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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Create a Sales
Resume in 5 Simple Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

    Heading Slides

  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

    Work History Slides

  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

    Education Slides

  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

    Skills Slides

  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

    Summery Slides

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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 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 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

Sales Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level
Telemarketer Resume ExampleBuild my Resume

Telemarketer

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. Build my Resume

Mid-Career
Senior Sales Executive Resume ExampleBuild my Resume

Senior Sales Executive

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. Build my Resume

Executive-Level
Director Of Sales And Business Development Resume ExampleBuild my Resume

Director of Sales and Business Development

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. Build my Resume

More sales resume samples

Find resume examples for your desired sales career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

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    Resume Success Stories

    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$101419
    013K26K39K52K65K78K91K104K117K130K
    Source: Salary.com

    Number of Sales Jobs by Title

    Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives$1732400
    Sales Managers$405700
    Insurance Sales Agents$475900
    Sales Engineers$66700
    0175K350K525K700K875K1M1M1M1M1M
    Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Job Growth of Sales Jobs by Title

    Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives$2 (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

    Female 29.5%

    Male 70.5%

    Marketing and Sales Managers

    Female 47.4%

    Male 52.6%

    Insurance Sales Agents

    Female 48.6%

    Male 51.4%

    Sales Engineers

    Female 10.3%

    Male 90.7%

    Top Education Majors of Sales Workers

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

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