Sales Executive – Job Description

Sales executives work to a simple and common goal, whatever the sector or industry. It’s all about selling as much as possible.

It could be medical supplies, coffins, cars or food preparation hair nets. All you have to do is sell, sell, and sell.

Then you have to make sure your customer is happy both now and in the future, look for new sales leads, provide quotes and negotiate an agreed price, keep your own records up to date and collate customer and market information for analysing current and future buying trends.

That’s plenty to be getting on with, but the rewards tend to be excellent – especially if you exceed your targets.

Sales executives need to be competitive, self-motivated, resilient and determined. They can’t curl up into a ball at the first hint of rejection but then they can’t be too thick-skinned either – people skills are a huge element of the job and ‘getting’ the person you’re dealing with is the first step towards securing the sale.

Attitude, experience and ability are the first things employers will look for, but work-based qualifications such as NVQs in sales management or chartered institute diplomas in sales and account management are useful.

Browse our current vacancies in:

Sales, Retail and Business Development
Other recommended resources:

Sales Leadership Council
A research resource offering the latest information and innovations into practices, business challenges and productivity.

Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Sales Executive Council
A society of sales leaders aimed at sharing knowledge and developing professional relationships amongst sales executives and companies.

Chartered Institute of Marketing
A chartered mark for professionals engaged in aspects of marketing, they also offer a wide range of short courses and qualifications for career development.

Sales Leadership Alliance
A collaboration of leaders in the sales industry aimed at promoting standards, excellence and best practice across all levels.

Institute of Sales and Marketing Management
A worldwide representative body for all salespeople which also offers a number of qualifications and apprenticeships in the industry.

Marketing and Managing Sales Association
An organisation aimed at offering sales education through a number of qualifications recognised both in the UK and abroad.