Sales administrator
Sales administrators process sales orders and payments, arrange deliveries and offer after-sales support to customers.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a sales administrator you could:
- answer customer enquiries over the phone, by email and face to face
- take and process customer orders and payments
- do credit checks, raise invoices and deal with paperwork
- update customer records
- check stock and re-order supplies
- organise deliveries
- provide after-sales support
- type up documents like letters and reports
Working environment
You could work in an office or in a contact centre.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a sales admin team leader, personal assistant or office manager. You could also use your administration skills to move into related careers, such as payroll, human resources or customer service.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- business management skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to work well with others
- persuading and negotiating skills
- persistence and determination
- maths knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Relevant courses include:
- business and administration
- sales and account management
- T Level in Management and Administration
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You could get into this job by applying to do a Business Administrator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
You may be able to work your way into this role by starting as a receptionist or administration assistant and learning on the job.
You could apply directly if you've got the relevant skills and knowledge needed to do this job.
Some employers may ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.
Customer service and IT skills will also be useful.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Institute of Administration Management for professional development opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in sales administration from the Institute of Administration Management.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.