Sales Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Sales Resume Examples and Templates (Downloadable)

• Entry level
• Midlevel
• Senior level

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PDF

DOCX

Google Docs

PDF

DOCX

Google Docs

A sales resume is like your own personal advertisement, designed to emphasize the most compelling aspects of your career. It must demonstrate how your industry knowledge and communication skills come together to achieve sales targets. In this guide, we’ll offer tips and strategies to show potential employers you can build customer relationships and close a deal.

Key takeaways:

• Highlight industry expertise: Elevate your value proposition with an emphasis on sales experience in the company’s industry and where your unique expertise lies.
• Describe achievements using numbers: Throughout the professional experience section, use concrete numbers to describe instances of sales growth, revenue generated, and customer satisfaction.
• Incorporate keywords for applicant tracking systems: Ensure your application makes it through applicant tracking systems (ATS) by including relevant sales-related keywords from the job description in your resume.

How To Write a Sales Resume Example

Often, hiring managers sift through dozens of applications to fill just one position, so you need to write a sales resume that stands out from the others. Start strong with a modern resume template. Your sales resume should include these sections:

• Contact information
• Profile
• Key skills
• Professional experience
• Education and certifications

1. Share your contact information

The first thing hiring managers should see on your sales resume is your name and a few ways they can contact you. Provide your phone number, email address, and location, followed by a link to your LinkedIn profile. This ensures you can be easily reached for further questions or to continue the application process with an interview.

2. Write a brief summary of your sales qualifications

Think of the profile section as the opening pitch to your resume. To grab the attention of hiring managers and make them want to know more, start strong by including key details about who you are as a sales professional. Display your job title, years of experience, and any industry expertise or specializations that set you apart.

For instance, perhaps you led a major sales campaign or have specialized knowledge of a product or service in the employer’s industry. Include these details in your profile. Consider what the employer is looking to add to their sales team, and adjust what you include here to speak to the needs of the company.

3. Create a powerful list of your sales experience

A results-driven professional experience section should include the most engaging aspects of your sales career so far. Hiring managers want to know you have the track record necessary to drive the business forward, meeting or exceeding their sales targets. Use bullet points to outline impressive career achievements and demonstrate your sales acumen.

While you’re often closing deals on your own, it takes a team of professionals to succeed. Describe times you’ve worked cross-functionally to achieve a goal. Or, perhaps you’ve taken on responsibility as a team lead. Emphasize any leadership abilities to show you have the potential for professional development.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

Your professional experience encompasses more than the daily responsibilities listed in a job description, and employers need to see evidence of your career success. Establish your sales credibility by including specific numbers and metrics. Quantifying your accomplishments demonstrates an ability to achieve measurable results that impact the company’s bottom line.

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

Although your resume is about you, it should be written with your prospective employers in mind. As a sales professional, you know all about helping customers find solutions. So, apply this theory to yourself. Be the solution to a company’s problem by customizing your sales resume to meet the hiring manager’s needs.

You can do this by tailoring each resume you send out. Use keywords from job listings to feature certain skills above others and use specific company language. For example, if the job ad mentions “lead generation,” include that phrase somewhere in your resume. Provide specific examples of times you successfully implemented lead-generation campaigns.

What if you don’t have experience?

Even if you don’t have direct sales experience yet, you likely have plenty of transferable abilities to leverage. Skills and experience gained in customer service jobs, mentorships, and school will be an asset to any sales resume. Let’s review how you can dig deeper and mine your professional history for sales-compatible experience:

• Education: Include any sales or business-related coursework you’ve completed.
• Certification: Consider earning a sales certificate if you do not already have one.
• Customer service: Highlight jobs you’ve had within industries like retail, food service, and hospitality.
• Internships: Include business internships you may have participated in or consider applying for internships now.

4. Include sales-related education and certifications

While many entry-level sales positions require a high school diploma, management positions will often demand a four-year degree. However, most hiring managers are most interested in seeing that you have the necessary sales experience. No matter your level of education, start with your highest academic achievement first. Include the school name, location, and dates of attendance.

To stand out from other sales professionals, include any relevant certifications you’ve earned. An industry-related credential that shows you’re an expert in the field or proof of proficiency in a common software program can help differentiate you from other well-qualified candidates.

5. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to sales

Whether you’re a sales representative or team leader, adding a key skills section to your sales resume communicates your essential abilities in a way that’s easy to read. Organize your skills into a bulleted list, highlighting the most relevant qualities required for the job. Include both hard and soft skills on your resume, as your industry know-how and interpersonal skills are equally important.

Resume writer’s tip: Use strong action verbs

Keep your language concise by using action verbs. Instead of using first-person language (e.g., “I was responsible for upselling…”), begin sentences that describe your accomplishments with an action verb. This will make a greater impact by strategically using your words to show your achievements. Below you’ll find examples of action verbs you can use in your sales resume:

How To Pick the Best Sales Resume Template

You need a template that will sell your skills well. A resume is your chance to make a good first impression on hiring managers, so make it count. The best resume template for a sales professional is clean and well-structured. Avoid those that look too busy, cluttered, or colorful. Well-designed templates draw the reader’s focus to what is most important — your sales accomplishments and qualifications.

Sales Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates

Frequently Asked Questions: Sales Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with a sales job description?

You may be surprised to find out that employment for sales professionals is expected to decline over the next 10 years. Although competition will be tough for the newest positions, there will be nearly 2 million annual job openings to replace workers who leave the industry. To stand out from other applicants, align your resume with the job ad you’re responding to.

First, identify exactly what the employer is looking for in a sales professional so you can include the most relevant information. For example, suppose you’re applying to a tech company that needs someone who specializes in Software as a service (SaaS) sales. In that case, if you had SaaS experience, you would highlight how you’ve done things like optimize sales processes and improve engagement in that space.

What is the best sales resume format?

The chronological format is often the best choice for a sales resume as it follows your progressive work history and growth in the field. Hiring managers can quickly grasp your career trajectory and observe how you’ve developed your sales skills over time. This format gives you the space to elaborate on past sales achievements and showcase your expertise in specific industries or markets.

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Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.