sales executive job description

Although sales-related duties can be job-specific and depend on the company that you work for, most sales executives perform the following tasks daily: • generating new leads: as a sales executive, your research and identify potential customers to increase sales for your company. You identify potential customers from various sources or pursue leads generated from marketing efforts. You also book sales appointments to encourage potential customers to buy from the company. • selling product benefits: as a sales executive, you explain the features of a product to potential customers. Your job is to sell the benefits of the products and services to encourage sales. • creating proposals and cold calling: as a sales executive, you introduce your products to potential customers through phone calls or pitching ideas to businesses. When customers show interest in your products, you write proposals and quotes based on their needs. • building relationships with customers: as a sales executive, you build and maintain relationships with your customers. You resolve any issues during each sale to ensure your customers are happy. Customers' trust means you can upsell or cross-sell products to your existing customer base more effectively. • maintaining your customer database: sales executives maintain a customer database using customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Your job is to track customer interactions and identify ways to increase sales.

While sales executives usually work in office environments, the role also entails significant travel. Sales executives often meet customers on-site, and this may include international destinations. If you prefer a fixed environment and set daily routines, the role of a sales executive may be different for you.

who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues might include sales consultants , relationship managers and sales representatives . You might also be working close to sales managers and accountants , as well as other specialists that could consist of, but not be limited to, customer service assistants, marketing managers and field sales representatives .

The work schedule of a sales executive is 9 am to 5 pm. The broad nature of the role routinely requires long hours, so starting early or finishing late is often expected. Additionally, your clients may be in different time zones and expect to be able to contact you (and receive a response) outside your regular schedule. In some cases, sales executives work remotely. However, you still travel to meet clients and undertake other job-related, in-person obligations, extending your working hours. Although part-time work as a sales executive is not commonly available, it is possible to find roles that offer flexible working hours.

A career as a sales executive provides various options for building your career and eventually moving into a managerial position. Most sales executives start their careers as junior sales executives. When you have years of experience, you can be promoted to senior sales executive. Senior sales executives tend to work with a company's largest clients, offering the perfect opportunity to hone your skills further. As an experienced senior sales executive, you join the managerial track and become a sales director.

advantages of finding a sales executive job through randstad

a wide variety of training and development opportunities • an experienced contact person to provide help if needed • a range of opportunities in your area • get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job • temporary and permanent contracts Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a sales executive is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent career. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

what is the salary for a sales executive?

The average remuneration of a sales executive is $80,000 per year. The salary depends on your skills and experience. When you have minimal experience and qualifications, your salary is $70,000 annually. As your experience improves, your earnings increase to $90,000 annually. Selling some types of products also attracts higher earnings.

what are the main duties of a sales executive?

As a sales executive, your primary role is to find new customers and maintain good relationships with existing clients. You reach out to customers and convince them to buy company products. You also act as a point of contact between your company and its customers. You negotiate terms of sales and respond to customer queries.

is sales executive a high position?

As a sales executive, you work under the sales manager. Your job is to help customers find the products they need. A sales executive position is a client-facing role that generates new sales for the company. Increasing your experience helps you progress to higher positions.

what qualifications are required for sales executives?

You don't require formal educational qualifications to become a sales executive. However, a bachelor's degree in marketing or sales improves your skills and job prospects. You can gain experience through part-time roles in sales and marketing.

is sales executive a stressful job?

No. Working as a sales executive is exciting if you enjoy building relationships with people and helping them find their needs. Sales executives have many opportunities for career development and a good salary.

how do I apply for a sales executive vacancy?

Applying for a sales executive job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter . Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here .

sales executive

what is a sales executive?

As a sales executive, you liaise between customers and the company. From initial contact to facilitating continued business, your ability to build and nurture profitable relationships directly impacts your company's growth and performance. Successful sales executives are naturally good at creating a personal connection and utilising this skill to negotiate deals.

As a sales executive, you also take on the role of a client relationship manager once the initial sale has been made. As the main point of contact, you provide helpful insights about clients' expectations to up-sell further opportunities.

what do sales executives do?

Sales executives work in all industries, and any organisation that sells products or services requires someone in this role. As a sales executive, you work in business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) sales, acting as the primary contact between your employer and the target market.

In order to be effective in sales, it is crucial to be very familiar with the products and services you sell. You might attend product training events and seminars, and you are invariably required to travel to meet clients, making this job ideal for those who love visiting new places. A successful sales executive needs a wide-ranging skill set that includes excellent people skills, well-developed communication skills and the ability to anticipate customer needs.

sales executive jobs

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average salary of a sales executive

Sales executive remuneration packages usually combine basic salaries and performance-related earnings. The average salary of a sales executive is $80,000 per year. When you are new to the role, your earnings are $70,000 annually, including performance-based commissions. As you improve your experience, your yearly remuneration increases to over $90,000.

how to increase your salary as a sales executive

Sales executive earnings vary depending on performance, so your wages are higher if you sell additional products. Some companies pay their sales executives a percentage of the revenue generated from sales. The products or services you sell also influence your earnings. When you sell valuable products like jewellery, your earning potential is higher than selling consumer goods.

When you sell to businesses, your remuneration package is higher than selling to personal customers. That's because companies will have significant orders compared to individuals. Other general salaries factors like your experience and skills also influence your earnings. As an experienced sales executive, you have a strong track record and sell large amounts of expensive products to businesses.

Want to know more about what you will earn as a sales executive? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

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sales executive jobs

2

types of sales executives

The types of sales executives include:

• business to business (B2B): as a B2B sales executive, you mainly sell services and products to other companies. B2B sales executives use their skills to develop business relationships with procurement officers and usually focus on selling large volumes of products to business customers. B2B sales executives need a deep understanding of corporate procurement to excel.

• business to consumer (B2C): as a B2C sales executive, you sell products and services directly to end-users or customers. B2C sales executives generally manage more clients than B2B sales executives and focus on selling smaller quantities to individual customers.

male and female sitting at table having a chat, while female working on a tablet.

3

working as a sales executive

As a sales executive, you find new customers for the company's products and services. Here are the specific duties and the work schedules involved in the role:

sales executive job description

Although sales-related duties can be job-specific and depend on the company that you work for, most sales executives perform the following tasks daily:

• generating new leads: as a sales executive, your research and identify potential customers to increase sales for your company. You identify potential customers from various sources or pursue leads generated from marketing efforts. You also book sales appointments to encourage potential customers to buy from the company.

• selling product benefits: as a sales executive, you explain the features of a product to potential customers. Your job is to sell the benefits of the products and services to encourage sales.

• creating proposals and cold calling: as a sales executive, you introduce your products to potential customers through phone calls or pitching ideas to businesses. When customers show interest in your products, you write proposals and quotes based on their needs.

• building relationships with customers: as a sales executive, you build and maintain relationships with your customers. You resolve any issues during each sale to ensure your customers are happy. Customers' trust means you can upsell or cross-sell products to your existing customer base more effectively.

• maintaining your customer database: sales executives maintain a customer database using customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Your job is to track customer interactions and identify ways to increase sales.
work environment

While sales executives usually work in office environments, the role also entails significant travel. Sales executives often meet customers on-site, and this may include international destinations. If you prefer a fixed environment and set daily routines, the role of a sales executive may be different for you.
who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and industry, your colleagues might include sales consultants, relationship managers and sales representatives. You might also be working close to sales managers and accountants, as well as other specialists that could consist of, but not be limited to, customer service assistants, marketing managers and field sales representatives.
work schedule

The work schedule of a sales executive is 9 am to 5 pm. The broad nature of the role routinely requires long hours, so starting early or finishing late is often expected. Additionally, your clients may be in different time zones and expect to be able to contact you (and receive a response) outside your regular schedule. In some cases, sales executives work remotely. However, you still travel to meet clients and undertake other job-related, in-person obligations, extending your working hours. Although part-time work as a sales executive is not commonly available, it is possible to find roles that offer flexible working hours.
job outlook

A career as a sales executive provides various options for building your career and eventually moving into a managerial position. Most sales executives start their careers as junior sales executives. When you have years of experience, you can be promoted to senior sales executive. Senior sales executives tend to work with a company's largest clients, offering the perfect opportunity to hone your skills further. As an experienced senior sales executive, you join the managerial track and become a sales director.
advantages of finding a sales executive job through randstad

a wide variety of training and development opportunities

• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed

• a range of opportunities in your area

• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job

• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a sales executive is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent career. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers every year thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.

4

education and skills

While formal education is not mandatory for becoming a sales executive, the following qualifications can improve your job prospects:

• bachelor's degree: a bachelor's degree in marketing or business improves your employment prospects. Completing a bachelor's degree will help you develop and strengthen your sales skills.

• experience: to become a successful sales executive, you require sales experience. You can gain experience through entry-level sales positions or customer service roles. Some companies also provide on-the-job training to help you improve your skills.

sales executive skills and competencies

For success in the role of a sales executive, you require the following sales skills and competencies:

• people skills: properly connecting with clients requires good relationship-building skills and excellent written and verbal communication. Anticipating a client's needs is important, but effectively communicating your understanding of their requirements is vital.

• ability to work independently: sales executives often work towards specific targets with little or no supervision. Managing your workday and prioritising tasks in order of importance is crucial to reach your goals.

• organisational skills: tracking everything is how you turn a natural affinity for building relationships into a successful career as a sales executive. From contracts to travel schedules, negotiation documents and sales reports, keeping up with your administrative responsibilities is important.

• interpersonal skills: as a sales executive, you require strong persuasive skills to convince customers to buy products. Your interpersonal skills help you to build long-term customer relationships that make your clients feel valued.

• product knowledge: as a sales executive, knowing every aspect of your company's products or services is crucial. Understanding the products helps you answer customer questions and explain the product's benefits.

• commitment: sales executive roles are results-driven, and you will only meet your targets with commitment. Along with effective time management, your responsibility improves your performance and advances your career.

5

FAQs about working as a sales executive

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a sales executive.

what is the salary for a sales executive?

The average remuneration of a sales executive is $80,000 per year. The salary depends on your skills and experience. When you have minimal experience and qualifications, your salary is $70,000 annually. As your experience improves, your earnings increase to $90,000 annually. Selling some types of products also attracts higher earnings.
what are the main duties of a sales executive?

As a sales executive, your primary role is to find new customers and maintain good relationships with existing clients. You reach out to customers and convince them to buy company products. You also act as a point of contact between your company and its customers. You negotiate terms of sales and respond to customer queries.
is sales executive a high position?

As a sales executive, you work under the sales manager. Your job is to help customers find the products they need. A sales executive position is a client-facing role that generates new sales for the company. Increasing your experience helps you progress to higher positions.
what qualifications are required for sales executives?

You don't require formal educational qualifications to become a sales executive. However, a bachelor's degree in marketing or sales improves your skills and job prospects. You can gain experience through part-time roles in sales and marketing.
is sales executive a stressful job?

No. Working as a sales executive is exciting if you enjoy building relationships with people and helping them find their needs. Sales executives have many opportunities for career development and a good salary.
how do I apply for a sales executive vacancy?

Applying for a sales executive job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.

sales executive.