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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.

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

How to Format a Sales Associate Resume

To sell your candidacy effectively, you must choose the proper resume format. The traditional resume is the chronological format, perfect for most job seekers. This format places your work experience at the forefront, making it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to see your career progression at a glance.

A handful of job seekers, particularly career changers and students with no work experience, should consider an alternative, however. The functional format, also known as the skills-based resume, de-emphasizes work history in favor of skills and qualifications. The combination format, as the name suggests, combines chronological and functional elements to create a balanced portrait of the candidate.

Each design has its advantages. Take the candidates below as an illustration. Candidate A has been in the workforce for 12 years, with an unbroken streak of full-time jobs, including a couple of promotions. Candidate B has taken breaks between jobs and has been in her current role for only three months. Let’s see how each candidate uses a resume type to make their case. The shared language between the resume’s content is in bold.

Chronological Resume

Candidate A

  • 12 years in workforce
  • 2 years in current role
  • HS High School Diploma

Work Experience

Sales Associate, Cookout Creations11/2020–Current, Davenport, IA

  • Drove a 20% increase in sales by listening to clients’ cues and recommending products that fit their needs.
  • Called upon in-depth product knowledge to upsell customers, generating $100K+ in sales for a new product line over three months.
  • Managed customer accounts and processed transactions using the latest CRM software and point-of-sale (POS) system.

Combination Resume

Candidate B

  • 3 years in workforce
  • 3 months in current role
  • HS High School Diploma

Relevant Skills

Customer Service

  • Demonstrated mastery of sales techniques by actively listening to customers’ concerns and offering them products that address their needs, resulting in a 15% increase in monthly revenue.
  • Processed transactions such as payments, returns and coupons quickly and effectively to avoid prolonged customer wait times.
  • Resolved the customers’ complaints and offered retention offers, lowering service cancellations by about 5%.
  • Recommended products to customers that complemented or enhanced their current purchase, effectively upselling smaller ticket items consistently.

Technical Skills

  • Experience effectively using CRM software and point-of-sale (POS) systems.
  • Quickly developed extensive product knowledge through the application of self-study techniques.

Sales Associate Resume FAQ.

How do you describe a sales associate on a resume?

Sales associates are responsible for selling products and services. Your resume should highlight your knowledge of sales techniques and your ability to handle inbound and outbound calls. In this role, soft skills are just as important as technical skills, so make sure to cite your empathy, active listening and communication abilities. Also, be sure to cite the quantifiable results of your efforts in the work history section (e.g., number of sales, percent increase in customer satisfaction).

What to put on a resume for a sales associate?

A sales associate resume should include all important resume sections, such as:

  • Contact info, featured near the top of the page.
  • An informative professional summary or resume objective.
  • Work history, including quantifiable metrics like sales figures.
  • Education and professional certifications.
  • List of skills most relevant to the target job, both hard skills and soft skills.
  • Additional sections, such as volunteer work or awards.

What are sales associate skills?

Sales associates use a wide variety of skills in their day-to-day job. According to a survey of our resume database, some of the most important skills are:

  • Conflict resolution
  • Sales techniques
  • Product knowledge
  • Customer relationship management (CRM) tools
  • Empathy and patience
  • Active listening
  • Verbal and nonverbal communication

How would you describe your sales experience?

If you’re asked to describe your sales experience in an interview, give a clear and confident answer. Something along these lines would be appropriate: “I began my career about six years ago as a sales associate for a small company selling garage door openers. I was responsible for a dozen clients and learned how to use CRM for prospecting leads. I leveraged my experience to land a better-paid sales associate position selling consumer electronics at a company of about 500 employees. Since the start of the year, I’ve helped identify 150+ potential clients and generated $80,000 in sales.”

How to make a sales associate sound good on a resume?

Making a sales associate sound good on a resume is easy with quantifiable metrics. Sales associates use their product knowledge to connect with customers and generate sales. In the work history section, include the number of sales or new clients you generated — include any data showing you achieved results.