account manager.

Account manager is not a protected job title and it’s also not a role that means the same thing at every employer. This means that one of the most important factors affecting the salary for an account manager is the experience and the complexity of the work tasks.

With more solid, long-term experience, you can take on more complex tasks and areas of responsibility as an account manager. This gives you a better position when it comes to salary negotiations. There are also some account managers who work with a commission-based salary model, where additional sales and contact with existing or new clients generate commission. This also means that it is difficult to point to an average salary, but it means that as an account manager you can influence your salary to a large extent. It is also worth remembering that the general salary level in metropolitan areas can offer better pay within many industries for the role of account manager.

Some of the most important responsibilities of an account manager are the following:

• Initiate proposals for new customer contacts: As an account manager, your job is to try to increase the number of customers in a company. You need to actively seek new opportunities in the market and regularly prepare proposals for pitches. When a customer places their first order, you should follow up to ensure they are satisfied with the delivery and service. You also inform them about what else the company can offer to enable further sales and meet the customer's potential needs.

• Pass customer feedback on to the relevant department: As account manager you work closely with customers and support them throughout the process. when concerns, questions or issues arise related to their products or services, you are the contact person they will turn to. it is your job to pass this on to the relevant departments at the company you work for and then get back to the customer again.

• Analyse customer data: Using analytical data, you should be able to identify the needs of potential customers. With this analysis, you can develop effective marketing strategies for each customer. You mainly focus on customers who could potentially place large orders. This means that in the role of account manager, you need to have a relatively good knowledge of marketing.

• Evaluate the activity of existing customer accounts: Your most important task in the role of account manager is to ensure that customers are satisfied and receive the service required. this includes constantly evaluating and keeping track of the customer's accounts to find new ways to increase sales and improve the customer experience.

• Negotiate contract: When a customer has accepted a proposal you have put forward, it is you who negotiates the terms of the agreement. You therefore discuss price, quantities and discounts linked to the contract.

It's common for an account manager to work in the office, but if you're working at a regional or local level, it's not unusual for you to be out meeting clients on site.

Many employers place great importance on providing their employees with ergonomic chairs and a sustainable working environment overall. However, the exact working conditions can vary, depending on the industry and company you work in. It is not uncommon for the job as account manager to involve quite a bit of travelling, both short and long trips. This is to meet clients, present new proposals and negotiate contracts. Some account managers spend a large part of their working hours working remotely.

As an account manager, you need to get used to a fast-paced working environment with many challenges. A large part of your working hours is spent in dialogue with customers in various ways. This can be anything from taking calls over the phone to having face-to-face meetings.

In the role of account manager, your closest colleagues will probably be those in the sales department, such as salespeople, sales assistants, customer service representatives or administrators. You also work closely with sales managers and colleagues who deal with marketing or PR. As you are the point of contact between the customer and the company, you need to work with many colleagues and many departments within the company to be able to do your job effectively.

The job as an account manager is a full-time position with a working week of up to 40 hours, with standard office hours between 8 and 17. However, working hours can be somewhat flexible to meet clients' needs. In the role of account manager, for example, it may include what is known as trust-based hours, which means you are available even in the evenings and at weekends if a client experiences an urgent problem. There may also be quite a lot of international contacts in the job, where the time difference can mean that you sometimes must work outside normal office hours.

To be able to progress in a role as account manager, it’s important to gain as much experience as possible while also improving your educational qualifications. The combination makes you more attractive for responsible roles within the company or with new employers. As an account manager, the step to key account manager is a natural one, as you take on increased sales responsibility. If you are given managerial responsibility, you can work as head of the sales or marketing department. It’s also not uncommon for account managers to work as consultants after first being employed for a few years and gaining the necessary work experience.

There are many advantages to finding a vacant job as an Account Manager through Randstad:

• various development and career opportunities

• an experienced contact person who can help you when needed

• many job vacancies within your area

• full-time or part-time work depending on the job/assignment

Do you want a permanent position as account manager? A temporary job as account manager is often a good first step towards a permanent position. Every year, several people get a permanent job with employers, thanks to a temporary job that has come through us at Randstad. In addition, many companies recruit their permanent employees directly through Randstad.

A good way to make yourself more attractive to employers looking for an account manager is to study a course in business or sales. It's an important part of the job as an account manager to understand how business, marketing and sales are connected. Being able to show academic qualifications is often an advantage when applying for jobs, especially if you later have ambitions to be promoted and take on more responsibility.

There are higher vocational education programmes in economics, business, sales and marketing that may be relevant for those who want to become an account manager. The higher vocational college also offers examples of courses and programmes that are tailored for those who want to pursue a career as an account manager.

Alongside educational qualifications, work experience is an important part. This is because a leadership role requires a great deal of responsibility, where previous positions and work experience become important to demonstrate to new potential employers. Therefore, it can be a good idea to take internships before applying for a job, to be able to show practical experience.

As an account manager, you should be able to communicate over the phone, via email and with different departments, teams and clients. You also need to be comfortable addressing managers, company leadership and salespeople who may be above you in the company hierarchy. When you are in contact with clients, you need to be professional and always maintain a good relationship.

An important part of being an account manager is having good industry knowledge and insight into the company, the market, and the product or service you ultimately deliver to the customer. By having extensive industry knowledge, you appear more credible to customers and can also help different customers in a more effective way. It also makes it easier to identify opportunities for further sales when you are in contact with customers.

Having a strategic approach rather than short-term goals is what enables the account manager to work towards long-term agreements and relationships, which become part of strategies that benefit both parties in the longer term. You need to be able to think long-term and prioritise building relationships over short-term gains.

An important part of the job as account manager is to be a leader and that means leadership skills are important in the role. You need to show confidence and command respect from customers and colleagues. You also need to be able to represent different salespeople to increase sales and conversion.

If you're a skilled negotiator, your chances of selling products to customers will be better. That includes having a good sense of timing, being good at making presentations, and having enough confidence to know when to go for a close and when to take a step back.

There is no specific education required to become an account manager. However, academic qualifications in sales, economics, marketing or business are always important for those who want to become an account manager. There are also vocational higher education courses that prepare you for a job as an account manager.

To become a successful account manager, you need work experience and as you develop in your role, you may become eligible for new and more responsible positions. One example is key account manager, which is a more sales-focused role that many aim for as the next step in their career.

It's easy to apply for a job as account manager. Search among our vacant jobs in your area. then send in your cv and your personal letter or apply via LinkedIn.
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Here you can find more information about the role account manager.