Difference Between Sales Executive and Sales Manager
Job Duties and Work Locations
- Job duties – Sales executives oversee the sales process and strategy, while sales managers provide direction to their teams and develop their skills.
- Work locations – Sales executives are office-based, whereas sales managers often travel to attend meetings and conduct training.
Requirements
- Sales executives require a bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience.
- Sales managers need a high school diploma and 1-3 years of experience.
Organizational Hierarchy
The sales executive role is more strategic, sitting above the sales manager role in the company hierarchy. Sales executives develop plans and build client relationships, while sales managers handle the daily operations and training of sales staff.
Other Sales Leadership Positions
- Chief Sales Officer: Leads all sales functions.
- Chief Sales Executive: Oversees sales departments.
- CEO of Sales: Manages sales for a specific industry.
Skills for Success
Sales executives need strong communication and problem-solving skills, with a significant emphasis on relationship building.