Sales Resume Examples: Templates & Formats [Skills, Objective, Summary]

A good salesperson knows the importance of a strong opening pitch — and a well-crafted sales resume serves as the first good pitch a candidate can make on potential employers.

Sales positions involve actively promoting and selling products or services to potential customers. Professionals in sales are responsible for building relationships, understanding customer needs, and effectively communicating how their offerings meet those needs. Whether working in retail, business-to-business, or other industries, individuals in sales play a crucial role in driving revenue and contributing to the overall success of a company by meeting or exceeding sales targets.

A good sales resume not only demonstrates a candidate's selling prowess but also captures the attention of hiring managers, increasing the likelihood of securing an interview. A strong sales resume highlights key achievements, relevant skills, and quantifiable results, showcasing the candidate's ability to drive revenue and build lasting client relationships.

How to Write a Winning Sales Resume

Resume Header

Everyone should have their full details at the beginning of their resume as specified below. Make sure that this information is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible:

• Full name: If you have a hard-to-pronounce name, consider including your English name or a phonetic spelling in brackets.
• Professional title: Make sure to align this title with the one you're applying for.
• Email address: While using an email address you have since college is okay, make sure that it looks (or sounds) professional.
• Phone number: If you cannot be reached via phone number, remember to mention your preferred contact method in your cover letter.
• Location information: This information can opt-out if you're applying for remote work, or you can mention the country instead of the city you're in.
• Social Media Profiles: Depending on the sales position, consider adding relevant social media profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram) to highlight your networking ability and professional online presence.

Resume Headline 

A resume headline is an introductory phrase on the top of a resume that succinctly highlights a candidate’s strength and experience. This is typically one line and gives recruiters an overview of why you’re an ideal fit for the sales job position.

It’s important to try and incorporate keywords related to the required skills, qualifications, or experiences, and keep it concise.

Here are 3 sales resume headline examples:  

Career Objectives

Whereas a resume headline will include the highlights of your sales experiences and skills, a career objective focuses on your career goals. Two to three lines should do the trick however a small paragraph or a few bullet points can work too. Your sales career objective can replace the resume headline or summary and should be near the top of your resume. 


The career objective should answer the questions: “What have you achieved?” and “Why are you here?” – with solid proof. Sales resume career objectives should help capture the recruiter’s attention and make your application more memorable and impressionable.

Here are some examples of sales resume objectives:

Work Experience

Many employers view the work experience section as the most integral part of a sales resume as it serves as evidence of a candidate's practical application of sales skills and the ability to achieve measurable results.

A strong work history should not only validate a candidate's expertise, but also instills confidence in hiring managers that the individual possesses the real-world experience necessary to navigate the complexities of the sales landscape.

The work experience section should include concise bullet-point descriptions of the roles, responsibilities and achievements at your previous places of employment.

Here are some examples of a well-written work experience section:

Sales Skills for Resume

The skills section on a sales resume plays a critical role, showing hiring managers whether you're a good fit for the job. If your skills are extensive then separate them into a list, otherwise incorporate them into your work experience section.

By “matching” your sales skills with the recruiters’ job description, you can easily display yourself as the perfect candidate. Additional language fluency could also be a great skill for the candidate (especially if the spoken language fits the targeted market for the corporation).

Here are some common sales skills for your resume:

Education

While some employers may deem irrelevant, it is important to highlight your academic qualifications on a sales resume. Education can serve as a foundation to your sales career.

It is especially important to add this section if your education includes any marketing or sales degrees or coursework. You can also highlight Student Associations or networking activities that are relevant to the job.

Here’s an example of how to write an education section on your sales resume:

If you haven't graduated yet but are still pursuing a degree, you can adapt the education section on your resume to reflect your current academic status. Here's a guide on how to do that:

Certification

Having a sales certification on resume can definitely help a candidate stand out from the crowd. Certifications show your determination to back up your sales skills and selling ability with market-proven organizations.

And while they are not a compulsory requirement for sales resumes, consider taking them to upgrade your skills.

Example Sales Certifications:

• Certified Professional Salesperson (CPSP)
• HubSpot Sales Software Certification
• Miller Heiman Group Strategic Selling Certification
• SPIN Selling Certification
• Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant
• Digital Sales Certification (Google, LinkedIn, or others)
• Negotiation Mastery Certification
• Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP)
• Social Selling Certification
• Dale Carnegie Sales Training Certification

3 Tips for Writing the Best Sales Resume

Start with the Right Resume Format

Be aware of the three different resume formats and choose the one that suits your needs:

• Chronological Resumes: The chronological resume is the most commonly used resume type where you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, from the most recent to the least recent. If your past several work experiences align with the position for which you are applying, then go with this format. 
• Functional Resume: A functional resume highlights your skills rather than your chronological experience in your resume. This resume format is highly suitable for recent graduates with limited work experience or people changing careers. It's important in a functional resume to provide examples of how you have applied these skills in your previous experiences.
• Combination Resume: A combination resume also focuses on skills but uses work experience as a supplement to support skills. This is great for people who are switching careers, and much of their work experience might not be relevant.

Use Keywords from the Job Description

It’s important to use keywords from the job description on your sales resume as many large companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for hiring. An ATS is a type of software used by employers to scan, rate, and organize resumes submitted for their positions. It scans applications looking for keywords, specific skills, and experience that are important to the job.

Those keywords are usually mentioned in the job listing, sometimes more than once, so applicants should take note which ones to include on their resumes for a high-rated ATS.

 

Consider the following steps when incorporating keywords:

1. Read the job description: When reviewing a job description, it's important to pay attention to the specific qualities and experiences the employer is seeking. For instance, a sample job description might read, "We are in search of a dynamic Sales Representative with exceptional communication skills and a passion for exceeding targets in a fast-paced and collaborative environment."
2. Analyze the keywords mentioned: It's crucial to analyze the keywords mentioned in the description, such as dynamic, exceptional communication skills, exceeding targets, fast-paced, and collaborative environment.
3. Craft your sentences using the keywords: After that, make sure to craft your resume’s content accordingly. Here’s how you can include those keywords in:

By incorporating these specific keywords into your resume, you increase the likelihood of your application successfully navigating through ATS filters.

Optimize Your Social Media — Especially LinkedIn

For a salesperson, connections are paramount and social media profiles like LinkedIn are proof of that. Your online connections are a strong indicator of your networking practices and a crucial element for sales success.

Furthermore, endorsements from co-workers or clients can provide true feedback of your abilities outside of your sales resume. In addition, some platforms like LinkedIn Sales Navigator have advanced sales tools which give you detailed search insights, lead recommendations, and can even connect with your CRM.

Many recruiters will now check out your social media accounts before hiring so making sure these channels are up-to-date and reflect your professional engagement is a must.

Just starting out and looking for a sales executive position? Check out our resume writing guideline fore sales executives.

Sales Resume Examples & Design Templates

Entry-level Sales Representative Resume

Like this resume template? Create it now!

Mid-level Sales Representative Resume

Like this resume template? Create it now!

Mid-level Sales Representative Resume

Conclusion

A compelling sales resume is your key to getting your foot in the door. While sales teams value interpersonal skills and connections, you shouldn’t overlook having a well thought-out resume as it shows all the other skills required to be part of a successful sales team.

Follow the tips above for each section of your resume and go through some of the examples provided. With a clear, creative and thoughtful approach, your resume will help you land that coveted sales job you always wanted.

If you're looking for more career advice, follow Cake for more insightful tips.

— Originally written by Michael Reid & Julia Chu —