How to Write a Killer Resume for a Sales Job

Craft a killer sales resume! Learn how to create a resume for a sales job that gets you noticed. Expert resume writing tips & career advice included.

How to Write a Killer Resume for a Sales Job

Want that awesome sales job? You need a killer resume. It's your first impression. And in sales, first impressions matter. This isn't just about listing jobs. It's about selling yourself. Let's get your resume ready to go!

Why Bother with Your Sales Resume?

Recruiters? They're busy. They scan resumes fast. Really fast. Your resume needs to pop! It needs to shout, "Hire me!" Think of it as your personal marketing tool. A good resume will:

  • Show off your best skills and experience.
  • Prove what you've done with real numbers.
  • Show you get results.
  • Be written for that specific sales job.
  • Look good and be easy to read.

Skip any of that? Your resume might get tossed. Even if you're perfect for the job. Creating a great sales resume? It's worth it. It's an investment in you.

Must-Have Stuff in Your Sales Resume

Your resume needs key parts. Each shows off your awesome skills. Here's what to include:

1. How to Reach You

Easy, but important! Make sure this is right:

  • Your Name: Big and easy to read.
  • Phone: One you actually answer!
  • Email: Professional. ([email protected] is good).
  • LinkedIn: Updated and looking good.
  • Maybe: City and State (no need for your full address).

2. Quick Intro (Optional)

A short summary or objective. Experienced? Use a summary. New to the game? An objective works.

Summary: A few lines about your skills and wins. Like this:

"Sales pro with 8+ years killing sales targets and making clients happy. Great at finding deals, making sales plans, and closing big sales. Know B2B sales, SaaS, and managing accounts."

Objective: What you want and how you fit. Check this out:

"New grad with a passion for sales. Crushed goals in customer service. Looking for a sales job where I can use my people skills and problem-solving to help the company win."

3. Your Superpowers: Skills

List your best sales skills. Match the job description! Group them to make it easy to read.

Like this:

  • Sales Skills: Lead gen, pipeline, closing, talks, accounts, CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), cold calling, sales math.
  • People Skills: Listening, convincing, talking, writing, speaking.
  • Tech Skills: Microsoft Office (Excel!), data, reports, CRM admin.
  • Soft Skills: Problems, time, teamwork, change, customers, leading.

4. Your Greatest Hits: Experience

The most important part. Focus on what you achieved, not just what you did. Use action words!

For each job:

  • Job Title: What you were called.
  • Company: Name and location.
  • When: Start and end dates.
  • What You Did (and Rocked!): Use bullet points. Show your wins with numbers.

For example:

Sales Manager | ABC Company | New York, NY | 2018 – Present

  • Beat sales goals by 25% every year for three years.
  • Got 40% more leads with a new social media plan.
  • Trained the sales team and boosted their closing rate by 15%.
  • Led a team of 10, coaching them to better results.
  • Launched a new product that jumped revenue by 30% in one quarter.

Show numbers! Don't just say: "Managed accounts." Say: "Managed 20 accounts, bringing in $1 million yearly."

5. Where You Learned: Education

List your degrees, newest first.

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration? MBA?
  • Major: Marketing? Sales? Finance?
  • School: Name and location.
  • When: Graduation date.
  • GPA (Maybe): If it's good (above 3.5).
  • Classes (If New): List relevant courses.

6. Bragging Rights: Awards (Optional)

Won any awards? List them! Show you're a top performer.

Like this:

  • President's Club Award (2020, 2021, 2022)
  • Top Sales Performer (Q1 2023)
  • Employee of the Month (June 2022)

7. Proof You Know Your Stuff: Certifications (Optional)

Have any certifications? Show off your expertise.

  • Certified Sales Professional (CSP)
  • Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP)
  • HubSpot Sales Software Certification

Resume Hacks for Sales Folks

More tips to make your resume shine:

  • Customize: Write a new resume for each job. Tailor it!
  • Action! Start bullets with strong verbs: Achieved, Exceeded, Increased, etc.
  • Numbers! Show results with numbers. Prove your impact.
  • Relevant: Only list skills that matter for this job.
  • Keywords: Use words from the job description. Helps you get past the robots (ATS).
  • Short: One or two pages. Recruiters are busy!
  • Perfect: No typos! Get someone to read it.
  • Looks Good: Clean, easy to read. Use bullet points and white space.
  • PDF: Save as PDF. Keeps the formatting right.

Keywords: Get Past the Robots (ATS)

Companies use robots (ATS) to scan resumes. Use the right keywords to get noticed.

Some examples:

  • Sales Management
  • Business Development
  • Account Management
  • Lead Generation
  • Pipeline Management
  • Sales Forecasting
  • CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
  • Closing Techniques
  • Negotiation
  • Cold Calling
  • Sales Presentations
  • Key Account Management
  • Strategic Sales
  • B2B Sales
  • SaaS Sales
  • Territory Management
  • Quota Achievement
  • Client Acquisition
  • Revenue Growth

Use these words naturally. Don't just stuff them in!

Don't Do This! Resume Mistakes

Even sales pros mess up their resumes. Watch out for these:

  • Typos: Look unprofessional.
  • Generic: Doesn't fit the job.
  • No Numbers: Can't see your impact.
  • Too Much: Irrelevant stuff.
  • Ugly: Hard to read.
  • Old: Needs to be up-to-date.
  • Lies: Never lie!
  • "I did": Start with action verbs.
  • Messy: Keep the format the same.

Templates and Examples

Need help? Use a template! They look good and save time. Search online for "sales resume templates." But always customize it!

Also, Google "sales resume examples" for ideas. See what works!

Cover Letter: Your Personal Touch

A cover letter helps! It's personal. Explain why you want that specific job and show you understand the company.

Sales Career: Keep Learning

Don't stop with the resume! Keep learning. Go to workshops. Network with other sales pros. Get certified. Networking opens doors!

Your Resume: Your Key to Success

Creating a great sales resume is about showing your value and proving you can help the company win. Follow these tips. Tailor your resume. Use numbers. Add keywords. Get that interview! You got this!

Good luck!

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