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Want a stronger resume? Use our extensive library of professional resume examples as practical starting guides. You’ll also find ready-made content with our helpful Resume Builder – simple click, customize, and download.

Looking for cover letter ideas? See our sample Key Account Manager Cover Letter.

Find out what is the best resume for you in our Ultimate Resume Format Guide.

How to Format a Key Account Manager Resume

A resume format is the way you organize the parts of your resume. The three most common resume formats are chronological, functional and combination.

Each type of format puts the spotlight on your skills, experience or both. Choosing the right format will depend on your years of experience or skill sets. For seasoned candidates, the chronological resume format showcases their work experience first. While those that are just starting in the workforce or have career gaps can highlight their skills, education and volunteer work with a functional resume.

Let’s take a look at two job candidates. Even though they have similar skill sets, they have different career trajectories. The first candidate shows years of work history, while the second candidate shows signs of job hopping.

The first candidate shows 20 years of employment by using a chronological resume. The second candidate will benefit best from a functional resume.

Chronological Resume

Candidate A

  • 32 years in workforce
  • 20 years at this job
  • BA Communication

Work Experience

Key Account Manager, Targetted Communications
February 1992- Present, Tampa, FL

  • Top performer in the district for the past five years, achieving over 100% of annual quota.
  • Grew market share in an environment with declining market shares
  • Developed Hispanic marketing programs that grew market share on four key brands with double digit growth.

Functional Resume

Candidate B

  • 1 years in workforce
  • 3 months in current job
  • BS Microbiology

Professional Skills

Key Account Manager Skills

  • Awarded 2012 Top Sales Representative of the Year.
  • Responsible for calling on 16 national account locations, ensuring execution of corporate promotions, product trainings and plan-o-grams.
  • Recognized for sales performance in 2011 and promoted to key account manager.

Sales Skills

  • Awarded 2010 Top Sales Representative of the Year.
  • Exceeded my territory goal by $1 million in 2010.
  • Achieved a 1000% growth in 2010 in service orders over the previous year.

Key Account Manager Resume FAQ.

What is the role of a key account manager?

An account managers role is to find and retain potential customers. Once they engage with the customers, they have to feed into these key relationships.

They have to be strategic in order to keep bringing in new opportunities for the company. Account managers are a key element for the company’s success. They impact sales and revenue.

Retaining customers is part of their daily challenge. This keeps revenue margins high and helps the company remain competitive.

What skills do you need to be a key account manager?

Active listening and time management add value to an account manager. Because account managers work to build long-term, strategic partnerships, having sociable skills and relationship building are necessary skills to be the best.

Another strong set of skills is written and verbal communication. Account management requires constant communication with potential clients and the general public. This includes constant written and verbal interactions via email, social media platforms and in-person presentations.

Account management also involves lots of multitasking. A strong account manager should be able to handle multiple clients, calling and following up as well as coordinating meetings and presentations simultaneously.

What is the difference between an account manager and a key account manager?

Account managers oversee account teams and their clients. An account manager has the skills to create brand loyalty.

They focus on their client needs by managing the communication between a client and the internal project team. Account managers are also key negotiators in order to avoid losing business and clients.

On the other hand, key account managers focus on large accounts. For this reason, they are assigned to work with clients that generate a large percentage of profit margins.

They usually report directly to senior-level management. Key account managers are responsible for:

  • Nurturing and retaining VIP clients.
  • Expanding contracts with existing clients
  • Creating solutions to avoid revenue loss
  • Insuring that their client receives high-quality services
  • Reporting progress and sales forecasts