Any sales professional should be able to ace an interview, so this article isn’t about interview skills. Rather, the focus of this article is on creating the perfect sales resume. Follow the tips below to develop the perfect sales resume that will get you in the door. Then all you’ll have to do is convince the interviewer that you’re the right woman for that sales job!
Begin Your Sales Resume with a Sales Pitch
All sales calls or presentations include a sales pitch. So in order to land your dream sales job, your resume should begin with a sales pitch — but what you’re selling is yourself. Highlight your sales skills and the value you will bring to potential employers. Use this section to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge. Think of this section as your sales pitch!
Highlight Sales Achievements from Your Sales Career
Potential employers who have open sales positions want to hire sales professionals that can increase their bottom lines. Highlight the revenue you have generated for past employers. List your top achievements. Make sure you include actual numbers (e.g., “generated $1 million in revenue over a 6-month period”). Also, rather than just listing your sales numbers, describe how you reached those numbers. What did you do differently than other members of the sales team that resulted in such an outstanding record? Think about the ways in which the companies you worked for benefited from your particular skills, knowledge, and expertise. Were you able to make continued sales during slow periods? Were your clients satisfied, and did they give you any referrals? Be sure to make clear what sets you apart from other sales professionals and that those attributes will result in revenue for the new employer. Think of this section as demonstrating the benefit to clients!
Use Sales Keywords Commonly Used in the Sales Industry on Your Sales Resume
While you don’t want to simply fill up a piece of paper with industry buzzwords, you do want to pepper them throughout your resume. The use of buzzwords will show potential employers that you are an experienced sales professional, know the sales industry, and will be an asset in your next sales job. Think of this section as telling a story to close a deal. Some words and phrases to consider using when describing your skills and experience:
“relationship building,” “product marketing,” “negotiating and closing,” “lead generation,” “meeting and exceeding sales quotas,” “sales expansion,” “new business development.”
Your sales resume is your tool for getting your foot in the door. Then you can let your sales skills land you your dream sales job!
