To become a national account manager, you will typically need significant experience in both sales and management. You will also need a track record of developing new accounts and serving old ones. In addition, you will typically need to demonstrate a willingness to travel, strong industry knowledge, and the ability to liaise among clients and other departments within your organization. Finally, many employers will want you to have at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field and may also require you to complete additional graduate or continuing education programs.
Different employers may use the title national account manager differently. In some cases, the term may be used to describe a manager who oversees a sales team and provides support in servicing accounts. In other cases, a national account manager may be responsible for working with one or more very large clients who operate multiple offices throughout a jurisdiction.
To prepare to become a national account manager through education, you should consider majoring in business administration or in sales. If possible, participate in internships where you will be able to work with a successful sales team so that you can learn how to properly service customer accounts. After graduation, apply for sales positions with various companies.
As you begin your career in sales, work to develop your sales abilities by seeking out a mentor within your company. Take advantage of development opportunities offered by your company by participating in continuing education courses and attending workshops at industry trade shows. In many cases, a national account manager is expected to assist new clients in selecting purchases, so by developing your industry knowledge you can better prepare yourself for this job duty.
A key factor in whether you can become a national sales manager will be your ability to maintain good relationships not only with your clients, but also with other employees within your organization. For example, if a client is slow to pay a bill, the challenge of not offending the client while also addressing the accounting department’s need for payment can be significant. By developing tact and good negotiating skills, you can help your company keep its clients while also ensuring that clients meet their own responsibilities.
The development of good management skills will likewise be important if you become a national account manager. You may not have any management duties early on in your career, but as your career develops, you may eventually have the opportunity to work with subordinate employees. By learning to become a good manager, your employer may entrust you with account management positions in which you can oversee a sales team of your own.
