A sales coordinator is a person who acts as a liaison between the sales team and a customer before and after sales have been completed. They act as a support staff to the core sales team. Sales coordinator work does not play a large part in the actual sales process, however it consists of various administration related sales activities. Their core job responsibilities generally differ on the basis of the requirements and specifications of the company.
In an organization with a large sales team consisting of sales representatives, assistants, associates, supervisors, managers and a director, the role of a sales coordinator is important in order to ensure good relations with clients and customers as well as receiving feedback from them regarding the entire sales process.
Responsibilities
The functions of a sales coordinator can vary from one organization to another. While they mainly act as a point of contact for interested customers and communicate with them through the entire sales process, other tasks such as finding potential markets, conducting extensive market research and even training other employees may be carried out by them. They also arrange meetings and discussions between the sales team members and prepare presentations on the sales growth and goals of the company.
Besides these functions, communicating with external sources regarding the order and delivery of various sales products is carried out by sales coordinators. Maintaining good relations with not only customers and clients, but also with distribution agencies is essential for a sales coordinator to carry out his/her work efficiently. They also manage lead generation for prospective sales and conduct follow up work on the same. In some cases, they may work in a supervisory function and assign specific territories to the sales representatives and associates who report to them.
Skills
Being a part of the sales team, a sales coordinator must contain excellent interpersonal, communication and convincing skills. Due to the varying nature of their work, they should have good multi tasking and organizational skills. Basic knowledge of software programs such as MS Excel and PowerPoint is necessary as a major part of their job profile involves creation of reports and handling presentations on various work-related topics. Having the ability to motivate themselves as well as their team members is considered to be an exceptional trait in a sales coordinator.
Requirements
A bachelor's degree with specialization in marketing, sales or administration is considered to be the minimum requirement for those applying for the job of a sales coordinator. Some high profile jobs may also require a master's degree with additional sales training in the field. Prior experience in the this field is considered to be an advantage to gain advantage over other applicants. Most of the training required to carry out the tasks of a sales coordinator is conducted on the job, which is conducted by a senior sales coordinator or a sales manager.
Work Conditions
Unlike sales representatives who spend a major portion of their work outdoors in client's offices and have to subsequently travel a lot, a sales coordinator's job mainly consists of office based work with occasional traveling during client meetings, sales conventions, etc. They work for around 40 hours in a week with occasional instances of overtime whenever required by the company.
Career Advancement
Promotion to supervisory and managerial jobs is achieved with the help of exceptional performance, qualifications and experience in the company. They may also advance to job positions in other departments. The number of sales coordinator positions in companies has seen a gradual increase over the past few years and this trend will continue in the near future.
Earnings and Benefits
Sales coordinators earn between $36,000 and $55,000 depending upon a number of factors such as tenure in the organization, skills and performance. Those working in senior positions may earn higher salaries due to the higher responsibilities assigned to them. They get additional benefits such as pension plans, health insurance plans, paid vacations and sick leaves.
Sales coordinator work is a great option for those looking to pursue their goals in the field of sales and marketing. It provides invaluable experience in the field of sales and customer service, thus strengthening the base and preparing them for higher jobs in this field.