or stock options that can significantly boost earnings.
Sales managers also enjoy several other benefits, including flexible work hours, opportunities to work with diverse clients, and the potential to travel extensively within the country or abroad.
Upskilling Opportunities for Sales Managers
Continuous learning is essential to staying relevant in the ever-evolving field of sales management. Participating in workshops, seminars, and training programmes can help you learn new sales techniques, gain insights into consumer behaviour, and keep up-to-date with industry trends.
There are various upskilling certification courses available that cater to different specialisations within the industry, such as Google's Online Marketing Certification Programmes or the Facebook Blueprint Certification Programme, that help professionals learn about digital marketing techniques and strategies.
Industry Growth Trends and Future Outlook for Sales Managers
The Indian Sales Management industry is growing at a rapid pace across sectors such as IT services, FMCGs, and healthcare, among others. As organisations focus on expanding their customer base through innovative sales strategies, there is a high demand for skilled sales managers across industries.
In addition to traditional skill sets like communication skills and negotiation abilities, data analytics, social media marketing expertise, and familiarity with CRM tools are fast becoming necessary skillsets for success within this field.
Sales Management Success is Within Reach
Congratulations on making it to the end of this step-by-step guide on how to become a successful Sales Manager in India. With a clear understanding of the role, education, and industry growth trends, you are well-equipped to take your first steps towards a fulfilling career in sales management.
Remember that success as a Sales Manager requires continuous learning and upskilling, which WIZR can help facilitate with their finance solutions for young professionals seeking career-focused certification programmes. Contact WIZR today to get started.
FAQs
1. Can I become a sales manager without prior experience?
While having prior experience can be advantageous while pursuing jobs as a sales manager in India, there are companies that offer internal training programmes wherein freshers can also grow into this position with time.
2. Is field work compulsory to be a sales manager?
Yes, fieldwork is often an integral part of becoming a successful sales manager, as it helps build relationships with clients and understand their needs better.
3. Can sales managers apply for jobs abroad?
Yes! Sales managers are in demand globally across industries like IT, healthcare, retail, and more.
4. How soon do sales managers get promotions?
It depends on various factors such as individual performance, company policies, etc., but typically it takes around 2-3 years to get promoted.
5. Who earns more: sales managers or data managers?
The salary of both roles varies depending on experience and industry, but on average, sales managers earn more than data managers due to the revenue they generate for their organisations.
