Skill path
How to become a Sales Manager
How to become a Sales Manager: skill roadmap with 5 core skills, degree usually required, courses and salary data. Updated weekly.
Education & experience requirements
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
- On-the-job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Foundations
Skills assumed by employers — the base to build on
- Sales techniquesFoundation
Methods to persuade customers to buy are crucial for sales roles. These professionals drive revenue. Learn by studying persuasive communication and practicing.
- Sales forecastingFoundation
Predicting future sales using data helps sales managers plan quotas and inventory. Learn by studying basic statistics and analyzing sales history.
- Customer relationship managementFoundation
CRM tools track interactions with customers to manage leads and follow-ups. Sales professionals need this. Learn by practicing with CRM platforms.
- Team leadershipFoundation
Motivating and guiding groups. Producers, directors, and sales managers use this to achieve project or sales goals.
Core skills
The skills that define the role today
- ExcelHigh demand
A spreadsheet program for data organization and analysis. Essential for accountants and many other roles to manage and interpret data.
- SalesforceHigh demand
A CRM platform for managing customer relationships and sales processes. Employers use it to track interactions and automate workflows. Learn through Salesforce's own training paths and practical use.
- Time SeriesHigh demand
Statistical techniques for temporal data. Employers need trend and seasonality analysis. Learn through statistics courses and applied projects.
- Legal ResearchHigh demand
Finding and analyzing legal information. Professionals use this to understand regulations and ensure compliance in various fields.
- CRMHigh demand
Software to manage customer interactions, leads, and sales data. Needed for client retention and growth. Learn through system training and customer-facing experience.
Tools in demand
Specific tools that appear in live postings
- SalesforceIn demand
A CRM platform for managing customer relationships and sales processes. Employers use it to track interactions and automate workflows. Learn through Salesforce's own training paths and practical use.