Sales Managers: Schools and Careers

Job Popularity in Metro Areas for Sales Managers

The map below shows some metro areas where the profession is more popular, compared to the size of the population, than in the rest of the country. A table below the map shows job popularity and salaries across the US.

(Also see our complete career descriptions list.)

Metro Areas Rated for Popularity (as of 2007) for:
Sales Managers

Listed below are metro areas ranked by the popularity of jobs for Sales Managers relative to the population of the city, as of 2007.

Clicking on each city's name takes you to a detailed career profile for that city, providing the number of jobs, salaries, amount of training required, and more, for hundreds of job types.

Career Stories for Sales Managers

The inside stories from people actually working in the field.
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All Types

• National Sales Manager At An Office Supply Manufacturer

  Job Title: National Sales Manager At An Office Supply Manufacturer

  Education: BA in Economics, University of Massachusetts

  Previous Experience: I worked as a Territory Sales Manager and then as a Regional Sales Manager for various consumer products companies.

  Job Tasks: My company manufactures various office products and supplies. These are mostly used by people in a business environment. These products are also used by small business and home office users. I am responsible for creating a sales and marketing plan, and then working with our sales representatives to make sure it is implemented properly. I also have headquarter responsibility for the major accounts we do business with. These are major Fortune 500 customers that have stores and distribution centers throughout North America.

  Upwards of 85% of my day is spent on essential tasks. I have a sales administrator that handles most of the administrative tasks. Days in the office include talking on the phone, communicating by e-mail, creating sales presentations, documenting sales and expenses, forcasting products for production. I also work with our computer system. This allows me to see sales from individual customers, or see trends with various business groups of customers. This helps us target our products to better suit our customers' needs.

  While I am in my office I work with with other departments in the company, like customer service, accounting and marketing. My job also requires travel. When I am out of office I meet with customers and attend trade shows so they can see our products. I also travel with our sales representatives. While I am with them we will call on customers together. I will give them training and educate them on our product line. With my job there is also business entertaining involved. This usually involves dining with customers, playing golf or attending sporting or musical events.

  Best and Worst Parts of the Job: The best part of the job is the reward of getting a big order or landing a big account. The worst part of the job is that is it very stressful and there are a lot of demands on your time to hit deadlines.

  Job Tips: I would suggest working for a big multi-national company, to get experience and training. These types of companies have lots of resources and can give you experience that you can use for the rest of your business career. This also will help you later on, when looking for a job with another company, as this experience looks very good on a resume and gives more validity to your work history.

  Additional Thoughts: Sales can be very rewarding, both financially and emotionally. You need to be a self starter and be able to handle rejection to be successful in this career.

• Outside Sales Representative At A Moving Company

  Job Title: Outside Sales Representative At A Moving Company

  Education: BS in Business Administration, Northeastern University

  Previous Experience: I worked for my current company after graduating college. After six years I left and worked for a competitor in a similar role. I then returned to the current company after three years.

  Job Tasks: Our company is a full-service moving and storage company with locations throughout the east coast.

  As an outside sales representative, I meet with prospective clients, determine manpower and resource requirements for their move and provide them with an estimate.

  During peak call volume times (typically in the spring and summer months), I also help cover inbound telephone and internet sales calls. Often, these calls can be quoted over the phone after taking an inventory of a potential customer's house or apartment. When I speak with a customer that has a larger move and they seem like a well-qualified potential customer, I will then set up a time to meet with them at their house.

  I usually write estimates in their house so that I can review it with them and hopefully close the sale. On occassion, I will email or fax an estimate to them later that day or the next morning. I try to avoid this as much as possible.

  Approximately 70% of the day is spent on essential tasks and 30% is spent on administrative tasks (paperwork, returning phone calls, etc.).

  My travel is typically limited to the Eastern Massachusetts/Southern NH/Rhode Island areas. I am very rarely required to stay overnight anywhere.

  Through the use of the internet, I am able to log into my company's network and update work orders (information sheets that are printed out for moving crews so they know what equipment, materials they will need to complete the job). I also check email in between my appointments.

  Best and Worst Parts of the Job: The best part of my job is meeting with all kinds of different people. I also get to see many different styles of houses and furniture - some incredible mansions with extremely high-end furniture, and some very small, simple houses or apartments.

  I also like the independence I have in this role - as long as I am making good sales numbers, I am pretty much left along.

  I really like this job so it is difficult to find the worst part! I suppose the 2-3 sales and development meetings I have to attend each month. I have to drive into the city to attend these meetings and while I understand they are necessary, I really do not enjoy them for the most part.

  Job Tips: When looking to get into moving and storage sales, first try to find the best companies in your area. The Better Business Bureau and many web sites can be a useful tool.

  Get to know as much about the business as you can. Spend some time working on the trucks (packing, moving, etc.). You need to fully understand what you will be selling before you can sell it.

  The National Moving and Storage Association in Alexandria, VA can help you learn about the industry and also offers certification programs such as the Certified Moving Consultant.

  Additional Thoughts: We are in a very competitive business. There are alot of very good competitors and also alot of not-so-good competitors. Your job satisfaction will be much greater if you work for one of the best companies.

• Sales Executive In Catering

  Job Title: Sales Executive In Catering

  Education: BFA in Interior Architecture, CU Denver

  Previous Experience: I have extensive experiance in Telecommunications sales and the basic sales training that I recieved over the years has tought be the skills that I use everyday. I moved into Catering as it is a family business, however the sales process, while more simple from a product perspective, is similar.

  Job Tasks: My company is a corporate catering company focusing on breakfast, lunch and dinner for the executive group. We do not focus on the wedding or social party business. I call upon office administrators who are in charge of ordering food for client meetings, trainings, executive lunches, etc. I spend at least four hours a day on the phone with prospective and repeat clients. I ask them how often they bring in food from catering companies, what kind of food they bring in and for how many. I attempt to establish if we would be a good fit for thier needs and learn how they do their business - as it relates to me. For example: they order in lunch everyday and have frequent breakfast meetings - this is a good prospect. Companies that run regular training classes are good clients for me. I call these companies at least once a week, frequently more.

  Call backs to clients is also important. I call back to those who have tried our food for the first time, touch base with those who I have not talked to recently as well as call those who have not ordered in a few weeks in order to make sure there is not a problem.

  The other part of my day consists of writting orders, assisting in database management, and some marketing. I do not travel.

  Best and Worst Parts of the Job: The best part of my job is the food! It is a fun thing to talk about. The worst part is when we mess up. It really puts people - my contacts - the ones that do the ordering in a terrific jam. And unfortunately, in every business there are mess-ups.

  Job Tips: I suggest working for a larger organization with good sales training as a start. While this is primarily a relationship sale there are times when knowing how to handle objections and ask the hard questions are necessary skills. Start by being the small fish in a large pond - there will be successfull people to emulate and examples of what not to do.

  Additional Thoughts: Catering is typically a very unprofessional business. Pick the company very carefully. A good chef does not necessarily make a good business manager.

• Senior Account Manager At A Radio Station

  Job Title: Senior Account Manager At A Radio Station

  Education: BA Political Science, Westfield State College

  Previous Experience: Development Assistant (Fundraising) for a non-profit women's organization Advertising Assistant Major Multi-location, retailer in Boston Radio Sales at other radio stations

  Job Tasks: The station I work for is a 50,000 watt radio station licensed in Boston, MA. I work with a variety of clients to develop branding and advertising programs utilizing on-air commercials as well as digital interactives. I work with people in a very diverse list of industries. My clients include Boch Automotive, Avon Breast Cancer Walk, iParty, Simon Malls, TD Banknorth Garden, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and the JFK Museum and Library. I work both directly with clients and with advertising agencies who are hired to coordinate complex programs. Because my business is dependent on repeat business, I must maintain close relationships and build long standing trust. My clients have many radio stations to choose from so I need to establish myself as their advisor in what can be a very uncertain environment. As for travel, most of my clients are local so I only need to travel in the general listening area of the radio station which is as far west as Worcester and everything east. However, I do have several clients around the country that I service, as well. Those relationships are harder to maintain as they are rarely face-to-face. They are handled through phone calls, emails, and fax machines. Occasionally, these clients make trips into the market and I see them sometimes only once a year. My account list can change quickly as business merge or go out of business. I have to continuously prospect for new clients and I can do that by seeing who is advertising in other places like TV, Newspapers, etc.

  Best and Worst Parts of the Job: The best part of my job is the flexibility. I am able to work around my children's school and activities. Since I essentially run my own business, my income is limited only by the amount of time I choose to put in and occasionally by running out of product. A radio station has a limited number of commercials that we run in an hour and sometimes we can be sold out.

  Job Tips:
  1. Be ready not to make any money during the first year

  2. Be ready to make a lot of money if you put in the time

  3. Be ready for a lot of rejection

  4. Do it because you love it

  5. Be persistant and wear a suit of armor.