Table 1Transition record

sales managertoretail department manager

A sales manager already meets 26% of what the retail department manager role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.

From sales manager

26%

Overlap1

To retail department manager

8 Skills carried over

12 Required, not held

72.8 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 72.8

This move: 72.8 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the retail department manager role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the sales manager profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 8 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A retail department manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a sales manager background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held carry out sales analysis information skills
already held supervise sales activities management skills
already held analyse consumer buying trends information skills
already held set sales goals management skills
already held implement sales strategies communication, collaboration and creativity
already held perform market research information skills

All 8 carried skills, including the 6 the retail department manager role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 32 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 4 required, 7 supplementary

required, not held set sales promotions required
required, not held implement marketing strategies required
required, not held maximise sales revenues required
required, not held order supplies required

optional, not held maintain relationship with customers optional
optional, not held maintain relationship with suppliers optional
optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
optional, not held negotiate buying conditions optional
optional, not held perform procurement processes optional
optional, not held show diplomacy optional
optional, not held train employees optional

02 management skills 2 required, 7 supplementary

required, not held manage revenue required
required, not held monitor customer service required

optional, not held manage inventory optional
optional, not held apply business acumen optional
optional, not held evaluate employees optional
optional, not held improve business processes optional
optional, not held meet deadlines optional
optional, not held motivate staff to reach sales targets optional
optional, not held recruit employees optional

03 information skills 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held monitor proper product handling required
required, not held control of expenses required

optional, not held examine merchandise optional
optional, not held measure customer feedback optional

04 assisting and caring 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations required
required, not held ensure compliance with legal requirements required

optional, not held manage theft prevention optional

05 business, administration and law 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held company policies required
required, not held employment law required

optional, not held accounting techniques optional

06 generic programmes and qualifications 2 supplementary

optional, not held communication principles optional
optional, not held teamwork principles optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a retail department manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 8 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held carry out sales analysis skill
already held implement sales strategies skill
already held manage budgets skill
already held manage staff skill
already held set sales goals skill
already held supervise sales activities skill
already held analyse consumer buying trends skill
already held perform market research skill

20 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held examine merchandise optional
optional, not held maintain relationship with customers optional
optional, not held maintain relationship with suppliers optional
optional, not held manage inventory optional
optional, not held accounting techniques optional
optional, not held apply business acumen optional
optional, not held communication principles optional
optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
optional, not held evaluate employees optional
optional, not held improve business processes optional
optional, not held manage theft prevention optional
optional, not held measure customer feedback optional
optional, not held meet deadlines optional
optional, not held motivate staff to reach sales targets optional
optional, not held negotiate buying conditions optional
optional, not held perform procurement processes optional
optional, not held recruit employees optional
optional, not held show diplomacy optional
optional, not held teamwork principles optional
optional, not held train employees optional

54 held skills the retail department manager role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role align efforts towards business development skill
not needed by the target role analyse business plans skill
not needed by the target role analyse customer service surveys skill
not needed by the target role analyse external factors of companies skill
not needed by the target role analyse internal factors of companies skill
not needed by the target role analyse supply chain strategies skill
not needed by the target role analyse work-related written reports skill
not needed by the target role brand marketing techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role collaborate in the development of marketing strategies skill
not needed by the target role communicate with customers skill
not needed by the target role consumer goods industry knowledge
not needed by the target role content marketing strategy knowledge
not needed by the target role coordinate marketing plan actions skill
not needed by the target role corporate social responsibility knowledge
not needed by the target role create annual marketing budget skill
not needed by the target role customer segmentation knowledge
not needed by the target role define geographic sales areas skill
not needed by the target role define measurable marketing objectives skill
not needed by the target role develop professional network skill
not needed by the target role estimate profitability skill
not needed by the target role evaluate marketing content skill
not needed by the target role forecast sales over periods of time skill
not needed by the target role identify potential markets for companies skill
not needed by the target role impart business plans to collaborators skill
not needed by the target role integrate headquarter's guidelines into local operations skill
not needed by the target role integrate marketing strategies with the global strategy skill
not needed by the target role integrate strategic foundation in daily performance skill
not needed by the target role international business knowledge
not needed by the target role investigate customer complaints of food products skill
not needed by the target role liaise with managers skill
not needed by the target role make strategic business decisions skill
not needed by the target role manage accounts skill
not needed by the target role manage distribution channels skill
not needed by the target role manage profitability skill
not needed by the target role market pricing knowledge
not needed by the target role market research knowledge
not needed by the target role marketing mix knowledge
not needed by the target role motivate employees skill
not needed by the target role plan marketing campaigns skill
not needed by the target role plan marketing strategy skill

14 further entries not listed here

5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held company policies required
required, not held employment law required
optional, not held accounting techniques optional
optional, not held communication principles optional
optional, not held teamwork principles optional

Index

Other moves recorded from sales manager

Full index of moves from sales manager

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.