Store manager jobs demand a unique mix of qualities that are both product-specific and interpersonal. Clearly, anyone running a fashion retail outlet or electronics shop ought to know more than a little about clothing and gadgets, respectively. It's not enough, however, for a good manager to understand his or her product; people skills are just as critical.

A good store manager should be able to multi-task, deal with employees and customers simultaneously, and possess an instinct for damage control. There's an old adage that the customer is always right, but what if the customer feels that taking items without paying for them is the proper thing to do? Store manager jobs require that candidates be assertive enough to know how to defuse a potentially combustible situation but discreet enough to do so artfully.

Common Store Manager Jobs

Some of the store manager jobs that turn up most frequently in newspapers and on employment boards are for restaurant, apparel store, and "big box" managers. It's also common to find manager jobs at telecommunications companies, marketing firms, and sales offices, though the skills required for sales manager jobs are somewhat different. A good sales manager must excel at motivating his or reps to close deals. In fact, that manger's job (and compensation) depends on his or her ability to do this.

The same holds true in telemarketing jobs, which are, after all, still sales jobs. In industries with high turnover and rejection, it can be a constant uphill battle just to make your daily, weekly, and monthly quotas. If, however, you've been blessed with an innate ability to inspire others to do an outstanding job, you can make a small fortune as a regional or district sales manager.