A career in sales is upcoming and exciting job option. A sales worker supervisor examines the work of sales and related workers like cashiers, salespersons, stock clerks, customer service representatives, wholesale sales representatives, and sales engineers.
Nature of Work
The responsibility of a sales worker supervisor is to interview, employ, and offer training to employees. These supervisors prepare schedule and assign employees specific tasks. Some of these supervisors are called department managers or sales managers.
In retail firms, sales worker supervisors make sure that consumers receive quality goods and satisfactory service. They are answerable to customer's queries. Sometimes, sales workers supervisors deal with accounting, budgeting, and purchasing.
Sales worker may sell insurance policies, industrial products, internet services, financial, advertising, etc. These sales workers have to work under the guidance of sales worker supervisors.
Sales worker supervisors may prepare budgets, plan sales incentive programs, make personal decisions, and endorse sales contracts. In small firms, sales worker supervisors are responsible to direct and supervise sales associates. They are also accountable for the operation of the entire firm.
Sales worker supervisors work in the spacious and comfortable offices. In retail firms, their offices are within stores, generally, in the proximity of the area they supervise. Sales worker supervisors spend much of their time in their respective offices. Working hours of these supervisors differ because work schedules, usually, rely on customers' requirements. Sales workers supervisors generally work forty hours a week. Sometimes, supervisors need to work on weekends and evenings, however, they are given a day off during the week.
Generally, sales worker supervisors learn principles, practices, and gain the knowledge of management through work experience. Many sales worker supervisors started their careers as salespersons, customer service representatives, and cashiers. These workers have to be decisive, patient, and sales-oriented.
The educational backgrounds of sales worker supervisors differ extensively. Candidates who have completed bachelor's degree in social sciences, liberal arts, management, or business are preferred. Some of the high schools or colleges offer courses in sales, management, accounting, and marketing.
A sales worker supervisor should have sound knowledge of computers because they need to use it at the workplace. The use of computer is extended as all inventory control systems, cash registers, contracts, and sales quotes are computerized. Candidates holding experience in sales are eligible to become sales worker supervisors. Many sales worker supervisors possess experience in retail sales.
The training available to supervisors may vary by size and nature of work of a company. Some national companies offer formal training programs for trainees. This training incorporates both classroom and on-site training. Training differs in many respects. Some training sessions last one week and some more than one year.
Generally, classroom training consists of topics like customer service skills, interviewing, scheduling, employee relations, inventory management, etc. Management trainees have to work in a specific department whilst training on the job or they are sent to many departments to gain thorough knowledge of company's execution.
Generally, training programs for retail franchises are extensive, which covers all elements of a company's operation comprising of management, budgeting, marketing, purchasing, finance, human resource management, product preparation, and compensation. Candidates who have completed graduation may enter management training programs without having much experience.
The emergence of internet and other electronic technology has created new opportunities to reach and interact with prospective customers. Many establishments started employing internet sales supervisors who answer questions related to price, products, and the terms and conditions of delivery.
The arrival of electronic technology has benefited the international business at the same time it reduced the number of additional sales workers required in stores. Candidates who have ample experience in sales as cashiers, salespersons, or customers service representatives have utmost opportunity to carve a better career as supervisors.
The pay scale for sales worker supervisors may differ significantly depending upon the responsibilities, size, type, and location of a firm. Generally, the pay scale for sales worker supervisors is $33,960 per annum including commissions.