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Sales Representative Resume Examples
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How to Write a Sales Representative Resume
Your sales representative resume format is as important as how you write your resume. This sample resume demonstrates the best resume layout to follow: 1-inch margins, bullet points and clear resume headings for each of the following sections.
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Professional header and contact info
- Include your name, contact information and a professional email address.
Compelling summary statement
- A brief resume summary or objective highlighting two or three sales-relevant skills, experience or accomplishments.
Highlight your skills
- Create a dedicated section to showcase hard and soft skills specific to sales, like client management, pitch development and marketing.
Emphasize your work history
- List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Include job titles, company names, dates of employment and key responsibilities and achievements for each role in a bullet list.
Supporting education section
- Detail your educational background, mentioning any relevant degrees, diplomas or certifications obtained.
Additional sections
- You can add resume sections for licenses, certifications, industry memberships or unions, awards, volunteer experience or spoken languages.
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How to Write a Sales Representative Resume Summary
Your resume summary is a concise paragraph that introduces your most relevant skills, achievements, and experiences, providing a snapshot of your qualifications as a sales professional. Here are some essential tips to help you keep it targeted, compelling, and tailored to the job you’re applying for:
Be specific
Avoid generic statements and focus on showcasing your unique value proposition. Highlight critical accomplishments and quantifiable results to demonstrate your sales prowess.
Tailor to the job
Customize your summary for each application to align with the job requirements and emphasize the skills and experiences most relevant to the position.
Highlight Your selling points
Emphasize your strengths as a sales representative, such as relationship building, lead generation, closing deals, or exceeding sales targets.
Keep it concise
Aim for a summary of three to four sentences that effectively captures your qualifications without overwhelming the reader.
Good sales representative resume example
“Top-performing sales representative with 5+ years of experience driving revenue growth and exceeding sales targets in the pharmaceutical industry. Proven track record of cultivating strong client relationships and consistently closing deals, resulting in a 30% increase in sales revenue over the past year. Adept at identifying new business opportunities and implementing strategic sales strategies. Passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and contributing to team success.”
This job seeker’s resume summary effectively showcases vital accomplishments and strengths. They focus on their specific industry (pharmaceuticals) and provide quantifiable achievements, such as a 30% increase in sales revenue. The summary zeros-in on relevant sales skills like relationship building, closing deals and a customer-centric approach.
Poor sales representative resume example
“A highly motivated sales rep with experience in various industries. Skilled in building relationships with clients and achieving sales targets. Looking for a challenging role to contribute to a company’s success.”
This poorly-written resume needs more specificity to differentiate the candidate from other applicants. This job seeker uses vague language and needs to provide measurable achievements or industry focus. The summary also needs more details on the candidate’s unique selling points and tailors their skills to the job they’re applying for, making it less impactful and compelling to potential employers.
PRO TIP:
Write a resume summary if you have over three years of sales repping experience. If you’re changing careers or recently entering the sales field, use a resume objective instead! This alternative introduction pitches your transferable customer-facing and persuasive skills over your lack of experience.
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How to Add Your Sales Representative Work History
Your work history section is the most informative portion of your chronological or hybrid resume — it’s a comprehensive overview of your professional experience and accomplishments. This section allows potential employers to assess your track record, sales performance and consistency in meeting or exceeding targets. Follow these tips to create a compelling sales representative work history:
Use reverse-chronological order
List your work experiences chronologically, starting with the most recent job. This format helps recruiters trace your recent achievements and growth.
Quantify achievements
Use specific metrics and numbers to quantify your accomplishments. Highlight sales figures, revenue growth, client acquisition rates and other relevant data to demonstrate your impact.
Focus on sales success
Emphasize your sales achievements and successful deals. Mention any awards, recognition, or promotions earned for exceptional sales performance.
Highlight relevant responsibilities
Detail the specific sales-related responsibilities and tasks you handled in each role. Mention any special projects, sales campaigns, or cross-functional collaborations that showcase your abilities.
Good sales representative work history sample
Senior Sales Representative | Jersey Tech Solutions
New York, NY | 2018 – Present
- Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets, driving a 25% increase in revenue and securing key accounts worth $2M annually.
- Initiated and led a successful email outreach campaign resulting in a 15% boost in lead generation and an expanded customer base.
- Mentored and trained three junior sales representatives, enhancing their sales techniques and productivity by 35%.
Sales Representative | Gilead
Millbrae, CA | 2015 – 2018
- Spearheaded the successful launch of a new product line, achieving $1.5M in sales within the first quarter.
- Negotiated long-term contracts with major clients, resulting in a 20% increase in repeat business and improved customer loyalty.
- Collaborated with the marketing team to develop targeted sales materials, contributing to a 30% increase in overall sales conversion rate.
This job seeker wisely focuses on their sales achievements and contributions to write a persuasive sales representative resume. They focus on specific metrics to quantify accomplishments, such as revenue growth, lead generation, and sales conversion rates. This resume sample also highlights leadership skills through mentoring and training, further reinforcing the candidate’s value as a senior sales representative.
Poor sales representative work history sample
Sales Representative | 2017 – Present
- Responsible for sales activities and meeting sales targets.
- Assisted with client management and contributed to team efforts.
Sales Representative | 2015 – 2017
- Handled sales responsibilities and supported team goals.
- Worked with clients and achieved sales objectives.
This job seeker is unlikely to impress a hiring manager. Their sales rep resume doesn’t include previous employers, making it hard for hiring managers to verify their work history. They need more specific details and quantifiable achievements — the lack of concrete accomplishments and particular responsibilities may raise doubts about the candidate’s sales performance and overall suitability for the desired position.
PRO TIP:
Use a timeline-based resume if you have over three years of experience. If you have less than three years of experience, use a skills-based resume format like the functional resume. This alternate layout dedicates multiple detailed sections to sales-relevant skill sets.
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How to Write a Sales Rep Education Section
Most sales rep jobs don’t require a college degree, but you can add relevant degrees, coursework, training programs, or certifications that contribute to your sales expertise. Follow these tips to present your educational background effectively:
1List Your formal education
Start by mentioning your highest level of formal education, such as a degree or diploma. Include the institution’s name, degree earned and graduation year.
Degree formatting example:
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) | Sales and Marketing CSU Los Beach
Long Beach, CA | Graduated: May 2020
2Include relevant coursework
If your academic coursework directly relates to sales or business development, consider listing relevant subjects or concentrations demonstrating your expertise in sales strategies or customer relations.
Coursework formatting example:
Relevant Coursework: Sales Strategies, Consumer Behavior, Business Negotiations, Marketing Research.
3Showcase sales-related certifications
Highlight certifications or training programs specific to sales techniques, customer service, or industry knowledge. These certifications can boost your credibility and demonstrate your commitment to professional development.
Certification formatting example:
Sales Certification Program Sales Institute | Completion Date: July 2021
- Advanced Selling Techniques, Effective Sales Presentations, Key Account Management.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Certification CRM Academy | Completion Date: August 2019
- Proficient in Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM platforms.
4Highlight relevant workshops and seminars
If you have attended workshops, seminars, or conferences related to sales, mention them. This showcases your proactive approach to staying updated with industry trends and best practices.
Seminar formatting example:
Industry Sales Conference SalesCon 2022 | City, USA | Attended: September 2022
- Gained insights into the latest sales trends and networked with industry professionals.
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15 Skills for Your Sales Representative Resume
Most sales representative resumes include a skills section, but you can incorporate additional skills throughout your resume. We studied open job descriptions to gather 15 soft, hard and technical sales skills that can help you impress hiring managers. Feature up to eight talents in your skills section and organically incorporate additional skills throughout your resume.
Soft skills
- Communication
- Negotiation
- Relationship building
- Empathy
- Adaptability
Hard skills
- Prospecting
- Product knowledge
- Sales forecasting
- Sales lead management
- Deal closure
Technical skills
- CRM software
- Sales analytics
- Email marketing tools
- Social selling
- Presentation software
PRO TIP:
Although this list suggests sales-specific skills, hiring managers want to see well-rounded candidates. Your resume should feature a blend of sales-specific and generalized resume skills that reflect your collaborative nature.
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20 Sales Representative Action Verbs
With an average job opening seeing an average of 250 applicants, dynamic action verbs add impact and dynamism to your resume, capturing the attention of hiring managers. This article explores a comprehensive list of present-tense power words tailored explicitly for sales representative roles.
- Achieve
- Build
- Close
- Cultivate
- Demonstrate
- Establish
- Exceed
- Foster
- Generate
- Influence
- Lead
- Negotiate
- Persuade
- Present
- Prospect
- Retain
- Sell
- Strengthen
- Target
- Upsell
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Additional Resume Sections
Consider adding the following sections to your sales representative resume based on your specific circumstances and to enhance your qualifications:
Use a Cover Letter to Express Yourself
A resume is a concise overview of your skills and experience — a cover letter expands on this foundation. Add a cover letter to share one or two examples of how you excelled in similar roles or how your skills match a company’s needs. Use this sample as a guide or visit our helpful resources to boost your application.
Sales Representative Resume FAQ
What are the essential sections to include in a sales representative resume?
A well-rounded sales representative resume should consist of a firm summary, a work history with quantifiable achievements, relevant education, convincing sales skills, and any certifications or training specific to sales. Include contact information and consider adding optional sections like awards or affiliations, if appropriate.
How can I tailor my sales representative resume for a specific job posting?
Tailor your resume by aligning your skills and experiences with the job requirements. Use keywords from the job description, emphasize relevant accomplishments, and reorganize sections to highlight the most pertinent aspects of your background for the specific role.
Is using a chronological or functional resume format for a sales representative role better?
Using a chronological resume format is better if you have over 10 years of sales-related experience. It showcases a clear career progression and sales achievements over time. However, you should use a functional resume with at least three years of sales experience. Use this format to change careers, relocate, or seek entry-level jobs. This skills-based format lets you focus on previous career accomplishments related to future sales potential.
Should I include soft skills in my sales representative resume?
Soft skills are crucial for a sales representative's resume — these interpersonal skills like communication, relationship building, and adaptability are essential to sales interactions. Hiring managers should see how you effectively utilize these skills to connect with clients, negotiate deals, and build lasting customer relationships.
How can I make my sales representative resume stand out from other applicants?
To help your sales rep resume stand out, try these techniques:
- Focus on quantifiable achievements, unique selling points and relevant certifications.
- Tailor your resume for each application, use powerful action verbs, and ensure it is visually appealing and error-free.
- Showcase your ability to exceed sales targets and deliver exceptional customer service to differentiate yourself from other candidates.
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Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CONTENT STRATEGIST
