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25 Sales Resume Examples That Landed Jobs in 2025

• Sales Resume
• Sales Resumes by Experience
• Sales Resumes by Role

Writing Your Sales Resume

Sales are the lifeblood of any growing company. Without sales, companies grow stagnant—or worse, fail. But with a good sales department, a company can truly thrive.

You know how to care for customers, present solutions to problems, and adapt to any situation. Unfortunately, getting a new sales job involves more than just a short resignation letter at your current job and being stellar at what you do.

You shouldn’t have to create a resume or write a sales cover letter alone, which is why we’ve analyzed hundreds of professional resumes and created 25 sales resume examples just for you. These examples have helped salespeople get hired by companies like Google and Facebook , and they’re here for you to achieve the next role of your dreams in 2025.

Sales Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Whether your most significant impact was in total sales, conversion rate, retention rate, or lead generation performance, it doesn’t matter—numbers speak louder than words, so include them whenever you can!
• Space is limited on your sales resume; a cover letter generator will be your best friend, giving you plenty of opportunity to expound on those details you couldn’t fit in your resume.

Sales Assistant Resume

• Find a way to include metrics to really sell your skills!
• Don’t just say you used a certain skill; demonstrate how you used that skill. For example, did you use your organization skills to stock many items? 
• Pack your resume objective with proactive language that shows your eagerness for growth and improvement. If you’re looking for a career-building role, then say exactly that!

Entry-Level Sales Representative Resume

• Sales is a people management game. If you have charm and patience, that’s much more valuable in the eyes of the hiring manager than an impressive educational background.
• You can also include a  resume objective  to mention some of your accomplishments and skills right off the bat; if you choose to do so, make sure you tailor it for every job to which you apply.
• If your education is your strongest area, include your minor, GPA, and any relevant courses you’ve taken.
• If you’ve worked on several projects, make room to include them on your resume in place of work experience.

Experienced Sales Associate Resume

• Your true competence as a sales associate shines through the most when you mention how you effectively calmed angry customers and offered practical, compassionate solutions.
• If you’re not overly familiar with a skill, leave it out—honesty is the best policy, and many skills are easy to learn on the job.

Experienced Retail Sales Associate Resume Example

• If you don’t have past retail experience, don’t fret; use the positions you have to highlight transferable skills, like time management, customer service, and problem-solving.
• Instead of just listing responsibilities, include any achievements, too. Were you a top salesperson in your store? Did you increase your customer review rating? Did you cross-sell effectively and increase revenue? All of these are great examples to include!

Senior Sales Analyst Resume

• Include a  resume summary  (also called a career summary) if you can boast 10+ years of field experience. Make it a concise, customized snapshot of yourself by including your specializations, defining expertise, and mentioning the target business by name.
• You can include the number of employees you manage or mentor, the rate at which you’ve increased revenue, the rate at which employees have hit sales targets during your tenure, the number of departments you collaborate with, the number of monthly presentations you give, and any other metrics that showcase how you’ve improved company performance.

VP of Sales Resume

• A good example is the training program you initiated, which boosted team morale and overall productivity by 38 percent.

Executive Sales Resume

• The ATS, the gatekeeper of applications, has a thing for resumes with conventional sections (think work experience, education, certifications, and skills) sprinkled with keywords mentioned in the job ad. Eligible terms for a sales position range from Salesforce, Tableau, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to Mailchimp.

Sales Coordinator Resume

• Aim for about three work experience sections, each populated with four to five bullet points spotlighting remarkable achievements pertinent to the role. That won’t just make it a breeze to scan your resume; the recruiter engages with it, gaining a crystal-clear insight into why you’re an exceptional match for the role.

Sales Clerk Resume

• See phrases like “Processed 54 transactions daily using SquarePOS, ensuring accurate sales and inventory updates” and “Managed cash register operations and sales reports via QuickBooks, ensuring accuracy for $6,024+ in weekly transactions” in Orion’s showpiece? There’s no need to say more.

Furniture Sales Resume

• For example, Brynna bolded the phrase “Managed 56 client accounts in Salesforce…” in her piece. The potential outcome? They caught the recruiter’s eye in a split second and drew attention to their impact in their current role.

Pharmaceutical Sales Resume

• Did you help expand market share? Did you leverage technology to help close more sales deals? Add all that in and sit back as your past success elevates your candidacy to the top of the shortlisted applicants.

Insurance Sales Resume

• Highlight how you’ve tapped InsurGrid, NowCerts, ClearSlide, etc. to improve customer service, and attract and retain customers. Also, back your competencies with realistic figures that underscore your impact.

Tech Sales Resume

• Be bold, like Asher, in showing off to what extent your skills and knowledge contributed to the company’s sales department.

Sales Representative Resume

• Make sure every section of your sales representative resume is easy to read and distinguish by either capitalizing them, bolding them, or using a colored font.
• Any mistakes will be easy to see and will hurt your chances of getting an interview. So, always  check your resume  before you submit it!

Sales Manager Resume

• Focus your work experience on your sales achievements and management expertise. Even if you have no sales management experience, you can still show off your sales skills and leadership qualities wherever it was that you worked. 
• When you can, include metrics that quantify your success. Saying you conducted meetings is one thing, but conducting meetings that resulted in a 14% increase in leads is another.

Digital Sales Representative Resume

• A  good resume template  will help you structure your content effectively, but be aware of spacing—even a good resume template won’t help if your text is too tiny to read or spreads into the margins.
• If you’re stumped on what numbers to include, consider these options: response time, the number of active accounts, size of the average account, churn dollars, team size, ROI, social media post engagement, the number of products you know, and how many awards you’ve won.

Sales Strategist Resume

• There are many  good resume examples  if you know where to look, and they can help you break out of your writer’s block funk. Take a look and get some inspiration!
• Moreover, you can ask some co-workers to help you, too! They can help you decide what metrics to include and how to sound confident but not arrogant.
• For example, if you’re a senior-level employee, you don’t need to include much in your education section, but you should include more work experience bullet points.
• However, if you’re new to the field, you can include your GPA and educational awards while minimizing your work experience in favor of projects.

Sales Consultant Resume

• A strong network on LinkedIn indicates that you’re good at building professional relationships, which is an essential element of sales.
• If you haven’t updated your LinkedIn in a while, make sure you do that as soon as possible.
• For example, you can talk about unveiling events for clients, creating working relationships, and building up networks. These details demonstrate that strong customer rapport is, in fact, a skill you possess.

Sales Engineer Resume

• For example, if the job you’re applying to emphasizes the importance of using CRM software or building long-lasting relationships with customers, emphasize these skills in your skills section. 
• Focus on including hard skills similar to the ones used in the  sales job description .
• If you’re just starting your career in sales engineering OR transitioning to a different type of role, include an objective.
• If none of the above applies, leave it out in favor of more work experience.

Director Of Sales Resume

• Don’t forget to list accomplishments related to leading people and building customer relationships, starting by recording how many customers you helped or how many people you led. Then look for percentages relating to KPIs from there.
• If you’re stuck on what to include in your  resume skills section , go back to the  sales job description  and see what soft skills they require, whether explicitly stated or implied.

Outside Sales Representative Resume

• Good examples include the number of new accounts you opened, conversion rate, retention rate, lead generation performance, and overall growth.
• Sales revenue is the main statistic related to every sales position, but make sure you venture outside the box to include other metrics, too.
• You’d be amazed at what tiny typos and punctuation errors can slip through without your noticing, and employers will appreciate your attention to detail!
• Run your resume through a  resume checker  or spellcheck system, then proofread it again with your own eyes.

Software Sales Representative Resume

• For example, did you exceed your sales quotes, and if so, how many times? How much did you increase profits for the company? 
• Provide details that prove you can boost numbers at the next company you’ll work for!
• If you can, shoot for half and half between technical and soft skills, but if you’re an entry-level candidate, it’s okay to have more soft skills.
• As a software sales rep, you should include the programming languages you know, plus soft skills like “negotiation” and “interpersonal communication.”

Fragrance Sales Associate Resume

• For a successful career in sales, you’ll want your communication and persuasion skills to shine just as brightly as your technical knowledge. Be sure you include some of both in your fragrance sales associate resume .

Sales Development Representative Resume

• Sales are all about the numbers. When you’ve brought about tangible positive results at your past workplaces, it speaks to how effective you are as a salesperson and should be touted in your sales development representative resume .

Related resume guides

• Sales Associate
• Sales Representative
• Sales Manager

Proper formatting ensures your resume is readable, logical, and complete. If you neglect the formatting, you risk potential employers not taking your application seriously (or not even seeing your resume). When it comes to formatting, remember the following: 

• Choose one of three resume format options 
• Draw attention to your resume header 
• Make your sales resume accessible for the ATS and employers

Overall resume format options

Hiring managers’ preferences tend to change over time, but for 2025, it’s clear that three  resume formats  are the most popular:

• Reverse-chronological format:  This format emphasizes your most recent experience by placing work experience toward the top of your resume. Ordering your experience this way highlights career growth and development.
• Functional format:  A functional format stresses skills over work experience. This type of format may be appealing if you have little work experience or if there are gaps in your employment. 
• Combination/hybrid format:  This type combines reverse-chronological and functional formatting, placing equal weight on job history  and  skills, but it can be hard to read because of this.

Though all three types are popular,  hiring managers prefer   the reverse-chronological format . It’s easy to read, underscores career growth, and looks honest regarding your job experience. 

Draw attention to your resume header

Presenting your contact information may seem unimportant. However, this is the most important information in your resume; without it, how can you expect hiring managers to tell you “you’re hired?” Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the importance of an accurate and beautiful resume header.

Start by aligning your header either to the left or center. Then write your name in a large font size so you can see it from far away.

Right below your name, include your job title in a slightly smaller font. Then if you like, you can tastefully add some color to show your personality. (We love cobalt blue and buttercup yellow, but we’re a bit biased.)

Underneath your name and title, list your contact information. Keep the text the same font size as the body of your resume, and consider including a border (with or without color) to make it pop. This section should include:

• Your email (make sure it’s professional and not something like “ [email protected] ”)
• Phone number (with an area code)
• City & State (optional but recommended)
• Professional links to portfolios or sites like LinkedIn (optional but recommended)

Make your sales resume accessible to the ATS and employers

Once you upload your resume to an online job application, it won’t go straight to a hiring manager’s desk. Instead, it will go through the ATS, or Applicant Tracking System software.

This system uses keywords in your resume to determine your likelihood of being a good fit for a particular sales job. If you don’t pass the ATS scan, it’s doubtful you’ll get an interview.

To get past the software and reach human eyes, pay attention to:

• Margins:  Use standard half-inch or one-inch margins all around.
• Fonts:  Use professional, easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Georgia. 
• Font sizes:  The body of your resume should be the smallest font at around 12-point, your job title should be 20-point font, and your name should be approximately 24-point font.
• Header names:  Instead of adjusting font size for section headers, try bolding them or using all caps. 
• Skills:  You can list them in a horizontal or vertical list; we recommend using bullet points in a vertical list unless you lack space. 
• Logical order:  As we suggested earlier, we recommend a reverse-chronological format since it’s easy for the ATS to scan. 
• One page:  You must fill one page  exactly . You can slightly adjust fonts, font sizes (just a touch), vertical spacing, and margins to hit this target.

If you’re struggling to  make a resume online  with enough content and proper formatting, remember this: the most important thing is to  ensure your resume is read . If you have to cut content to keep your formatting easy to read, do it.

Do you really need an objective or summary?

Contrary to sources floating around the internet, there  is  a difference between a  resume objective  and a  resume summary . Both are short paragraphs written explicitly for every application you submit, but there are a few key differences between them. 

An  objective  identifies why you’d like to work for the company under the specific job title for which you’re applying. A  summary  highlights the skills you possess and what achievements you’ve earned within your past positions.

Objectives and summaries are strictly optional, but there are a few instances where adding one would help.

• Consider including an objective if you’re seeking an entry-level role or are transitioning careers.
• Consider using a summary best suited if you have 10+ years of sales experience.

Customized resume objective:  Seasoned floor salesperson with 4+ years of experience hitting sales 7% above targets. Seeking a position with Neiman Marcus, where my specialization in high-end retail will continue the tradition of upholding the highest standard of luxury retail experiences for clientele. 

• This objective is specific to the job and includes a customized job title, quantified metrics, specific skill sets, and the company name. It adds real value and will impress any hiring manager.

Poor summary statement:  Dedicated applicant with experience in sales and marketing looking for a sales associate role to improve customer service skills. 

• This statement is anything but specific, and it could be on any number of sales resumes. More than just that, it doesn’t highlight any skills or qualifications beyond dedication. Major yikes.

Customized summary statement:  Results-driven sales associate with 13+ years of experience developing rapport and good customer relations. Leveraged top marketing strategies to yield results, performing in the top 5% of sales associates at all workplaces for over a decade. From informing customers about purchases to designing trending storefront decor, I am confident that my proven excellence in results-driven sales strategies would positively impact the movement of products at Decor 101. 

• This summary statement is customized and unique, including specific skills and quantifiable metrics to support their claims; this candidate is a top choice for an interview.

Know what to include in your job experience section

When writing your sales resume, you may be tempted to include every job you’ve had since you were 16. Though this may be an appropriate choice if you have limited job experience, we recommend including two to four highly relevant jobs on your sales resume if you have more experience. 

Write your work experience bullet points purposefully

When you write your work experience section, remember that space is crucial. To take up less room, use bullet points to break up chunks of text. Start each bullet point with an action verb, such as “oversaw” or “championed,” to drive your value (and cut filler).

Using action verbs will also lay the foundation for using active (rather than passive) voice. For example, a passive sentence like “The store was closed by the sales team” sounds weak and boring. Active voice gives agency to the subject and shortens the statement: “The sales team closed the store.” 

Avoid personal pronouns when writing about your experience, such as “I” or “we.” Ending punctuation is up to you—just be consistent. (Avoid having periods at the end of all your bullet points except for one, for example).

Finally, keep your verb tense in the past, and make sure it’s consistent.

Good bullet points can look like any of these examples:

• Executed an outbound calling strategy to warm leads, leading to a close rate of 16%, which exceeded targets by 50%
• Implemented and expanded the use of Salesforce, saving over 18 hours of weekly manual reporting time by sales staff
• Led initiatives for prospective home buyers to improve brand awareness and increase inbound customer interest, resulting in a $275,000+ increase in incremental revenue

These bullet points are successful because they start with action words, maintain an active voice, avoid personal pronouns, and are consistent with punctuation and tenses. 

Getting these things correct is tricky, but you can return to this guide anytime to review these tips!

Use numbers to your advantage

You may have noticed that all the bullet point examples we included contain numbers. Metrics are essential for any resume, but especially your sales resume. Words tell hiring managers you’re good at your job, but numbers show undeniable value. Include quantified metrics within at least 50 percent of your bullet points. 

Here’s how:

• Performance relative to targets:  Have you ever or do you consistently outperform sales targets? By what percentage do you exceed targets on average? 
• Improvements per customer:  Do your customers have higher purchase totals than others? Are they making more repeat purchases than customers helped by other sales associates? What’s your close rate? 
• Efficiency standards:  How many customers do you help on average, per hour, day, or week? How long does it typically take you to make a sale? How many seconds does it take you to greet customers? 
• Customer relations:  How many customers have reviewed you positively on customer surveys? Have any customers mentioned you by name in positive reviews?

It helps to see these tips in practice, so here are some examples: 

• Improved the shopper-to-customer conversion rate of the store by 6% by prioritizing immediate customer service of inbound customers
• Responded to customer questions with a detailed understanding of products, resulting in a customer satisfaction rating of 96%
• Recognized as a Top 5% Salesperson in the most heavily trafficked Kay’s store in Maine 
• Exceeded annual membership targets by 23% by encouraging a compassionate, customer-centered approach

Select appropriate sales skills for your resume

The skills section is one of the shortest sections on your resume and one of the most mysterious. Unfortunately, the ATS plays a big part in this section since it scans your resume for pre-selected keywords.

Not enough keywords? Not the right keywords? ATS wins, 1 to 0. 

We’re here to shed light on this mystery using a simple trick. When writing your skills, choose those mentioned in the  sales job description . Of course, don’t include every skill they list, but use the job description to guide your strengths.

Ideally, include a mix of both hard and soft skills for a total of six to 10 skills. Hard skills are easier to measure, so we recommend listing mostly hard skills. However, soft skills, such as “organization” and “customer service,” are critical in a sales role, so include a few that match your abilities. 

Let’s put this trick into practice! Here’s an excerpt from a sales job description: 

Seeking qualified sales associates! Our ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced work environment and can maintain a positive, upbeat attitude with co-workers and customers under stressful situations. Must utilize standard software to track and follow up with leads. Should be charismatic, comfortable with public speaking, and have a solid ability to memorize merchandise details and answer complex customer questions. We serve a predominantly Hispanic population, so Spanish speakers, please apply! 

From this job description, we can create a list of skills that would be particularly appropriate for this job position: 

• Salesforce and HubSpot CRM
• Bilingual (Native English, Fluent Spanish) 
• Customer relations
• Interpersonal communication
• Product knowledge 
• Sales demos and pitches
• Time management 

 No matter the job you’re applying for, you’re likely to see some of these skills: 

• Cold-prospecting 
• Negotiation
• Work stream management
• Trend forecasting
• Traditional lead-generation
• Presentations 

Education, certs, interests, and hobbies

In sales, employers typically only require a high school diploma or equivalent. However, specific educational requirements will vary widely in such a large field. Some employers will seek applicants with a bachelor’s degree in business or even an MBA. 

So in your sales resume, list your highest level of education. If you have a graduate degree, you can include both it and your undergrad degree.

If you have any certifications or additional training, such as software certification for a particular type of CRM, you can include that, too, although it isn’t required.

Typically, sales professionals don’t include an optional  interests and hobbies section on their resumes , but there are a few circumstances where it may be appropriate: 

• Hobbies can demonstrate that you’re the type of person a potential customer might enjoy chatting with, which is a bonus for employers.
• Use projects, like volunteering or academic extracurriculars, in place of work experience if you’re light on jobs. 

Here’s an example of what projects could look like on your sales resume:

Tailor your sales resume to the job description

Remember to customize your resume  every time  you apply for a job. Tailoring your resume to the job description is the best way to land an interview quickly.

Start by reworking your resume objective or summary statement (if you have one). Then adjust your skills section to include skills relevant to the role. Finally, adjust your job description bullet points to include relevant qualifications. 

For instance, if a job description mentions they’re looking for a sales representative who can begin giving presentations on day one, emphasize your comfort in public speaking roles. Highlight your previous presentation experience, and perhaps de-emphasize the data analysis skillset that is less relevant to this job. 

Pro tip:  You can keep a master list of bullet points for each job title in a separate document . Write down as many skills and responsibilities as you can for every job title, and organize them based on their emphasis (time management, customer relations, data analysis, etc.). Then you can pull from this document to create fully-customized resumes quickly. 

Edit and polish your sales resume

When finished  writing your resume , it’s tempting to submit it immediately, but it’s best to take a step away first. Give your eyes and mind a rest for a day, and send your resume to trusted family and friends for review. Then you can adjust your content and  check your resume  for errors before you submit; that way, you don’t miss the little details you may have inadvertently overlooked!

Ready for the Next Step?

The first step to having an interview-ready, professional sales resume is to take the time to research and prepare. Congratulations on helping out your future self by using our guide! 

Our easy-to-use  AI resume builder  will allow you to build your resume from the ground up with perfect formatting, so you can save serious time and focus on your next sales job. If you’re ready to find out how your resume stacks up, use our  resume checker  to give you AI-powered suggestions to polish your resume to perfection. 

We know that wherever you get hired, you’ll be helping customers and growing revenue in no time!

Land your next job with our AI-powered, user-friendly tool.

Gut the guesswork in your job hunt. Upload your existing resume to check your score and make improvements. Build a resume with one of our eye-catching, recruiter-friendly templates.

• Work in real-time with immediate feedback and tips from our AI-powered experience. • Leverage thousands of pre-written, job-specific bullet points. • Edit your resume in-line like a Google Doc or let us walk you through each section at a time. • Enjoy peace of mind with our money-back guarantee and 5-star customer support.

Resume Checker Resume Builder

Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of BeamJobs. He started his career in data fulfilling the dream of little kids everywhere: working for an insurance company. He then moved on to work in edtech for a company called Chegg before venturing out to start BeamJobs. Things have come a long way after countless “learnings” (fancy word for mistakes), and BeamJobs has now helped 2.5M+ people create their perfect resume. Stephen and BeamJobs have been featured on awesome sites like Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Dallas News, Baltimore Sun, the Daily Press, Zendesk, HubSpot , and loads more.

Sales Resume - Example & Writing Guide for 2024

You’re a sales rep.

You use your skills to sell products or services to customers and companies.

But when it comes to creating a convincing resume, you’re left confused.

How do you make a sales representative resume, anyway?

Surely it’s no different than a resume for any other profession, right?

Fortunately, this guide will answer all of your questions. In fact, we take you through a simple step-by-step process to creating a sales resume with a super-high conversion rate . 

• An example of a finished sales resume that works
• How to write a sales representative resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
• How to make your sales representative resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Before we look at the finer details, here’s a sales resume example , created with our very own online resume builder :

Looks good, right?! Follow the steps below to create a sales representative resume that get results, just like the above example.

Applying for a different job position? Feel free to check out our related resume examples here:

• Sales Associate Resume
• Marketing Executive Resume
• Marketing Resume

How to Format a Sales Representative Resume

Before you can wow the recruiter with your vast sales expertise, you need to pick the best format.

Basically, you need to make your resume easy to read.

You will also want to highlight your core strengths, which rely on choosing the correct format for your specific situation.

If you want to impress, the “ reverse-chronological ” resume format is recommended. Essentially, it puts your most recent and most notable strengths at the top, which allows the recruiter to see your value in an instant. We recommend starting with this format .

The following resume formats also get our approval:

• Functional Resume – If you’re confident about your sales skills, but lack the experience, this resume format is recommended
• Combination Resume – Combining both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological” formats, use this format if you’re an experienced sales representative

Once you’ve chosen your format, you need to organize your resume layout .

Use a Sales Representative Resume Template

Here’s the harsh truth –

You won’t get any sales job if your resume isn’t formatted correctly.  

It needs to be scanned by humans and robots alike. 

You could use Word, but the resume format is at risk of falling apart with a single change.

If you want to skip formatting issues, use a sales rep resume template .

What to Include in a Sales Representative Resume

The main sections in a sales representative resume are:

• Work Experience
• Contact Information

Want to go a step further? You can also add these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

That sounds great, but what do we write for each of these sections? 

Read on to learn how.

Want to know more about resume sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

Unlike your sales presentations, this section doesn’t require flair.

But it must be factually correct. 

One misplaced digit can completely destroy your chances of receiving a phone call.

The contact information section must include:

• Title – Align this to the job description. In this case, “Sales Representative”
• Phone Number – Check this multiple times
• Email Address – Use a professional email address ([email protected]), not your childhood email ([email protected])
• (Optional) Location – Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location and if you are open to relocate.
• Phillip Green - Sales Representative. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Phillip Green - Superhero Salesman. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Sales Representative Resume Summary or Objective

Just like a customer glancing over products on the shelf, the hiring manager will only spend just a few seconds looking at each resume.

Although worrying, this fact highlights the importance of a resume that makes a big impact within the first few sentences.

But how can you do this?

Well, by using a resume summary or objective.

These are short, snappy paragraphs that sit at the top of your resume, just under your contact information.

But how do the two differ and which one should you pick?

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

• Experienced sales representative with a strong background in boosting sales for a diverse clientele. Seeking to leverage solid sales skills and extensive technology knowledge to be the senior sales rep for Random Technology Store. Notable achievements include achieving over $250,000 in sales for every fiscal quarter, maintaining relationships with 15+ large contractor companies, and increasing gross profit by 42% from 2017 to 2019.

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of what you want to achieve professionally.

• Motivated individual with passion and vast knowledge of gaming technology, seeking to become the new sales representative for Random Technology Store. Experience includes working as a sales associate to help customers find products, answer stock questions, and promote store awards program.

So, which one is best, summary or objective?

Whether you choose a summary or objective will depend on your experience as a sales representative. Those with a strong history on the sales floor should go with a resume summar y, whereas those who have sales skills, but lack the industry experience, should choose an objective.  

• As a sales representative, you know that benefits sell. As such, make it clear how your experiences and skills will HELP the company.

How to Make Your Sales Work Experience Stand Out

The recruiter is looking for someone that can sell.

And when we say sell, we mean SELL .

The easiest way to prove that you can sell ice to the Eskimos is with your work experience .

Here’s the best way to structure your work experience section:

• Position Name/Title
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Sales Representative

WeSellCars Ltd.

03/2015 - 06/2020

• Achieved over $250,000 in sales for every fiscal quarter 
• Maintained relationships with 15+ large contractor companies
• Increased gross profit by 42% from 2017 to 2019
• Lead and presented all company product promotions

To really sell your value, you should focus on your best achievements, rather than your daily tasks.

Instead of saying:

“Sales lead”

“Achieved over $250,000 in sales for every fiscal quarter.”

Simply put, the first statement is way too vague. It shows you were in charge of sales, but it doesn’t say whether you actually sold anything or not. 

The second statement shows that you managed to sell A LOT , and consistently too. Hard numbers that prove your skills – can’t argue with that!

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Maybe you’re a graduate looking for your first sales job?

Or maybe, you have experience in sales-related jobs, but never as a sales representative?

Don’t worry –

Simply list all previous job responsibilities that are most relevant to the job description.

Even though you haven’t held an official sales representative job title , it doesn’t mean you don’t have relevant experience or skills.

Are you recent graduate? Make sure to check out our student resume guide !

Use Action Words to Make Your Sales Resume POP!

…are all common words that the recruiter sees time and time again.

However, you want to separate your resume from the competition, which means using power words to make your achievements stand out:

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

How to Correctly List your Education

Next, it’s time to talk about your education.

Depending on the job you apply for, you may require a degree or high school diploma. 

Those with impressive sales achievements may not need to impress with their education at all.

There’s nothing too complicated with this section, just list the basics in the following format:

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours and relevant courses.

B.A. in Strategies in Sales Management

University of Michigan

2012 - 2016

• Relevant Courses: Sales Forecasting & Budgeting, Developing Strategic Relationships with Major Customers, Managing Sales-Related Change, Developing and Using Customer Insight

We understand that you may have further questions. If so, here are the answers to some of the most frequent questions that we get:

What if I have not yet finished my studies?

• Regardless of whether you’re a sales graduate or still studying, you should still mention every year of education to date

Should I include my high school education?

• Just include your highest form of education, which will likely be your high school education if you didn’t go to college 

What is more important, my education or experience?

• In the sales field, your experiences are the most important, so those go first.

Be sure to check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 15 Skills for a Sales Resume

A top sales representative is able to show their talents through the number of sales they convert.

You won’t even get to that stage if don’t include the correct skills on your resume.

Here are some of the most common sales skills that the recruiter will be looking for:

• Product Knowledge
• Rapport Building
• Time Management
• Product Presentation
• Contract Negotiation
• Closing Sales
• Prospecting
• Public Speaking
• Problem Solving
• Conflict Resolution

Here’s a more comprehensive list of 100+ must-have skills this year .

What Else Can You Include?

We’ve now covered every essential resume section .

But ask yourself one question –

Have you done enough to make the sale ?

You need your resume to stand out !

Adding additional sections can really round you out as a candidate.

Awards & Certifications

Have you won salesperson of the month?

Have you completed any courses to improve your sales skills?

If you said yes to any of the above, make sure to mention them in your resume!

Here’s an example:

Awards & Certificates

• “The Art of Sales” - Coursera Certificate
• “Public Speaking Masterclass” - MadeUpUniversity

As a sales representative, you will be communicating with a diverse clientele. 

As such, it can be useful to know other languages.

Either way, being able to speak a second language is always an impressive skill to a hiring manager, so feel free to add a language section if you have space.

Rank the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

This section simply requires a sentence about what you like to do when you aren’t working. 

Doing this allows the hiring manager to see what kind of person you are. 

This section also adds a more personal touch to your resume.

Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

Want to increase your chances of getting the interview call?

Attach a cover letter with your resume.

Cover letters are still an important part of the hiring process.

You see, a cover letter is a specific and personal piece of content. 

Unlike an applicant that sends a generic resume to every company, a cover letter shows the hiring manager that you care about working for their company.

Here’s the winning formula:

You should complete the following sections:

Personal Contact Information

Your full name, profession, email, phone number, location.

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

It’s no secret that recruiters skim through applications. As such, your opening paragraph must be immensely powerful. Use concise language to mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and best achievement to date

Once you’ve sparked the reader’s interest, you can get deeper into the following specifics:

• Why you chose this specific company
• What you know about the company
• How are your top skills relevant for the job
• Which similar industries or positions have you worked in before

Closing Paragraph

• Don’t just end the conversation abruptly, you should:
• Conclude the points made in the body paragraph
• Thank the hiring manager for the opportunity
• Finish with a call to action. This is a good way to start a conversation. A simple “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more about how I can help company X” will work

Formal Salutations

End the letter in a professional manner. Something like, “ Kind regards ” or “ Sincerely. ”

For more inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Key Takeaways

If you combined your sales skills with the advice above, you should have successfully convinced the recruiter to give you an interview. 

Before leaving, let’s sum it all up:

• Format your sales resume correctly. Prioritize the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the best practices on content layout
• Start your resume with a summary or objective to hook the recruiter
• Highlight your top sales achievements, rather than your daily duties
• Use your sales skills to write a convincing cover letter

Suggested Reading:

• The One-Page Resume of Richard Branson
• What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment? [3 Proven Answers]
• 101 Career Paths for Every Personality [2024 Guide]

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