Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Coaching and Developing Others Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Developing and Building Teams Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

The Work

As an area sales manager, you typically manage sales team(s) within a specific area or region.

You are responsible for overseeing sales operations and for setting sales targets, as well as monitoring sales team performances.

Part of your duties also involve recruiting and training new sales team members, as well as motivating and supporting the existing sales teams.

You may report to a general manager and head office and the role often involves some travel between different offices within the area.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
• Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
• Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
• Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
• Determine price schedules and discount rates.
• Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
• Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
• Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
• Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
• Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Many Area Sales Managers start their careers as sales or customer service staff and then progress to supervisors, team managers and eventually Area Sales Manager. Any experience in the relevant industry will also be beneficial.

A degree in business, marketing, or a related field can sometimes be required, but to most employers, experience and track record are more important.

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship: Business Admin, Customer service, Sales Associate, Project & Supervisory Management in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Business Management, Sales, Marketing, Commerce, and Accounting at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: Accounting, Finance, Sales Apprenticeships NFQ level 6-8 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Business, Marketing and Sales, Commerce, Economics, Maths & Statistics, Accounts & Finance NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development

Postgraduate Study Options Sales, Business, Accounts, Management, Financial advice NFQ level 9

Last Updated: November, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €40k - €100k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role. Earnings [OTE on Target earnings] bonus may increase salary package depending on contract. 

Data Source(s):
Azon/ Sigmar/ Abrivia/ Clark/ Morgan McKinley/ Collins McNicolas/ Excel Recruitment

Last Updated: June, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels remained unchanged between 2021 and 2022 for this occupation. Employment was spread across many sectors with none large enough to report. Like business sales executives, the ICT sector appears to be the main beneficiary of employment permits issued in 2022 for this occupation. The difficult-to-fill mentions in the Recruitment Agency Survey related to sales/marketing managers and lead category managers.

Employers (Skills for Growth and Spotlight on Skills) identified sales account managers, key account managers and business development managers as being difficult to fill; key skills in demand included project management, relationship management and presentation skills. Nonetheless, the number of job adverts has fallen. Although employment levels remained stable, digitalisation and new business processes are likely to impact on the skills mix required for these roles.

• Irish Management Institute

  • Clonard, Sandyford Road, Dublin 16
  • 1800 22 33 88
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII)

  • Marketing House, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18
  • (01) 295 2355
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• The Executive Institute

  • 30 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2,
  • (01) 662 6904
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here