Sales Representative Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Sales Representative resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Sales reps are one of the most visible members of an organization. They’re the ones out in the field meeting with prospective clients, educating them on your offerings, and helping them decide whether or not to do business with you.
Sales reps are also some of the highest-paid employees in an organization because they have the power to bring in tons of revenue. And because they’re often the first point of contact for customers, they play an important role in shaping the overall brand experience.
If you’re looking for a new job as a sales rep or just want to update your resume to reflect your experience in this role, here are tips and an example that will help you write a standout sales rep resume.
How to Write a Sales Representative Resume
Here’s how to write a sales representative resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters and hiring managers will read. And they’re the best way to showcase your experience and qualifications.
But many job seekers make the mistake of using generic bullet points that don’t really tell a story or provide any context about their experience.
Instead, you should use your bullet points to tell a story about your experience. And that story should be about how you helped your company succeed. So rather than saying you “managed sales team,” you could say you “increased sales by 15% in first year as manager of sales team, resulting in a record-breaking year for the company.”
The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of what you did and the results of your work. And it also provides specific numbers to demonstrate your impact.
Related: What Is a Sales Representative? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a sales representative role, your resume is likely to be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for specific keywords. This system looks for terms related to the job, like “account management” and “sales” in order to determine whether your skills and experience are a match for the job opening. If you don’t have enough relevant keywords on your resume, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of sales representative keywords as a starting point to help you identify the skills and experience that are most relevant to the role:
- Sales
- Sales Management
- Negotiation
- Business Development
- Marketing
- Marketing Strategy
- Business Strategy
- Sales Operations
- Customer Service
- Social Media
- Management
- Microsoft Access
- Leadership
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Teamwork
- Product Development
- Sales Process
- Product Management
- Sales & Marketing
- Sales Prospecting
- Cold Calling
- Trade Shows
- Sales & Delivery
- Customer Satisfaction
- Automotive
- Account Management
- Customer Retention
- Automotive Sales
Showcase Your Technical Skills
In order to be successful in this role, it is essential that sales representatives are proficient in a variety of technical systems and procedures. Recruiters are looking for sales representatives who are skilled in programs like Microsoft Office Suite, ERP systems, and manufacturing software. Additionally, it is important that sales representatives are familiar with government regulations related to their industry, as they will often be responsible for ensuring that the organization is in compliance with these regulations.
Related: How Much Does a Sales Representative Make?
Remember The Basics
As you draft your resume, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind.
Make Sure Your Resume Is Easy to Scan
There are a few things you can do to your resume to make it easier to read, such as left aligning your text, using a standard font type and size, and using bullets instead of paragraphs to list your experiences. You should also use all-caps and bold sparingly, and keep your bullets under two lines. Additionally, you can include some white space on the page to make the document easier to scan.
Be Concise
There is no set length for a resume, but most resumes should be one or two pages long. When trimming down your resume, focus on removing irrelevant information and highlighting the most relevant experience. Use succinct and clear language, and remember to tailor your resume to the specific role you are applying for.
Check Your Work
Proofreading your resume is important in order to make sure it looks professional and error-free. Spell checking is a must, as are punctuation and grammar checks. It is also helpful to have someone else proofread your resume for you, as they may catch mistakes that you have missed. Beware of easily confused words, and make sure that your tense is consistent throughout the resume.
Use a Summary
Most job seekers are familiar with the importance of having a well-crafted resume, but many don’t take full advantage of all of the available tools that can help them stand out from the competition. A resume summary statement is a great way to give potential employers a snapshot of your skills and experience, and can be especially helpful for recent graduates or those who are changing careers. By highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences, you can show that you have the qualifications that the company is looking for. A well-written summary can also help to show your future intentions, and can be a great way to make your resume stand out from the rest.
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