resume skills examples sales

18 Key Skills to Include on a Sales Resume (with Examples)

By Status.net Editorial Team on February 4, 2024 — 13 minutes to read

A strong resume is important for landing a job in sales: with competition often fierce for sales roles, candidates need to showcase the right mix of hard and soft skills to stand out. This article will discuss the most important sales-related skills and abilities to emphasize on your resume to catch a hiring manager’s eye and help land an interview.

Advanced Sales Techniques

1. consultative selling.

Consultative selling is about becoming a trusted advisor to your customers. You listen attentively to their challenges and tailor your approach to offer personalized solutions. For instance, if you’re selling software, you might spend time understanding the client’s workflow, then demonstrate how your product can integrate smoothly and improve efficiency.

1. “Expert in building rapport and establishing trust, leading to a 30% increase in repeat business through consultative selling techniques.” 2. “Skilled in identifying client pain points and providing bespoke solutions, resulting in a 25% uptick in customer satisfaction scores.” 3. “Leveraged consultative selling to deepen customer relationships and upsell additional products, growing account revenue by 20%.” 4. “Conducted thorough needs analysis to tailor presentations and demos, successfully closing deals with a 15% higher average order value.” 5. “Facilitated customer decision-making processes by providing expert advice and personalized consultations, achieving a 95% customer retention rate.”

2. Strategic Prospecting

Strategic prospecting goes beyond just finding new leads; it’s about identifying high-quality prospects who are more likely to become valuable customers. This means analyzing potential clients’ business size, market position, and even their recent news or organizational changes to approach them with a compelling and relevant pitch.

1. “Implemented a strategic prospecting plan that increased the qualified lead pipeline by 40% within six months.” 2. “Utilized advanced market analysis to target and convert high-potential prospects into loyal customers, boosting sales by 18%.” 3. “Developed a systematic approach to prospecting that prioritized outreach to expanding businesses, resulting in a 22% increase in B2B sales.” 4. “Crafted personalized outreach campaigns based on in-depth research of prospects’ recent developments, achieving a 35% response rate.” 5. “Focused on strategic prospecting to identify and engage with key decision-makers, shortening the sales cycle by an average of 10 days.”

3. Value-Based Selling

Value-based selling puts the spotlight on the benefits and outcomes that your solution provides, rather than just the features or price. You highlight how your product or service can solve a specific problem or improve the customer’s situation. Imagine selling a project management tool; you would emphasize how it can streamline a client’s operations and save time, which translates to cost savings, rather than simply listing its features.

1. “Drove a 30% revenue growth by articulating the value and ROI of products to key stakeholders, utilizing value-based selling techniques.” 2. “Excelled in communicating the strategic value of solutions, leading to a 50% improvement in deal closure rates.” 3. “Transformed customer perceptions by shifting the focus from price to value, resulting in a 20% increase in average deal size.” 4. “Employed value-based selling to differentiate offerings in a crowded market, capturing a 15% larger market share.” 5. “Consistently exceeded sales targets by presenting tailored value propositions that aligned with customer objectives, achieving a 120% quota attainment.”

Technology Proficiency

4. crm software.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is the backbone of sales technology. You should be adept at managing customer interactions, tracking sales leads, and maintaining client information. Examples of popular CRM systems include Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM. Proficiency in these tools demonstrates your organizational skills and your dedication to maintaining detailed customer records.

1. “Proficient in Salesforce for end-to-end customer lifecycle management, resulting in a 20% improvement in customer follow-up efficiency.” 2. “Managed a 500+ client portfolio using HubSpot, enhancing customer engagement through targeted communication strategies.” 3. “Streamlined lead tracking process with Zoho CRM, increasing lead conversion rates by 15% within one fiscal quarter.” 4. “Utilized advanced CRM analytics to refine sales tactics, contributing to a 10% year-over-year sales growth.” 5. “Developed and maintained an accurate sales pipeline in CRM software, ensuring a 98% data integrity score and reliable forecasting.”

5. Sales Data Analysis Tools

Being able to analyze sales data helps you identify trends, forecast outcomes, and make informed decisions. Familiarize yourself with tools like Tableau, Excel, or Google Sheets for data visualization and analysis. Your competence with these tools can show how you transform raw data into actionable insights.

1. “Leveraged Tableau to create intuitive sales dashboards, providing the team with real-time insights that drove a 25% increase in productivity.” 2. “Advanced proficiency in Excel for complex sales data analysis, identifying key performance drivers that led to a 5% reduction in sales cycle duration.” 3. “Utilized Google Sheets for collaborative sales forecasting, resulting in a 90% accuracy rate for quarterly revenue projections.” 4. “Conducted a comprehensive market analysis using data visualization tools, enabling the launch of a successful product line expansion.” 5. “Implemented data-driven sales strategies based on in-depth analysis with Excel, contributing to a 12% uplift in cross-selling opportunities.”

6. Virtual Communication Platforms

In an increasingly remote working world, your proficiency in virtual communication platforms indicates how well you can maintain client relationships and collaborate with your team from anywhere. Tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Slack are common in sales environments. Your familiarity with these platforms ensures you can connect with clients and colleagues clearly and effectively.

1. “Facilitated seamless remote sales presentations and product demos via Zoom, maintaining a 95% client engagement rate.” 2. “Collaborated with cross-functional teams using Microsoft Teams, driving a 20% faster project completion rate for sales initiatives.” 3. “Mastered Slack for internal communication, streamlining the sales process and reducing email volume by 30%.” 4. “Conducted virtual sales training sessions through Zoom, enhancing team knowledge and contributing to a 10% increase in sales performance.” 5. “Adopted Microsoft Teams for daily sales huddles and pipeline reviews, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability in a remote work environment.”

Communication Skills

7. active listening.

You show respect and build trust by actively listening to potential clients. This means paying attention to their needs and responding appropriately. Example: “Listened to customer concerns to tailor product demonstrations effectively, resulting in a 20% increase in sales.”

8. Effective Presentation

Conveying information clearly and engagingly is a must. Your presentations should capture attention and make a persuasive case for your product or service. Example: “Crafted and delivered compelling product presentations, leading to a 30% uptick in client engagement.”

9. Negotiation and Persuasion

Being able to negotiate terms and persuade customers to close a deal are key facets of your role. You should highlight situations where you have successfully done so. Example: “Persuaded hesitant clients through targeted negotiation, improving contract closure rate by 15%.”

Personal Attributes

10. resilience.

In sales, you’re bound to face rejection and setbacks. Demonstrating resilience means you bounce back from challenges and maintain a positive attitude. For example, if you’ve consistently met or exceeded sales targets despite market downturns, this showcases your resilience.

1. “Overcame a significant industry slump by refocusing sales strategies, ultimately exceeding quarterly targets by 15%.” 2. “Maintained top sales performer status despite a highly competitive and evolving market, showcasing exceptional resilience.” 3. “Recovered from a lost key account by rapidly building a new client base, increasing overall sales volume by 20%.” 4. “Persistently pursued leads and closed deals in the face of increased market rejection rates, growing personal sales by 10%.” 5. “Demonstrated resilience by consistently achieving sales goals, even through organizational restructuring and market shifts.”

11. Adaptability

The ability to adapt is key in sales as products, markets, and technologies are always evolving. You adjust quickly to new sales methods or changes within your industry. You might share how you successfully shifted strategies to remote selling during unexpected situations.

1. “Swiftly transitioned to remote selling techniques during the pandemic, resulting in a 12% increase in customer engagement.” 2. “Adapted to new CRM software within weeks, minimizing downtime and maintaining a 100% client retention rate during the transition.” 3. “Revised sales messaging to align with shifting market demands, contributing to a 25% boost in lead conversion rates.” 4. “Embraced new product lines and quickly became proficient, leading to a 30% increase in cross-selling revenue.” 5. “Adapted sales approaches in response to real-time market feedback, allowing for a 15% faster sales cycle and increased customer satisfaction.”

12. Self-Motivation

Being self-motivated means you have the drive to set goals and achieve them without external prompting. A good indicator of this trait is when you’ve initiated projects or tasks beyond your sales role’s typical requirements, such as creating a new client outreach program that resulted in increased sales.

1. “Initiated and led a targeted outreach campaign for a niche market segment, resulting in a 35% increase in qualified leads.” 2. “Independently developed a comprehensive sales training manual, improving new hire ramp-up efficiency by 25%.” 3. “Proactively sought out advanced sales certifications, enhancing product knowledge and contributing to a 20% sales increase year-over-year.” 4. “Designed and implemented a customer referral program that generated a 40% uptick in lead generation through self-directed efforts.” 5. “Voluntarily took on additional market research tasks, uncovering untapped opportunities that led to a 10% revenue growth.”

Achievement and Metrics

13. sales targets.

Meeting or exceeding sales targets consistently is a testament to your selling skills. For example, you might highlight that you achieved 150% of your quarterly sales target, showcasing a strong ability to convert leads into sales.

14. Revenue Growth

Your ability to contribute to your company’s bottom line can be shown by detailing percentage increases in revenue. An example could be, “Drove a 20% increase in total revenue over a six-month period by acquiring new accounts and expanding existing ones.”

15. Client Acquisition Metrics

The number of new clients you acquire is a direct reflection of your networking and negotiation skills. Illustrate your effectiveness with specifics, like “Signed 30+ new client contracts in a single fiscal year, exceeding the team average by 40%.”

Additional Skills

16. time management.

Your ability to efficiently allocate your time affects productivity and sales outcomes. For instance, you might prioritize high-value clients or segment your day for different sales activities. Tools like digital calendars can improve your time management skills.

1. “Optimized daily schedule using digital calendars, increasing time dedicated to high-potential clients by 20%.” 2. “Implemented a time-management strategy to allocate specific hours for prospecting, follow-ups, and administrative tasks, boosting overall productivity by 30%.” 3. “Prioritized tasks based on revenue impact, which led to consistently meeting or exceeding monthly sales targets.” 4. “Reduced time spent on low-value activities by 25% through effective delegation and automation, redirecting focus to strategic sales initiatives.” 5. “Balanced multiple client accounts and projects by mastering time management tools, ensuring all monthly deliverables were met ahead of deadlines.”

17. Teamwork

Sales often require collaborative efforts, and your teamwork skills showcase your capacity to work alongside others. A key example could be strategizing with the marketing department to align sales goals with promotional campaigns.

1. “Collaborated with the marketing team to align sales strategies with promotional activities, resulting in a 15% increase in campaign-driven sales.” 2. “Participated in cross-functional teams to develop new product bundles, enhancing team synergy and increasing bundle sales by 20%.” 3. “Worked alongside customer service representatives to resolve complex client issues, improving team efficiency and customer retention rates.” 4. “Contributed to a team-driven approach for a major product launch, which successfully penetrated a new market segment and exceeded sales expectations by 25%.” 5. “Coordinated with the product development team to relay customer feedback, leading to product improvements and a 10% increase in customer satisfaction.”

18. Problem-Solving

When facing challenges, your problem-solving skills help you navigate through objections and find creative solutions. Whether it’s addressing customer concerns or adapting to market changes, you need to demonstrate how you’ve overcome obstacles, like developing a new pitch after identifying a common customer hesitation.

1. “Identified and addressed a recurring customer objection, redesigning the sales pitch and increasing close rates by 18%.” 2. “Developed a new lead qualification process to solve the issue of low conversion, resulting in a 40% improvement in lead-to-sale conversion.” 3. “Solved logistical challenges for a key client by coordinating with the operations team, securing the account and a 15% increase in order volume.” 4. “Crafted customized solutions for unique client needs, overcoming competitive pressures and enhancing customer loyalty.” 5. “Implemented a feedback loop between sales and product teams to quickly resolve product issues, reducing customer complaints by 30%.”

Industry-Specific Knowledge

When crafting your sales resume, grounding your expertise in the industry you’re applying to can give you a competitive edge. Showcasing your familiarity with relevant products, market trends, and customer profiles indicates your ability to hit the ground running.

For example, if you’re applying for a sales position in the pharmaceuticals industry, having an understanding of drug regulations, medical terminology, and the healthcare system will speak volumes. In tech sales, knowledge of software development processes, the latest gadgets, or cybersecurity can set you apart.

Here are types of industry-specific knowledge you might include:

• Product knowledge: Understand features, benefits, and applications of what you’re selling.
• Customer demographics: Know who buys the products and why.
• Regulatory environment: Stay updated on laws and regulations affecting your industry.
• Competitor insights: Be aware of what similar companies are doing.

You can demonstrate your industry knowledge through various experiences, such as:

• Hands-on sales experience with industry-related products or services.
• Relevant coursework or certifications.
• Membership in industry-specific professional organizations.
• Attendance at trade shows, workshops, or seminars.

Educational Background

When listing your educational qualifications, including the highest degree you’ve attained, like a Bachelor’s in Marketing, can be beneficial. If you hold a degree related to sales or communication, highlight your major and any coursework relevant to understanding consumer behavior or the art of persuasion.

Providing details of any sales certifications or specialized training courses you’ve completed demonstrates your commitment to the field and continued learning. For example, a Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) or a Strategic Sales Management certification can make your resume stand out.

Don’t forget to mention any sales-related workshops or seminars you’ve attended. These experiences show an employer that you stay updated on industry trends and best practices.

If you were active in extracurricular activities, like a marketing club or a role in student government, it’s helpful to note these as well. They can serve as proof of your leadership skills and ability to work within a team, both of which are valuable in sales positions.

Lastly, if your GPA is particularly high or you’ve received academic honors and awards, including these can shed light on your work ethic and achievement drive.

• Degree : ‘Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Sales Management’
• Certifications : ‘Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)’
• Workshops/Seminars : ‘Advanced Sales Techniques Workshop – 2023’
• Extracurricular Activities : ‘Vice President – University Sales Club’
• Awards : ‘Dean’s List – Fall 2020, Spring 2021’

Professional Development

When crafting your sales resume, enriching the Professional Development section with relevant qualifications can set you apart. These can showcase your commitment to the industry and your proactive approach to improving your skill set.

Workshops and Seminars

Participation in workshops and seminars is a vivid testament to your dedication to staying current with sales trends and skillsets.

• Negotiation and Closing Techniques : A workshop on this topic might help you master the art of deal-making.
• Advanced Sales Strategy Seminar : Attending seminars that focus on novel sales strategies can arm you with cutting-edge tactics to outperform competitors.

Online Courses

Online courses offer you the flexibility to learn at your own pace while keeping up with the latest sales methodologies and tools.

• Inbound Sales Course : An online course like this from an established platform can polish your skills in attracting and engaging prospects effectively.
• Salesforce Certification : Familiarizing yourself with popular customer relationship management (CRM) systems through certification courses can be highly beneficial.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i effectively showcase my sales skills in a resume.

To showcase your sales skills, quantify your achievements with concrete numbers and awards. Highlight situations where you’ve successfully met sales targets or grown customer bases, and be succinct in describing these accomplishments.

What are the top sales representative skills to highlight on a resume?

The top sales representative skills to highlight include persuasive communication, customer relationship management (CRM), negotiation, lead qualification, and time management. Emphasize your proficiency in these areas with results-driven examples, like expanding a customer base by a certain percentage.

Which three adjectives best capture essential sales skills for a resume?

The three adjectives that best capture essential sales skills for a resume are ‘adaptable,’ ‘persuasive,’ and ‘results-oriented.’ Using these adjectives conveys your ability to adjust to client needs, convince prospects, and consistently meet sales goals.

How should I list technical and hard sales skills on my resume?

List technical and hard sales skills in a dedicated ‘Skills’ section using bullet points for clarity. Include items like proficiency in specific sales software, data analysis, and fluency in foreign languages if applicable.

Can you provide examples of soft skills that are valuable for a sales resume?

Valuable soft skills for a sales resume include emotional intelligence, teamwork, problem-solving, and the ability to handle rejection.

• List of 21 Important Technical Skills (with Examples)
• 50 Inspiring Examples for 7 Communication Skills for a Resume
• 50 Example Phrases: Technical Skills Examples for Resume
• 12 Types of Personal Skills with 120 Examples for a Resume
• 5 Stay-at-Home Mom Resume Strategies to Showcase Skills
• 35 Examples: How To Highlight Work Experience on a Resume

Build my resume

• Build a better resume in minutes
• Resume examples
• 2,000+ examples that work in 2024
• Resume templates
• Free templates for all levels
• Cover letters
• Cover letter generator
• It's like magic, we promise
• Cover letter examples
• Free downloads in Word & Docs

23 Sales Resume Examples That Landed Jobs in 2024

• Sales Resume
• Sales Resumes by Experience
• Sales Resumes by Role

Writing Your Sales Resume

Sales are the lifeblood of any growing company. Without sales, companies grow stagnant—or worse, fail. But with a good sales department, a company can truly thrive.

You know how to care for customers, present solutions to problems, and adapt to any situation. Unfortunately, getting a new sales job involves more than just a short resignation letter at your current job and being stellar at what you do.

You shouldn’t have to create a resume or write a sales cover letter alone, which is why we’ve analyzed hundreds of professional resumes and created 23 sales resume examples just for you. These examples have helped salespeople get hired by companies like Google and Facebook , and they’re here for you to achieve the next role of your dreams in 2024.

Sales Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Whether your most significant impact was in total sales, conversion rate, retention rate, or lead generation performance, it doesn’t matter—numbers speak louder than words, so include them whenever you can!
• Space is limited on your sales resume; a cover letter generator will be your best friend, giving you plenty of opportunity to expound on those details you couldn’t fit in your resume.

Sales Assistant Resume

• Find a way to include metrics to really sell your skills!
• Don’t just say you used a certain skill; demonstrate how you used that skill. For example, did you use your organization skills to stock many items? 
• Pack your resume objective with proactive language that shows your eagerness for growth and improvement. If you’re looking for a career-building role, then say exactly that!

Entry-Level Sales Representative Resume

• Sales is a people management game. If you have charm and patience, that’s much more valuable in the eyes of the hiring manager than an impressive educational background.
• You can also include a  resume objective  to mention some of your accomplishments and skills right off the bat; if you choose to do so, make sure you tailor it for every job to which you apply.
• If your education is your strongest area, include your minor, GPA, and any relevant courses you’ve taken.
• If you’ve worked on several projects, make room to include them on your resume in place of work experience.

Experienced Sales Associate Resume

• Your true competence as a sales associate shines through the most when you mention how you effectively calmed angry customers and offered practical, compassionate solutions.
• If you’re not overly familiar with a skill, leave it out—honesty is the best policy, and many skills are easy to learn on the job.

Experienced Retail Sales Associate Resume Example

• If you don’t have past retail experience, don’t fret; use the positions you have to highlight transferable skills, like time management, customer service, and problem-solving.
• Instead of just listing responsibilities, include any achievements, too. Were you a top salesperson in your store? Did you increase your customer review rating? Did you cross-sell effectively and increase revenue? All of these are great examples to include!

Senior Sales Analyst Resume

• Include a  resume summary  (also called a career summary) if you can boast 10+ years of field experience. Make it a concise, customized snapshot of yourself by including your specializations, defining expertise, and mentioning the target business by name.
• You can include the number of employees you manage or mentor, the rate at which you’ve increased revenue, the rate at which employees have hit sales targets during your tenure, the number of departments you collaborate with, the number of monthly presentations you give, and any other metrics that showcase how you’ve improved company performance.

VP of Sales Resume

• A good example is the training program you initiated, which boosted team morale and overall productivity by 38 percent.

Executive Sales Resume

• The ATS, the gatekeeper of applications, has a thing for resumes with conventional sections (think work experience, education, certifications, and skills) sprinkled with keywords mentioned in the job ad. Eligible terms for a sales position range from Salesforce, Tableau, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to Mailchimp.

Sales Coordinator Resume

• Aim for about three work experience sections, each populated with four to five bullet points spotlighting remarkable achievements pertinent to the role. That won’t just make it a breeze to scan your resume; the recruiter engages with it, gaining a crystal-clear insight into why you’re an exceptional match for the role.

Pharmaceutical Sales Resume

• Did you help expand market share? Did you leverage technology to help close more sales deals? Add all that in and sit back as your past success elevates your candidacy to the top of the shortlisted applicants.

Insurance Sales Resume

• Highlight how you’ve tapped InsurGrid, NowCerts, ClearSlide, etc. to improve customer service, and attract and retain customers. Also, back your competencies with realistic figures that underscore your impact.

Tech Sales Resume

• Be bold, like Asher, in showing off to what extent your skills and knowledge contributed to the company’s sales department.

Sales Representative Resume

• Make sure every section of your sales representative resume is easy to read and distinguish by either capitalizing them, bolding them, or using a colored font.
• Any mistakes will be easy to see and will hurt your chances of getting an interview. So, always  check your resume  before you submit it!

Sales Manager Resume

• Focus your work experience on your sales achievements and management expertise. Even if you have no sales management experience, you can still show off your sales skills and leadership qualities wherever it was that you worked. 
• When you can, include metrics that quantify your success. Saying you conducted meetings is one thing, but conducting meetings that resulted in a 14% increase in leads is another.

Digital Sales Representative Resume

• A  good resume template  will help you structure your content effectively, but be aware of spacing—even a good resume template won’t help if your text is too tiny to read or spreads into the margins.
• If you’re stumped on what numbers to include, consider these options: response time, the number of active accounts, size of the average account, churn dollars, team size, ROI, social media post engagement, the number of products you know, and how many awards you’ve won.

Sales Strategist Resume

• There are many  good resume examples  if you know where to look, and they can help you break out of your writer’s block funk. Take a look and get some inspiration!
• Moreover, you can ask some co-workers to help you, too! They can help you decide what metrics to include and how to sound confident but not arrogant.
• For example, if you’re a senior-level employee, you don’t need to include much in your education section, but you should include more work experience bullet points.
• However, if you’re new to the field, you can include your GPA and educational awards while minimizing your work experience in favor of projects.

Sales Consultant Resume

• A strong network on LinkedIn indicates that you’re good at building professional relationships, which is an essential element of sales.
• If you haven’t updated your LinkedIn in a while, make sure you do that as soon as possible.
• For example, you can talk about unveiling events for clients, creating working relationships, and building up networks. These details demonstrate that strong customer rapport is, in fact, a skill you possess.

Sales Engineer Resume

• For example, if the job you’re applying to emphasizes the importance of using CRM software or building long-lasting relationships with customers, emphasize these skills in your skills section. 
• Focus on including hard skills similar to the ones used in the  sales job description .
• If you’re just starting your career in sales engineering OR transitioning to a different type of role, include an objective.
• If none of the above applies, leave it out in favor of more work experience.

Director Of Sales Resume

• Don’t forget to list accomplishments related to leading people and building customer relationships, starting by recording how many customers you helped or how many people you led. Then look for percentages relating to KPIs from there.
• If you’re stuck on what to include in your  resume skills section , go back to the  sales job description  and see what soft skills they require, whether explicitly stated or implied.

Outside Sales Representative Resume

• Good examples include the number of new accounts you opened, conversion rate, retention rate, lead generation performance, and overall growth.
• Sales revenue is the main statistic related to every sales position, but make sure you venture outside the box to include other metrics, too.
• You’d be amazed at what tiny typos and punctuation errors can slip through without your noticing, and employers will appreciate your attention to detail!
• Run your resume through a  resume checker  or spellcheck system, then proofread it again with your own eyes.

Software Sales Representative Resume

• For example, did you exceed your sales quotes, and if so, how many times? How much did you increase profits for the company? 
• Provide details that prove you can boost numbers at the next company you’ll work for!
• If you can, shoot for half and half between technical and soft skills, but if you’re an entry-level candidate, it’s okay to have more soft skills.
• As a software sales rep, you should include the programming languages you know, plus soft skills like “negotiation” and “interpersonal communication.”

Fragrance Sales Associate Resume

• For a successful career in sales, you’ll want your communication and persuasion skills to shine just as brightly as your technical knowledge. Be sure you include some of both in your fragrance sales associate resume .

Sales Development Representative Resume

• Sales are all about the numbers. When you’ve brought about tangible positive results at your past workplaces, it speaks to how effective you are as a salesperson and should be touted in your sales development representative resume .

Related resume guides

• Sales Associate
• Sales Representative
• Sales Manager

Proper formatting ensures your resume is readable, logical, and complete. If you neglect the formatting, you risk potential employers not taking your application seriously (or not even seeing your resume). When it comes to formatting, remember the following: 

• Choose one of three resume format options 
• Draw attention to your resume header 
• Make your sales resume accessible for the ATS and employers

Overall resume format options

Hiring managers’ preferences tend to change over time, but for 2024, it’s clear that three  resume formats  are the most popular:

• Reverse-chronological format:  This format emphasizes your most recent experience by placing work experience toward the top of your resume. Ordering your experience this way highlights career growth and development.
• Functional format:  A functional format stresses skills over work experience. This type of format may be appealing if you have little work experience or if there are gaps in your employment. 
• Combination/hybrid format:  This type combines reverse-chronological and functional formatting, placing equal weight on job history  and  skills, but it can be hard to read because of this.

Though all three types are popular,  hiring managers prefer   the reverse-chronological format . It’s easy to read, underscores career growth, and looks honest regarding your job experience. 

Draw attention to your resume header

Presenting your contact information may seem unimportant. However, this is the most important information in your resume; without it, how can you expect hiring managers to tell you “you’re hired?” Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the importance of an accurate and beautiful resume header.

Start by aligning your header either to the left or center. Then write your name in a large font size so you can see it from far away.

Right below your name, include your job title in a slightly smaller font. Then if you like, you can tastefully add some color to show your personality. (We love cobalt blue and buttercup yellow, but we’re a bit biased.)

Underneath your name and title, list your contact information. Keep the text the same font size as the body of your resume, and consider including a border (with or without color) to make it pop. This section should include:

• Your email (make sure it’s professional and not something like “ [email protected] ”)
• Phone number (with an area code)
• City & State (optional but recommended)
• Professional links to portfolios or sites like LinkedIn (optional but recommended)

Make your sales resume accessible to the ATS and employers

Once you upload your resume to an online job application, it won’t go straight to a hiring manager’s desk. Instead, it will go through the ATS, or Applicant Tracking System software.

This system uses keywords in your resume to determine your likelihood of being a good fit for a particular sales job. If you don’t pass the ATS scan, it’s doubtful you’ll get an interview.

To get past the software and reach human eyes, pay attention to:

• Margins:  Use standard half-inch or one-inch margins all around.
• Fonts:  Use professional, easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Georgia. 
• Font sizes:  The body of your resume should be the smallest font at around 12-point, your job title should be 20-point font, and your name should be approximately 24-point font.
• Header names:  Instead of adjusting font size for section headers, try bolding them or using all caps. 
• Skills:  You can list them in a horizontal or vertical list; we recommend using bullet points in a vertical list unless you lack space. 
• Logical order:  As we suggested earlier, we recommend a reverse-chronological format since it’s easy for the ATS to scan. 
• One page:  You must fill one page  exactly . You can slightly adjust fonts, font sizes (just a touch), vertical spacing, and margins to hit this target.

If you’re struggling to  make a resume online  with enough content and proper formatting, remember this: the most important thing is to  ensure your resume is read . If you have to cut content to keep your formatting easy to read, do it.

Do you really need an objective or summary?

Contrary to sources floating around the internet, there  is  a difference between a  resume objective  and a  resume summary . Both are short paragraphs written explicitly for every application you submit, but there are a few key differences between them. 

An  objective  identifies why you’d like to work for the company under the specific job title for which you’re applying. A  summary  highlights the skills you possess and what achievements you’ve earned within your past positions.

Objectives and summaries are strictly optional, but there are a few instances where adding one would help.

• Consider including an objective if you’re seeking an entry-level role or are transitioning careers.
• Consider using a summary best suited if you have 10+ years of sales experience.

Customized resume objective:  Seasoned floor salesperson with 4+ years of experience hitting sales 7% above targets. Seeking a position with Neiman Marcus, where my specialization in high-end retail will continue the tradition of upholding the highest standard of luxury retail experiences for clientele. 

• This objective is specific to the job and includes a customized job title, quantified metrics, specific skill sets, and the company name. It adds real value and will impress any hiring manager.

Poor summary statement:  Dedicated applicant with experience in sales and marketing looking for a sales associate role to improve customer service skills. 

• This statement is anything but specific, and it could be on any number of sales resumes. More than just that, it doesn’t highlight any skills or qualifications beyond dedication. Major yikes.

Customized summary statement:  Results-driven sales associate with 13+ years of experience developing rapport and good customer relations. Leveraged top marketing strategies to yield results, performing in the top 5% of sales associates at all workplaces for over a decade. From informing customers about purchases to designing trending storefront decor, I am confident that my proven excellence in results-driven sales strategies would positively impact the movement of products at Decor 101. 

• This summary statement is customized and unique, including specific skills and quantifiable metrics to support their claims; this candidate is a top choice for an interview.

Know what to include in your job experience section

When writing your sales resume, you may be tempted to include every job you’ve had since you were 16. Though this may be an appropriate choice if you have limited job experience, we recommend including two to four highly relevant jobs on your sales resume if you have more experience. 

Write your work experience bullet points purposefully

When you write your work experience section, remember that space is crucial. To take up less room, use bullet points to break up chunks of text. Start each bullet point with an action verb, such as “oversaw” or “championed,” to drive your value (and cut filler).

Using action verbs will also lay the foundation for using active (rather than passive) voice. For example, a passive sentence like “The store was closed by the sales team” sounds weak and boring. Active voice gives agency to the subject and shortens the statement: “The sales team closed the store.” 

Avoid personal pronouns when writing about your experience, such as “I” or “we.” Ending punctuation is up to you—just be consistent. (Avoid having periods at the end of all your bullet points except for one, for example).

Finally, keep your verb tense in the past, and make sure it’s consistent.

Good bullet points can look like any of these examples:

• Executed an outbound calling strategy to warm leads, leading to a close rate of 16%, which exceeded targets by 50%
• Implemented and expanded the use of Salesforce, saving over 18 hours of weekly manual reporting time by sales staff
• Led initiatives for prospective home buyers to improve brand awareness and increase inbound customer interest, resulting in a $275,000+ increase in incremental revenue

These bullet points are successful because they start with action words, maintain an active voice, avoid personal pronouns, and are consistent with punctuation and tenses. 

Getting these things correct is tricky, but you can return to this guide anytime to review these tips!

Use numbers to your advantage

You may have noticed that all the bullet point examples we included contain numbers. Metrics are essential for any resume, but especially your sales resume. Words tell hiring managers you’re good at your job, but numbers show undeniable value. Include quantified metrics within at least 50 percent of your bullet points. 

Here’s how:

• Performance relative to targets:  Have you ever or do you consistently outperform sales targets? By what percentage do you exceed targets on average? 
• Improvements per customer:  Do your customers have higher purchase totals than others? Are they making more repeat purchases than customers helped by other sales associates? What’s your close rate? 
• Efficiency standards:  How many customers do you help on average, per hour, day, or week? How long does it typically take you to make a sale? How many seconds does it take you to greet customers? 
• Customer relations:  How many customers have reviewed you positively on customer surveys? Have any customers mentioned you by name in positive reviews?

It helps to see these tips in practice, so here are some examples: 

• Improved the shopper-to-customer conversion rate of the store by 6% by prioritizing immediate customer service of inbound customers
• Responded to customer questions with a detailed understanding of products, resulting in a customer satisfaction rating of 96%
• Recognized as a Top 5% Salesperson in the most heavily trafficked Kay’s store in Maine 
• Exceeded annual membership targets by 23% by encouraging a compassionate, customer-centered approach

Select appropriate sales skills for your resume

The skills section is one of the shortest sections on your resume and one of the most mysterious. Unfortunately, the ATS plays a big part in this section since it scans your resume for pre-selected keywords.

Not enough keywords? Not the right keywords? ATS wins, 1 to 0. 

We’re here to shed light on this mystery using a simple trick. When writing your skills, choose those mentioned in the  sales job description . Of course, don’t include every skill they list, but use the job description to guide your strengths.

Ideally, include a mix of both hard and soft skills for a total of six to 10 skills. Hard skills are easier to measure, so we recommend listing mostly hard skills. However, soft skills, such as “organization” and “customer service,” are critical in a sales role, so include a few that match your abilities. 

Let’s put this trick into practice! Here’s an excerpt from a sales job description: 

Seeking qualified sales associates! Our ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced work environment and can maintain a positive, upbeat attitude with co-workers and customers under stressful situations. Must utilize standard software to track and follow up with leads. Should be charismatic, comfortable with public speaking, and have a solid ability to memorize merchandise details and answer complex customer questions. We serve a predominantly Hispanic population, so Spanish speakers, please apply! 

From this job description, we can create a list of skills that would be particularly appropriate for this job position: 

• Salesforce and HubSpot CRM
• Bilingual (Native English, Fluent Spanish) 
• Customer relations
• Interpersonal communication
• Product knowledge 
• Sales demos and pitches
• Time management 

 No matter the job you’re applying for, you’re likely to see some of these skills: 

• Cold-prospecting 
• Negotiation
• Work stream management
• Trend forecasting
• Traditional lead-generation
• Presentations 

Education, certs, interests, and hobbies

In sales, employers typically only require a high school diploma or equivalent. However, specific educational requirements will vary widely in such a large field. Some employers will seek applicants with a bachelor’s degree in business or even an MBA. 

So in your sales resume, list your highest level of education. If you have a graduate degree, you can include both it and your undergrad degree.

If you have any certifications or additional training, such as software certification for a particular type of CRM, you can include that, too, although it isn’t required.

Typically, sales professionals don’t include an optional  interests and hobbies section on their resumes , but there are a few circumstances where it may be appropriate: 

• Hobbies can demonstrate that you’re the type of person a potential customer might enjoy chatting with, which is a bonus for employers.
• Use projects, like volunteering or academic extracurriculars, in place of work experience if you’re light on jobs. 

Here’s an example of what projects could look like on your sales resume:

Tailor your sales resume to the job description

Remember to customize your resume  every time  you apply for a job. Tailoring your resume to the job description is the best way to land an interview quickly.

Start by reworking your resume objective or summary statement (if you have one). Then adjust your skills section to include skills relevant to the role. Finally, adjust your job description bullet points to include relevant qualifications. 

For instance, if a job description mentions they’re looking for a sales representative who can begin giving presentations on day one, emphasize your comfort in public speaking roles. Highlight your previous presentation experience, and perhaps de-emphasize the data analysis skillset that is less relevant to this job. 

Pro tip:  You can keep a master list of bullet points for each job title in a separate document . Write down as many skills and responsibilities as you can for every job title, and organize them based on their emphasis (time management, customer relations, data analysis, etc.). Then you can pull from this document to create fully-customized resumes quickly. 

Edit and polish your sales resume

When finished  writing your resume , it’s tempting to submit it immediately, but it’s best to take a step away first. Give your eyes and mind a rest for a day, and send your resume to trusted family and friends for review. Then you can adjust your content and  check your resume  for errors before you submit; that way, you don’t miss the little details you may have inadvertently overlooked!

Ready for the Next Step?

The first step to having an interview-ready, professional sales resume is to take the time to research and prepare. Congratulations on helping out your future self by using our guide! 

Our easy-to-use  AI resume builder  will allow you to build your resume from the ground up with perfect formatting, so you can save serious time and focus on your next sales job. If you’re ready to find out how your resume stacks up, use our  resume checker  to give you AI-powered suggestions to polish your resume to perfection. 

We know that wherever you get hired, you’ll be helping customers and growing revenue in no time!

Land your next job with our AI-powered, user-friendly tool.

Gut the guesswork in your job hunt. Upload your existing resume to check your score and make improvements. Build a resume with one of our eye-catching, recruiter-friendly templates.

• Work in real-time with immediate feedback and tips from our AI-powered experience. • Leverage thousands of pre-written, job-specific bullet points. • Edit your resume in-line like a Google Doc or let us walk you through each section at a time. • Enjoy peace of mind with our money-back guarantee and 5-star customer support.

Resume Checker Resume Builder

Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of BeamJobs. He started his career in data fulfilling the dream of little kids everywhere: working for an insurance company. He then moved on to work in edtech for a company called Chegg before venturing out to start BeamJobs. Things have come a long way after countless “learnings” (fancy word for mistakes), and BeamJobs has now helped 2.5M+ people create their perfect resume. Stephen and BeamJobs have been featured on awesome sites like Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Dallas News, Baltimore Sun, the Daily Press, Zendesk, HubSpot , and loads more.