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Sales Resume Examples

In a job search, you need to sell your credentials. Use our sales resume examples, writing tips and resume builder to write a strong resume.

Our Recommended Example

Sales Associate

Sales Associate Resume Example
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Popular Templates in the Sales Space

  • Sales Manager

    Sales Manager Resume Sample
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  • Inside Sale Representative

    Inside Sales Representative Resume Example
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  • Insurance Agent

    Insurance Agent Resume Sample
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  • Outside Sales Representative

    Outside Sales Representative Resume Sample
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Table of Contents

Sales Resume

Sales Cover Letter

Sales CV

Create a Sales
Resume in 5 Simple Steps

  • Add contact info
  • Include work experience details
  • Provide education details
  • Select your skills
  • Fill in your background
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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Sales Resume

Writing a sales resume that will get you hired is easy with LiveCareer’s Resume Builder, which provides pre-written text suggestions to help you describe your experience and skills. Written by certified resume writers, you can use our suggestions as-is or modify them to meet your needs.

Here are some suggestions our builder may recommend for your sales resume:

  • Implemented up-selling strategies such as recommending accessories and complementary purchases to boost revenue.
  • Monitored metrics and marketing investments to assess performance and implement continuous improvements.
  • Conducted financial needs analysis, reviewed current coverage and suggested products to advance the client’s goals.

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Sales Resume

Do

  • Do use descriptive language. If you want to grab the attention of a recruiter in sales, you need to write a resume that is focused on what you’ll bring to the table both for the employer and for your prospective customer. Use vivid language that clearly describes what you have done and what you can do. Describe your contributions using words like, achieved, improved, initiated, motivated and influenced to stand out.
  • Do use numbers and data. When you want to prove your value, use numbers and data to flaunt your accomplishments and the impact your work has had. For example, rather than saying that you improved efficiency, write that you “Developed a new process that improved efficiency by 15 percent.”
  • Do tailor your resume to the job description. Hiring managers look for specific skills and experience. Examine the job description, select key requirements and tailor your resume to emphasize the attributes required by the employer. Think of this like customizing a sales pitch./li>
 

Don’t

  • Don’t be inconsistent. Keep the structure of your resume concise and consistent. For example, if you begin every bullet point with a verb, don’t switch to starting with a noun halfway through. Like a good sales presentation, consistency makes your resume message clearer and more persuasive.
  • Don’t use an objective statement. Some older resume advice suggested using an objective statement. This is ineffective because it focuses on your goals rather than what you can offer the employer. Instead, write a professional summary that highlights the significant skills you bring to the new position.
  • Don’t use passive voice.An active voice keeps your resume concise and action-oriented. For example, write that you “monitored sales metrics” instead of “sales metrics were monitored.” The former sets a more dynamic and engaging tone.

Beat the ATS with These Sales Resume Skills

Many employers are using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to evaluate applicants. An ATS scans resumes for keywords and determines how relevant they are to the role. The hiring manager will only review the highest-ranking resumes. If you are applying to a sales department at a large corporation, expect an ATS to evaluate your resume. Even some smaller operations are beginning to use this technology.

The best way to pass an ATS is to focus on industry-standard skills and keywords pulled from the job posting. LiveCareer’s Resume Builder can help you write an effective sales resume by providing helpful keyword suggestions to help your resume pass through an ATS and into the hands of a recruiter.

Here are some suggestions our builder might make for your sales resume:

  • Prospecting
  • Buyer-seller agreement
  • Objection handling
  • Product demonstrations
  • Customer relationship management
  • Salesforce
  • Business development
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Sales Resumes for Every Professional Level

Telemarketer Resume Example
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This job seeker has relatively little experience, so he uses a functional resume format. This choice helps highlight his skills over his experience. He includes the most detail under his proficiencies rather than prior positions. This helps to make the focal point of the resume what he can do for the prospective employer instead of what he has done in the past. In his professional summary, he mentions his career goals. This is a common practice for people just starting their careers who may have fewer professional accomplishments to list in this section.

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Senior Sales Executive Resume Example
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This senior sales executive has several years of experience and has gradually worked his way up from an entry-level position. Using a combination resume format helps him showcase his career progression and accomplishments while still making skills a major focal point. He also uses data, such as his 70 percent conversion rate, to make his resume more persuasive. Additionally, he highlights a summary of qualifications to make it as easy as possible for the reader to understand why he’s a good candidate.

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Director Of Sales And Business Development Resume Example
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This job seeker has reached the executive level and has accumulated a long work history that includes several leadership positions. He uses a chronological resume format to help make his work history the centerpiece of the resume. Although he still includes a list of skills, his prior positions and professional accomplishments take center stage.

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Recommended Sales Cover Letter

Sales Associate Cover Letter Sample
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Resume Success Stories

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Statistics and Facts About Sales Jobs

Median Pay of Sales Workers

Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives$61660 per year
Sales Managers$124220
Insurance Sales Agents$50600
Sales Engineers$101420
013K26K39K52K65K78K91K104K117K130K
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Number of Sales Jobs by Title

Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives$1732400
Sales Managers$405700
Insurance Sales Agents$475900
Sales Engineers66700$
0175K350K525K700K875K1M1M1M1M1M
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Growth of Sales Jobs by Title

Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives2$ (Slower than average)
Sales Managers$5 (As fast as average)
Insurance Sales Agents$10 (Faster than average)
Sales Engineers$6 (As fast as average)
036912
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Average Age of Sales Workers

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing45.1 years
Marketing and Sales Managers42.2 years
Insurance Sales Agents45.1 years
Sales Engineers44.8 years
01020304050
Source: DataUSA

Gender Diversity of Sales Workers

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing

  • Male Icon

    Male

    70.5%

  • Female Icon

    Female

    29.5%

Marketing and Sales Managers

  • Male Icon

    Male

    52.6%

  • Female Icon

    Female

    47.4%

Insurance Sales Agents

  • Male Icon

    Male

    51.4%

  • Female Icon

    Female

    48.6%

Sales Engineers

  • Male Icon

    Male

    90.7%

  • Female Icon

    Female

    9.3%

Source: DataUSA

Top Education Majors of Sales Workers

Business38.3%
Social Sciences8.22%
Communications7.35%
0816243240
Source: DataUSA
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