Non-Retail Sales Supervisors
Non-retail sales supervisors oversee salespersons and sometimes related employees including customer service representatives, wholesale salespersons, sales engineers, stock clerks and order fillers. They often oversee the activities of salespersons who sell industrial items or services such as financial or advertising. Some of these supervisors have titles such as department manager or sales manager.
Some sales worker supervisors prepare budgets, create sales-incentive programs and approve sales contracts. Many non-retail sales supervisors interview, hire and train employees. Also, in small companies, non-retail sales supervisors may oversee the operation of the entire business.
Responsibilities
- Prepare work schedules
- Assign specific tasks to employees
- Resolve customer complaints
- Work with managers to create strategies for increasing sales
- Monitor sales staff to see if sales goals have been reached
- Assist staff with complicated tasks
- Attend company meetings
- Create sales and inventory reports for management and budget departments
Job Characteristics
Sales supervisors typically work at least 40 hours per week. Evening and weekend work is sometimes required. Work schedules can change on a weekly basis. Sometimes they are asked to show up at work on short notice, particularly when an employee is absent.
First-line non-retail sales supervisors need to have good communications skills and get along well with all types of people. Good judgement, initiative, motivational skills, organizational skills, patience and decisiveness are important assets for the occupation.
Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2006 and 2016 employment of sale workers supervisors is projected to grow by 4 percent, which is slower than the average for all occupations. However, faster than average employment growth is projected for supervisors of service providing companies. The job growth for non-retail sales supervisors is connected to the employment growth in particular industries.
Strong competition is forecasted for sales supervisor jobs in non-retail businesses, especially for jobs with above average earnings and attractive work environments.
In 2006 the median earnings for supervisors of non-retail sales employees, including commissions, was $65,510. The highest 10 percent earned over $135,270. The lowest 10 percent earned $34,840. Many sales supervisors receive a salary and commissions.
Due to the increase of the use of the Internet, some companies hire Internet sales supervisors who are responsible for overseeing and maintaining a web site.
Post secondary degrees may help supervisors obtain assistant manager or manager positions. Supervisors who display team-building skills, leadership qualities and motivation skills improve their chances of advancing into management positions.
Education, Certification, and Licensing
Non-retail sales supervisors have various educational backgrounds. Those with post secondary education typically have a bachelor or an associate degree in management, marketing, business or in the social sciences. Computer skills are also important in the occupation.
Valuable college courses include marketing, accounting, management, sales, psychology and communications. Classroom learning in inventory management, customer service and employee relations is beneficial. Those with college degrees can typically enter management training programs without having a lot of experience.
Major Employers
Some of the major industries hiring non-retail sales supervisors are wholesale electronic markets; professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers; business support services, insurance, finance, and machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers.
Schools for Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers are listed in the Browse Schools Section.
