Sale and Marketing managers develop detailed marketing strategies for a firm. In doing so, they analyze the demand of the firm’s products and services in the market. They also identify competitors and potential markets such as businesses, retailers, wholesalers, government, and the general public. Their main aim is to maximize the firm’s market share and profits by developing effective pricing strategies, all while maintaining customer satisfaction.
Course Details
Sales and Marketing Management is taught as part of the MBA curriculum at B-Schools across the country. Thus the first aim of a student should be to go for an MBA course. MBA is a 2 years' course generally after graduation or equivalent degree. The admission into MBA is generally held on the basis of a written test, group discussion and personal interview. Separate tests are conducted by different institutes like CAT by IIMs, MAT by All India Management Association, XAT by Xavier Institutes, etc. Some management institutes also conduct their own exam like IIFT, S P Jain, FMS etc. Besides, there are executive MBA (Sales & Marketing) programmes offered by some institutes which require a certain years of experience.
Career Prospects
Sales and Marketing are mutually dependent functions. Sales involve assessing and fixing sales targets and working out strategies. They appoint distributors and plan sale outlets. Marketing involves planning of strategy to deliver goods and services efficiently and inexpensively to the customer. It involves market research, product development, promotion, pricing, sales and distribution. Sales and Marketing managers were employed in nearly all industries. Sales and marketing managers, who hold almost half of the jobs, work mostly in manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, finance and insurance.
Over one-third of marketing managers work in manufacturing or in scientific, professional, and technical services industries. Over one-third of advertising and promotions managers are employed in scientific, professional, and technical services, as well as in publishing, advertising, and other information industries. The majority of public relations managers work in services industry- insurance, educational, scientific, professional, and technical services, or in health care and social assistance services.
Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Several institutes in India offer MBA (Sales & Marketing) as specialized study under MBA programme. The Indian Institute of Management (Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode and Shilling) are among the top business schools that offer MBA (Sales & Marketing) courses in India.
Some other top B-schools also offer this course are Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar; Indian School of Business, Hyderabad; Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University; Jamaal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai; S. P. Jain Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai; Management Development Institute, Gurgaon; Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai; Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune.
Remuneration
As an MBA graduate, Sales & Marketing Manager gets Rs 20000 to Rs 30000 starting salary per month particularly in private sector. In public sector the pay scale is lower than that of private sector. The pay scale may go up depending upon qualification, ability and experience of the person concerned. At a senior level, an MBA graduate with Sales & Marketing as specialization can well go up to Rest 50000 to Rest 60000 per month.
