Sales Coordinator
Sales Manager, Director of Sales
As a Sales Executive, I work in a team and I do quiet a lot of things! An important task I have is to make contact with potential clients and try to sell our hotel's products and services, which range from accommodation (rooms) to venues which are hired for special events such as weddings, conferences, seminars, parties and a lot of other events.
- Build and keep a good relationship with regular clients (I do this by phoning them, sending out e-mails, using social networking tools and I also setting up the occasional meeting so we meet face to face)
- Identify new business opportunities and make contact with those who could become future clients
- Conduct sales presentations to potential clients (during which I give out a lot of information on our products and services)
- Provide clients with quotations which basically means how much the services or products cost (such as the renting of a venue for a wedding)
- Negotiate with the client on a number of things (such as the cost of hotel accomodation for a large number of people attending a conference)
- Coordinate with other departments within the hotel (so as to make sure that things run smoothly)
- Administration work such as recording sales, compiling sales reports, drawing up contracts, filing and sending invoices and replying to queries by e-mail or telephone
- Keep contact with the client before, during and also in some cases after the sale is made (following up is a good way to keep the client happy and increase the chances of repeat business!)
- Conduct research (such as surveys) so as to understand if the clients are happy with the services or products purchased
- Attend events such as trade fairs and exhibitions to promote our services and products (sometimes I even travel abroad to do this!)
- Confidence and determination (working in sales can be really tough sometimes!)
- A sociable and easy going manner
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Team working skills
- Sales skills and presentation skills (which I really need to help me persuade people to buy our products or services!)
- Customer service skills
- Problem solving and decision making skills
- Time management and multi tasking skills
- Planning, coordination and organisational skills
- Knowledge of marketing techniques such as cold calling (which means calling on clients, usually by telephone, without them expecting it)
- The ability to influence, persuade and negotiate
- The ability to work under pressure
- The ability to network and build up contacts (personal relationships are very important in my job)
- Flexibility (the ability to adapt to changing situations)
- Computer skills
- A high level of presentation and grooming (I really have to look smart!)
- Good business and commercial awerness
- An enthusiastic and positive atitude
- The ability to take initiative and come up with new ideas
- The ability to work in an extremely competitive and cut throat environment
There are a variety of courses you can choose from if you want to start off a career in Sales Courses range from Certificate courses to Diplomas and Degrees. Another route you can consider is to start working in the Tourism Industry and continue studying while gaining work experience. Bear in mind that Marketing is an area where experience is very important and is considered as a big advantage when applying for a job. So even if you are studying on a full-time basis, try to gain some kind of work experience. Courses include the following:
- Undergraduate courses at the University of Malta include the following:
- Diploma in Commerce
- Higher Diploma in Marketing and Sales Management