For a salesperson, your resume is your calling card, so you have to make it work for you. Creating an effective, persuasive resume is key. Read our guide on how to create a top-notch sales resume that will help you stand out from the crowd and land your next interview.
Published: November 19, 2021 Last Updated: September 10, 2024 Average rating people’ve already rated it
Your sales resume is like the “elevator pitch” of your job search. A dynamic resume gets you faster to your goal: the perfect sales job! A generic, all-purpose resume could fall flat, leaving you in the “no thank you” pile.
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You know it takes time to make a final sale, or get that job offer, but you also know your initial contact (that’s your sales resume!) can make or break your sale.
A great sales resume gets you in front of the client (or hiring manager) so you can make the sale. Remember, sales professionals sell, of course, but there’s more to it than offering a product or service and walking away.
Sales professionals must know everything there is to know about what they are selling. But they also have to understand their clients, the market and what differentiates what they sell from other, similar products. In this case, the product is you!
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This resume guide and corresponding sales resume example will cover the following:
Writing a sales resume is easier if you know what you need to include in the content to pique your “customer's” interest. To that end, your resume should include the following five sections:
Consider your resume to be your “highlight reel.” You’re showcasing your most valuable skills and accomplishments so you can demonstrate to potential employers why you’re the candidate they need to hire. But you have to do your homework first. To ensure you’re showing your best attributes, make sure you know as much as possible about the job itself, the company, including its history, values, and position in the industry, as well as finding out who can give you the “green light” to get the job.
Figure out what makes you special—what you bring to the table that no one else does. That’s your USP—your unique selling proposition—and it’s your key to sealing the deal.
And this deal begins with one document: your resume. To get the results you’re looking for, stick to this gameplan:
Optimize for the ATS
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking Systems. ATS algorithms scan resumes for keywords—usually matching the job description—and rank them by keyword inclusion. Only the highest-ranking resumes pass through to be reviewed by human hiring staff. The rest are eliminated.
For example, the sales job posting lists the following requirements:
Your resume profile summary, when integrating the keywords, could read:
“Experienced and motivated Sales Development Professional with five years of experience in high level sales environments. Proven track record of expanding businesses by successfully
networking and forming smart partnerships. The ability to cultivate key relationships and consistently generate new business. Self motivated and driven to help increase the prosperity of a business while working to enhance their reputation.”
To learn more about conquering the ATS, check out our article Resume ATS optimization.
Your resume needs to be straightforward, professional, easy to read, and concise—the same qualities of a successful sales person.
We recommend you stick with the most popular resume format: reverse chronological order. Why? Recruiters and hiring managers like it best. They know exactly where to find the information that is important to them, and they can quickly see where you are in your career right now.
This format is also favored by ATS, so when you apply online, the scanning process will most likely place your information into the correct boxes.
If you are a new entry into the workforce, check out the resume formats we suggest as chronological alternatives or hybrids. Mature job seekers shifting careers might also find these ideas useful.
When exploring the many resume templates in our resume builder, select the format that best suits your situation. We have plenty of versions of the three formats available as resume examples.
When choosing a design, a sales resume should use a simple, uncluttered, modern layout that is easy for a hiring manager to read.
When you give your business card to a potential client, you want to meet two goals: your contact info is clear and the card’s style fits your brand. The header is your resume’s business card.
Your contact information should be placed at or near the top of your resume so that it’s easy to find. But it has to look as professional as the rest of your resume.
Sales Development Professional
Salesman to the Stars
Expert tipThe key components of your resume are your contact information and your most recent job and title. This is where hiring managers look first, so make sure these items are easy to find.
When you start your presentation for a potential new client, you probably have an opening line ready to go, like “Here’s how we can increase your brand awareness.” You want them to get the message that you are the person who can help them get their name out there and increase their sales figures.
Your resume summary serves the same purpose as an opening pitch. In 2-3 sentences, you’re introducing yourself to the employer as the person who can help them grow their business. A well-crafted summary showcases your sales talents and the value you bring, not just the tasks you checked off a daily “to-do” list.
Use action verbs in the simple past or present tense—developed, boosted, achieved, generated, and championed—and include quantifiable achievements where possible.
Resume summaries shouldn’t be a “cut and paste” of other information on your resume. They present intersecting, overarching abilities and traits that make you good at what you do. In other words, they demonstrate your unique value proposition. For example, “Consistently exceeded sales goals while earning top survey scores for client satisfaction.”
This is your opportunity to present the image of yourself you want them to see, so it's crucial to be very clear about that image. Are you an average closer with consistent results or an enthusiastic go-getter who goes above and beyond? Both have value but in different ways. The summary is where you establish your brand and who you are.
Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related resumes:
You can find adaptable sales resume examples summary below:
Entry-level adaptable resume summary/profile exampleEnergetic sales representative at the outset of a promising career, excelling at creating dynamic business relationships and surpassing initial sales targets. Skilled in employing foundational sales techniques and CRM, with a track record of supporting sales growth and customer engagement. Recognized for excellent time management and collaborative efforts, wth a commitment to continuous learning and sales excellence.
Copy to clipboard Mid-level adaptable resume summary/profile exampleHighly driven sales representative with a passion for making powerful business connections and meeting and exceeding sales goals. Adept at utilizing consultative sales techniques to prospect and initiate new business sales.
Copy to clipboard Senior-level adaptable resume summary/profile exampleAccomplished senior sales manager with a proven record of spearheading strategic sales initiatives that have dramatically increased revenue and membership growth in the fitness industry. Renowned for advanced customer relationship management and innovative sales strategy development, resulting in exceptional customer retention and market expansion. Instrumental in optimizing team performance, driving revenue growth, and enhancing organizational brand through expert digital marketing and social media management.
Copy to clipboardIn your work history section, list your most recent position at the top and work backwards to your first job. Don’t include the jobs you’ve held within the last 10-15 years. Keep your focus on work experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for. Older positions and those jobs not directly related to the role can be placed in a separate section called “Other experience.”
Under each employer and role heading, describe your contributions in concise bullet point statements, avoiding the word, “I.” Be specific and use powerful action verbs: pitched, generated, leveraged, secured, spearheaded, increased, expanded, surpassed, exceeded, and pioneered.
Instead of listing your day-to-day activities, demonstrate tangible outcomes and achievements. For example, have you ever seen task-related statements like these in a sales resume?
These empty statements could describe anyone who ever pitched a client; they don’t show what you’ve achieved in your field or the value you bring to the table. You want to highlight what you accomplished, not that you showed up.
Replace these vagaries with results-based points. Put the spotlight on your results, either solo or with your team: sales performance and its impact on the bottom line, changes in the amount of product moved, etc. Beyond sales figures, look at client relationship figures like lead generation, repeat customers, client referrals, or leadership and process metrics.
Check out these reworked versions of the phrases above:
Take a look at the sales employment history resume sample below:
Adaptable resume employment history exampleSales Development Professional at Precision Inc. , New York
September 2015 - September 2019
Sales Develpment Professional at Smart Solutions, New York
August 2012 - August 2015
Executive Assistant to Head of Sales at Pepsi Inc. , New York
August 2011 - August 2012
When creating a sales resume without direct experience, it's essential to emphasize transferable skills and your passion for the sales and the industry to which you’re applying.
Highlight your educational background in sales, marketing, or any related field. Detail any courses, workshops, or training programs you've attended that align with the industry's demands.
Showcase transferable skills that are pivotal in sales roles. For instance, if your experience includes being a barista in a coffee shop, highlight how this role honed your customer service and communication abilities, which are vital in any sales position.
Bringing attention to your personal interests that relate to the sales field. A keen interest in psychology, public speaking, or active participation in charity fundraising can underscore your enthusiasm and natural inclination toward the sales industry.
Incorporating these elements in your resume will illustrate your drive and potential in a sales position, even with no direct experience on your resume.
In your skills list, combine hard and soft skills that showcase your comprehensive expertise. Hard skills like accounting software, social media management, or even CRM programs are clear advantages in your job search.
However, soft skills like customer service, communication skills, and an awareness of sales or industry trends can also help you stand out from the crowd.
The resume builder offers several pre-written key skills to choose from with proficiency ranges you can set. You can also write in your skills.
Here’s what the skills box looks like in our sales resume template.
Key Skills and ProficienciesThis skills section isn’t the only place to add your key skills. Incorporate them throughout your resume by showing how you used those skills on the job. Underscore the value of these skills by providing specific examples and achievements:
For example, in your work experience section and professional summary, highlight your
Look to the job description as a guide for what key skills to include.
Expert tipWhat is emotional intelligence and why should you list it as a skill? Here are the five main components of emotional intelligence, according to psychologist Daniel Goleman:
All of these skills are highly valued by employers, especially in fields such as sales, so make sure to include them on your resume.
The education section is pretty straightforward for sales roles. Simply list your academic achievements, in reverse chronological order, just like your work history. If you have significant work experience or higher education, omit your high school education and start with college degrees.
Beyond formal education, this section is a great opportunity to list certifications or training relevant to sales. For example,
Remember, if your education or training is particularly impressive or more relevant than your work experience, consider placing this section before your employment history. This is known as a functional resume that emphasizes your qualifications and shows your commitment to professional growth in sales.
Adaptable example for education and certificationsBachelor of Communications, Manhattan College, New York
August 2010 - May 2014
When you’re making a sales presentation, you avoid a “one-size fits all” approach and tailor your data and information to the client to whom you’re presenting. After all, you wouldn’t try to sell a telecommunications package to a clothes retailer.
The design and layout of your resume serves the same purpose. You want your resume to grab the hiring manager’s attention and show them who you are as a professional. That’s why you want to choose a template that is clean, reader-friendly, and professional—not boring or generic.
It should be eye-catching, but not flashy or trendy. Think about how the resume represents you: effective, professional, and informational but concise.
For a sales resume, we recommend clean lines for separating sections, a clean but modern font, and no or limited color. You’re a professional who sells high-value services. Your resume design should reflect that. The sales resume sample here, for example, makes use of our London template—a sleek, clean layout with just a hint of color.
You can’t wave a magic wand to create a great resume, but there are tools that make the process easy, like out field-tested resume templates, where the most difficult formatting and structure setups are already in place.
Profile
Experienced and motivated Sales Development Professional with five years of experience in high level sales environments. Proven track record of expanding businesses by successfully networking and forming smart partnerships. The ability to cultivate key relationships and consistently generate new business. Self motivated and driven to help increase the prosperity of a business while working to enhance their reputation.
Employment history
Sales Development Professional at Precision Inc. , New York
September 2015 - September 2019
Sales Develpment Professional at Smart Solutions, New York
August 2012 - August 2015
Executive Assistant to Head of Sales at Pepsi Inc. , New York
August 2011 - August 2012
Skills
Education
Bachelor of Communications, Manhattan College, New York
August 2010 - May 2014
The sales job market is very much dependent on what you sell. For example, the advertising sales industry is completely different from the sales market (see our sales resume example and guide for more details).
Many high-tech companies are ramping up after pandemic layoffs, and salespeople are needed, but difficult to find, according to the Wall Street Journal. But that’s not true in all sales areas; it really depends on the industry.
Statistical insightThe salary of sales professionals often consists of base salary plus commission. However, the amount you can earn depends on your field.
Advertising sales agents, for example, have an annual median salary of $61,270, but sales engineers have a median salary of $116,950 per year.
Salaries for similar roles
Insurance Underwriters $77,860
Sales managers $135,160 per year
Personal financial advisors $99,580 per year
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives $73,080 per year
A career in sales can offer professional satisfaction to individuals who possess good communication skills, are team players, and good at setting and achieving goals. Your resume should highlight your accomplishments and achievements, using quantifiable data when possible, and define your professional brand and your USP.
Utilizing our online resume builder can streamline the application process, making it more efficient and less daunting for aspiring sales professionals.
