The responsibilities of a sales executive depend entirely on the market type. However the basic duties are developing and maintaining rapport with existing clients through e-mails, telephone calls, and meetings. He visits prospective customers to look out for new opportunities. He is a liaising officer between the business house and the potential market. He monitors the terms and conditions of a sales contract and also sees to the closing of a deal. He gathers customers and market information. He represents the company at conferences, events, and trade exhibitions. He also does special promotions of the products along with the marketing team. He informs the production team about impending product requirements for sales. He keeps checking with the production section about advancement of present orders. He keeps track of the quantity of merchandise in the stockpile so that the imminent demands are met. He makes records and submits sales reports to the seniors of his team. He makes rapid and accurate cost calculations and renders the customers with appropriate quotations. Some other jobs performed are reviewing sales performance to meet or even exceed the targets and having a crystal clear understanding of the business and needs of customers.
The area of sales is open to graduates from almost all of the fields. However there are certain subjects like business management, computing, and engineering that will improve the job prospects greatly. The long and short of it is that a sales executive must have a technical know-how of the field he is involved in.
To be sales executive, the possession of the right skill set is mandatory. The academic qualifications hold low key. What is needed is the right attitude, a persuasive and polite demeanor, excellent communication skills, and commercial awareness. He should have the potential to persuade and generate sales. He should always be determined and confident in his approach. He should have the resilience to deal with something like a sales deal that fails at the very last moment. He should be ambitious and motivated. He should have both the capacities of working independently and working on a team. He should have the initiative to push through, even in highly competitive circumstances. Fluency in a foreign language and possessing a driving license will be added advantages.
In house training by the employing company is often provided to sales executives. Most firms have a crash training course for new entrants. These cover a complete knowledge of goods, services, or products as well as different methods that are to be put into operation for administering sales. These training programs are mainly conducted by senior officers in sales. The training courses also train them about handling potential rejections or objections and also selling special products and services. The graduate, in the first few months, usually spends the lion's share of their working time in learning different sales strategies. They, at this stage of their career are not usually going to meet their sales targets. They are just expected to hone their selling skills. A sales executive, even after achieving prosperity, should keep himself updated about the latest sales strategies for further development and advancements.
It is usually recommended to gain sufficient sales experiences before applying for the position of a sales executive. Bo doing so, one would have high chances of earning a fat pay-package.
There are several chances of getting good jobs in this field. Chances of promotions to the managerial level are also good with experience and performance. With seniority, one may be asked to handle more prestigious and complicated sales projects of vending certain key products. Moreover, senior sales executives may also be given the responsibility to work on huge accounts, like selling to wholesalers and retail buyers.
The salary of a fresh sales executive can vary from $20,000 to $45,000. However, those having a solid experience of a few years can earn a fat amount that ranges from $38,000 to even $100,000.
So, make a career as sales executive and enjoy a lavish remuneration.
