Opening Doors: All You Need to Know to Get Started as a Swiss Sales Manager

This job series is part of all Sales jobs in Switzerland series, check our other focus on the blog

What is the job of a Sales Manager?

Looking for an opportunity to step up your sales game with some leadership upgrades? A junior sales manager position could be the perfect fit for you. This role offers an excellent opportunity to hone your sales skills, manage a team, and make significant contributions to - of course - a company's sales efforts.

As a Sales Manager, your primary responsibility is to lead and manage a team of sales representatives to achieve the company's sales goals. You will be tasked with setting sales targets, developing strategic sales plans, and implementing them effectively.

You will also be responsible for recruiting, training, and mentoring new sales staff. Additionally, you will need to monitor the performance of your team members regularly and provide them with constructive feedback to help them improve their skills.

Your ultimate goal is not only meeting but exceeding the company's sales objectives while ensuring customer satisfaction.

What to expect in a Sales Manager role?

As a junior sales manager, you'll have the chance to demonstrate your leadership abilities, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. You are basically upgrading from a mere junior sales representative to the next baseline of responsibility: Sales + leading and guiding a sales team underneath you.

You'll need strong leadership skills to motivate your team and excellent communication skills to effectively convey the company's goals and objectives.

Your performance will largely be measured by the success of your team in meeting or exceeding their sales targets. Therefore, you should have a proven track record in sales along with experience in managing teams.

What are the myths about being a Sales Manager?

1. Myth: Sales Management is Just About Meeting Targets: Wrong! In reality, the role often involves strategic planning, market analysis, team leadership, and fostering long-term client relationships, which are crucial for sustainable business growth.
2. Myth: Sales Managers Must Be Aggressive: There's a misconception that successful sales management in Switzerland relies on aggressive tactics. In reality, Swiss business culture often values relationship-building, trust, and long-term partnerships over high-pressure sales techniques.
3. Myth: Limited to Domestic Markets: Another myth is that Sales Managers in Switzerland are primarily focused on domestic markets. However, due to Switzerland's strong global business connections, many sales roles also involve dealing with international markets and clients.

What are the competencies required for a Sales Manager?

1. Sales Expertise: A Sales Manager should have a deep understanding of the sales process, from lead generation to closing deals. They should be able to coach their team on effective sales techniques and strategies. This is true, even if they manage more than being in the trenches doing sales calls at this point.
2. Leadership and Team Management: The ability to motivate, inspire, and lead a team is crucial for a Sales Manager. They should be able to set clear goals, provide feedback, training, and development opportunities, and foster a positive and competitive environment.
3. Relationship Building and Client Management: Proficiency in building and maintaining strong client relationships, crucial for long-term business success in Switzerland's relationship-focused business culture. A Sales Manager needs to establish trust, respect, and rapport with various individuals to ensure long-term success.
   Bonus competence:
4. Understanding of Swiss Business Practices: Knowledge of Swiss business etiquette, negotiation practices, and legal regulations pertaining to sales and commerce within Switzerland.

What qualities are required for a Sales Manager?

1. Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential for a Sales Manager. They need to effectively communicate with their team, customers, and other stakeholders in the business. They should also be good listeners, understanding the needs and concerns of their team and customers.
2. Problem-Solving Skills: Inevitably, issues will arise in any sales process. A Sales Manager must have the ability to identify problems quickly and find effective solutions while maintaining composure under pressure.
3. Strategic Planning: The ability to develop effective sales strategies based on market trends, competitor analysis, and company goals is key for a Sales Manager. So, being able to analyze the market, understand consumer behaviour, and develop effective sales strategies tailored to the Swiss context is key.

What is the future of Sales Management?

As businesses continue to digitize their operations, Sales Managers will need to become proficient in using advanced CRM systems, predictive analytics tools, and other sales enablement technologies.

They will also need to adapt to the increasing importance of e-commerce and online sales channels.

Moreover, as customer expectations continue to evolve, Sales Managers will need to focus more on creating personalized buying experiences. This could involve leveraging data analytics to gain deeper insights into customer behaviour and preferences.

Lastly, we witness a growing emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices in sales, aligning with Switzerland's strong focus on environmental responsibility and corporate social accountability.

How to best start a career as a Sales Manager?

Starting a career as a Sales Manager requires a combination of sales experience and team management skills. Here's how you can best start:By now, you’ve likely put the reps in as a sales rep (see what we did here? 😅). You likely have results under your belt and you are ready to pay your experience forward.

If not, you should focus on these two things first:

1. Experience: Gain experience in sales or customer service roles to understand the basics of selling and dealing with customers. As you gain experience, aim for roles that offer more responsibility such as team lead or supervisor positions.
2. Skills Development: Develop key skills such as leadership, communication, negotiation, strategic planning and customer relationship management. These skills are crucial for managing a sales team and driving sales growth.
   If you have mastered these, you should focus on:
3. Networking: Build relationships within your industry. Attend industry events and join professional organizations to meet potential mentors and learn about job opportunities.
4. Researching companies: Look for companies that sell products or services you're interested in and see if they have any junior pre-sales positions available. Use job search websites, LinkedIn, and company career pages to find these opportunities. You can also scroll further down…

How to find the best Sales Manager jobs that suit you?

Interested, aren't you? We understand why... Junior sales manager roles in Switzerland provide a fantastic platform to absorb knowledge from experienced professionals and bring your distinct skills to dynamic teams.That's why we've meticulously selected a list of the most promising junior sales manager positions across our beautiful Switzerland. These opportunities are listed below and are updated regularly.

What are you waiting for? Apply with an intuitive short video application to stand out through moonwork.

We're excited for you to embark on this rewarding sales journey!