Sales manager

In your day-to-day duties you might:

• recruit and train sales staff
•  allocate areas to sales reps
•  identify new business opportunities
•  develop sales strategies and set sales targets
•  provide feedback and coaching to team members
•  monitor the team's performance and motivate them to reach targets
•  compile and analyse sales figures
•  report back to senior managers
•  keep up to date with products and competitors

• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• customer service skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• business management skills 
• leadership skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly
• training with a professional body

With experience and a good track record, you could take on larger sales areas or be promoted to regional, national or international sales manager.