We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Become an Administrative Sales Assistant?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 14,545
Share

An administrative sales assistant is a support professional that works within a sales department. In some cases, the assistant reports directly to the manager of the department. However, in larger sales departments it is not unusual for this type of sales assistant to be assigned to a specific group of salespeople, providing the team with a wide range of clerical and sometimes customer oriented support. If you are interested in learning more about what it takes to become an administrative sales assistant, here are some things you should know.

All the skills that are associated with any type of administrative assistant position are also true when it comes to offering administrative support in a sales environment. Usually, the basic requirements for any administrative assistant job will also be true for the sales-related position. Most companies will require a minimum of a high school education, competent computer skills, strong organizational ability, and a demonstrated talent for communicating effectively with people within the company.

In order to become an administrative sales assistant, it is a good idea to take classes that help to sharpen basic clerical skills, including working with databases, presentation software, and preparing letters. While some of these skills are acquired in high school classes, many people master these abilities by taking courses at a local vocational school or community college. It is also not unusual for people to accept an entry-level clerical position elsewhere within the company, giving them a chance to learn the nature of the company as they hone these basic skills.

Along with these basic administrative assistant skills, there are several other key talents that are necessary in order to become an administrative sales assistant. These include the ability to qualify leads for the sales team, strong people skills that make it easy to build rapport with prospects, and a willingness to hold demonstrations on site or by electronic media at the request of a salesperson. Record keeping using software designed for sales tracking purposes is also considered an important skill with this type of work.

It is important to note that the exact duties associated with sales administrative jobs will vary from industry to industry, as well as from company to company. Some will require a fair amount of interaction with prospective clients as well as existing clients where there is opportunity to sell additional goods or services to the customer. Others are strictly in-house support roles, while others may be called upon to accompany salespeople to conventions, conferences, or on site visits to a prospect. You may become an administrative sales assistant that works within a sales department that handles both retail and wholesale business. The assignment may be to a single salesperson or you may serve as support to the entire sales team.

In many ways, the decision to become an administrative sales assistant is an excellent way to enter the world of sales. Functioning in this capacity can make it possible to learn and master some of the basics of selling, such as understanding the difference between a qualified and unqualified lead, how to define a prospect, the nature of upselling, and how to understand the sales cycle. Because the sales administrative assistant will work closely with the sales team, exposure to all these tools and terminology can educate the assistant and possibly pave the way for moving on to the role of salesperson.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Bhutan — On Mar 17, 2011

@SauteePan -That is true. I wanted to add that some administrative assistants decide to set up a clerical service that is virtual in nature.

This is a growing field as many small businesses need help with clerical documents from time to time. Hiring a virtual service allows a company to hire someone to help them with a temporary need without having to hire someone to work on staff.

It saves the company a lot of money and it is easy to execute additional demands once the customer establishes an account with the service. A virtual administrative assistant is a position that did not exist ten years ago. It is amazing what advances in technology can do.

By SauteePan — On Mar 16, 2011

@Cafe41 -I agree. This also happens in the real estate business. The administrative assistant training involves taking messages from prospects in order for the agent to schedule appointments.

Some administrative assistants become so interested in the field that they decide to become agents and are often mentored by the current broker that they work for. This is really a great way to see what the real estate business is like before considering obtaining your license to sell real estate. It is a lucrative business but it is not for everyone and this is one way to find out.

By cafe41 — On Mar 14, 2011

I think that many college graduates that are not able to find a job are considering working as an administrative sales assistant.

It is a great way to break into a new company and learn the sales field. Usually these administrative assistants will have to have a strong command of Microsoft Office, Excel and PowerPoint.

An administrative sales assistant normally prepares presentations for the sales executives which give them a taste of what the job is all about. You really have to have a strong attention to detail along with a cordial and friendly demeanor.

I know of a few friends that got promoted to an Account Executive position from an administrative job like this. It can happen but you have to work hard.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-become-an-administrative-sales-assistant.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.