what is a sales administrator?
A sales administrator offers after-sales support, arranges for deliveries and processes payments and sales orders. They are employed in almost all industries. For instance, you improve efficiency in order processing in retail stores. Some manufacturing companies and production facilities also need sales administrators to handle order processing and invoices.
As a sales administrator, you work directly for the business owner if you work in a small sales office. In a large organisation, you work within a team. However, most employers prefer to hire someone who works under minimum supervision. The job could be yours if you are hardworking, well organised and have an exceptional telephone manner.
what does a sales administrator do?
The job description of a sales administrator is primarily the same across all industries. Still, your tasks vary depending on the organisation you are working for. Sometimes, you compile monthly reports, maintain sales records and issue invoices after confirming order details. Some big organisations have multiple administrators to manage order processing in various product lines.
sales administrator jobsaverage sales administrator salary
A sales administrator pays a median remuneration package of $52,000 per year. The salary usually depends on experience and educational qualifications. For instance, an entry-level sales administrator takes home around $44,000 annually. As you improve your experience and skills in the role, your remuneration increases to over $62,000 per year. As a sales administrator, you also receive commissions for closing sales and processing orders. Some companies calculate commissions by percentage, while others pay commissions in annual bonuses to all employees. Working overtime also attracts a higher hourly rate.
what factors affect the remuneration package of a sales administrator?
The salary of a sales administrator relies on individual factors like education, skills and experience or external factors like company size, employer and location. Acquiring additional qualifications improves your expertise, increases your salary and allows you to negotiate for better pay or promotion. Work experience is vital for sales administrators and determines their remuneration. Employers pay more for added expertise.
The company size also influences your earnings since large organisations have a higher pay structure than medium-sized or small companies. Large companies provide additional benefits like better commissions and bonuses. Working in metro areas and large cities also improves your remuneration prospects due to the high demand for sales administrators.
Want to know what you will earn as a sales administrator? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of sales administrators
Some of the common sales administrators include:
- information technology sales administrators: your job is to promote the sale of information technology products, from computer hardware parts to software. You explain the purchase process to potential customers and help to process their orders.
- financial sales administrators: your job is to assist sales representatives with marketing financial products and services. You look for potential buyers online and respond to inquiries from the company website.
- industrial products sales administrators: as a sales administrator, you boost the sales of industrial products by sourcing clients who buy large quantities. You also help with order processing and payment confirmation before products are released from the warehouse.
- retail sales administrators: as a sales administrator, you work in business-to-business or business-to-customer sales. This is the most common sales administrator position in many industries with internal sales departments.
working as a sales administrator
As a sales administrator, you support the work of field sales agents by processing purchases and dealing with customer requests. You provide quotations and information on stock availability and delivery schedules. Let's explore the specific duties of a sales administrator.
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job description
Some of the typical roles of a sales administrator include:
- processing orders: as a sales administrator, you process sales orders that reach the company through email, website or telephone. You also process sales orders from field representatives and telesales teams. Your job involves checking if the customer has the correct details for prices, discounts and product numbers. If some information is missing in the order request, you contact the customer to specify the items' sizes, quantities or colours.
- recording orders: as a sales administrator, you record all sales and orders from various channels. You enter order details into the sales software and forward the details to dispatch teams or the production department. If a customer's records change, you correct the details before releasing the order to the delivery team.
- processing invoices: as a sales administrator, you ensure customers fulfil their payment obligations. After sending the initial quotation and organising the delivery date, you process invoices for the products sold. You ensure customers receive invoices alongside the deliveries.
- maintaining customer records: as a sales administrator, you manage the accounts of various customers. When a new client makes an order, you register them on the customer management software. You regularly update the records with details of the orders and invoices issued. These are useful sales reports that help in planning future marketing strategies.
- offering sales support: as a sales administrator, you support sales representatives and field agents. You pick up calls, answer emails and update colleagues on urgent issues. You also pass on technical queries from field representatives to the relevant departments and ensure sales reps have updated information on the delivery status of various orders.
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work environment
As a sales administrator, you work in various industries with sales departments, from retail and IT to mining and manufacturing companies. Your typical work environment is an office setting, and you work alongside other sales administrators. You spend most of the day on the phone and computer liaising with field agents and providing support with client orders.
Sales administrator roles involve minimal travelling since you complete most tasks from your office desk. Work from home and remote work opportunities are available since you do not meet with clients face-to-face.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include sales representatives, field sales agents, marketing executives and executive assistants. You might also be working in close proximity to sales managers, sales assistants, and marketing managers, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, office managers, account managers, logistics managers, procurement managers and delivery drivers.
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work schedule
The work schedule of a sales administrator ranges from 38 to 40 hours a week. You work from Monday to Friday and sometimes Saturday in a full-time position. You don't work overtime during off-peak seasons since you can complete your tasks within the stipulated time frame. However, during busy shopping periods like holidays, you work additional hours to keep up with the orders. Part-time positions are also available in the role.
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job outlook
You can move to managerial positions from a sales administrator role or specialise in specific aspects of business development. Sales administrators often become sales managers, accounts managers or assistant marketing managers. When you earn additional qualifications and skills, you move to higher managerial roles like business development manager or head of sales. Some sales managers specialise in customer account management and focus on becoming the head of accounts management. You can also become a consultant in the sales and marketing departments.
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advantages of finding a sales administrator job through randstad
Finding your sales administrator job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a sales administrator is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
You can become a sales administrator without formal educational qualifications if you have extensive experience in sales. However, completing some courses distinguishes you from your competitors.
- education: university degree and other tertiary qualifications are not mandatory for becoming a sales administrator. When you complete your NCEA qualifications, you may choose to pursue a certificate or diploma in business or sales. Alternatively, complete a three-year bachelor's degree in marketing, business management or commerce.
- work experience: you can gain experience through internships and entry-level sales jobs, which offer exposure to the sales industry functions and customer service skills. Most companies also provide intensive on-the-job training, which improves your experience.
sales administrator skills and competencies
Some of the skills that a sales administrator needs include:
- customer service skills: as a sales administrator, you communicate with customers and help them through the purchase process. You should be persuasive to encourage clients to place an order. Your customer service skills also help you provide a good customer experience and build client relationships.
- negotiation skills: when processing orders through online channels, you negotiate discounts and prices for the products. Negotiation skills help you convince clients to place orders and agree to the terms of service.
- communication skills: as a sales administrator, you spend most of the day on the phone liaising with sales reps and talking to clients. Good communication skills and phone etiquette help you excel in the role. People skills are also vital since you collaborate with many people. Listening skills help you assist customers effectively by placing the correct orders.
- organisational skills: since you handle multiple orders from different clients, it is important to be organised to avoid mixing up the orders. Organisation skills also help you meet order deadlines and ensure the customers receive their deliveries on time.
- problem-solving skills: as a sales administrator, you handle many problems during the purchase process. For instance, you solve issues related to late deliveries or wrong orders and keep customers calm. Problem-solving skills help you develop creative solutions to ensure customers are satisfied.
FAQs about working as a sales administrator
Here are the most asked questions about working as a sales administrator:
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what is a sales administrator's salary?
A sales administrator earns a median salary of $52,000 per year. In entry-level positions, the take-home salary is $44,000 annually. With experience and skills, the salary increases to $62,000 per year. Aside from base salaries, some employers pay commissions and bonuses to sales administrators based on the sales or profits made.
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what makes a good sales administrator?
A good sales administrator has exceptional customer service skills to help customers process orders and build good relationships. People skills are important for interacting with various people and responding politely and professionally. You should be approachable and friendly if you receive a phone call or talk to a client in person.
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what does a sales administrative assistant do?
A sales administrative assistant helps with processing customer requests. Your job is to receive phone calls or meet with customers to discuss their orders. You provide quotations and relevant product information to help them make purchase decisions.
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what skills do sales administrators need?
A sales administrator needs exceptional communication and negotiation skills. It is important to be persuasive to encourage customers to purchase products. Organisational skills and multi-tasking abilities also help you manage the workload with ease.
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how do I apply for a sales administrator vacancy?
Applying for a sales administrator job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our sales administrator job offers. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
