One of the main resume challenges for enterprise sales professionals is effectively showcasing your ability to navigate complex sales cycles and foster high-value relationships. Our guide provides you with the strategic insights and proven techniques to highlight these key competencies, ensuring your resume stands out to hiring managers.
- Find different enterprise sales resume examples to serve as inspiration to your professional presentation.
- How to use the summary or objective to highlight your career achievements.
- How to create the experience section to tell your story.
- Must have certificates and what to include in the education section of your resume.
If the enterprise sales resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:
- Sales Support Representative Resume Example
- Food Cashier Resume Example
- Internet Sales Manager Resume Example
- Sales Cashier Resume Example
- Automotive General Sales Manager Resume Example
- Manager Retail Resume Example
- Waitress Cashier Resume Example
- B2B Sales Resume Example
- Customer Experience Manager Resume Example
- Store Manager Retail Resume Example
Don't stress out over your enterprise sales resume format
Remember, the elaborate design of your enterprise sales resume isn't what impresses recruiters most. They are primarily searching for candidates who meet the job requirements. The main aim of your resume should be to clearly and concisely explain why employers should hire you.
Here are four straightforward steps to consider in your enterprise sales resume design:
- Organize your resume based on experience: Start with your most recent roles. Besides using reverse chronological order, choose jobs relevant to the position you're applying for.
- Include your contact details (and portfolio or LinkedIn link) in your resume's header to ensure recruiters can easily reach you. If considering adding a professional photo, check acceptable practices in different countries first.
- Don't omit essential enterprise sales resume sections such as the summary or objective, experience, and education. These sections should reflect your career progression and align with job requirements.
- Maintain conciseness in your resume. For those with less than ten years of experience, a one-page format is advisable.
Regarding the format to submit your enterprise sales resume, PDF is preferable. PDFs are more likely to maintain their formatting when processed through recruitment software or ATS, saving you time in the application process.
When selecting a font for your enterprise sales resume, consider the following:
- Choose ATS-friendly fonts such as Exo 2, Volkhov, Lato, etc., to keep your resume's content legible;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are easily readable by ATS;
- While Arial and Times New Roman are common choices, opting for unique typography can help your resume stand out.
Concerned about ATS compatibility with charts and infographics? Our recent study has debunked this and other myths.
Keep in mind the market you’re applying to – a Canadian resume, for instance, might have a unique layout.
Upload & Check Your Resume
Drop your resume here or choose a file. PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
PRO TIP
If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your enterprise sales resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
The five (plus) definite sections your resume for a enterprise sales job should include are:
- Header with your headline, contact details, and/or a preview of your work
- Summary (or objective) to pinpoint how your success aligns with the role
- Experience with bullets of your most relevant achievements in the field
- Skills to integrate vital job requirements (both technical and personal)
- Your further dedication to the field, showcased via relevant higher education and/or certifications
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales quotas
- Expertise in solution selling and navigating complex sales cycles
- Strong relationship-building skills with C-level and other executive decision-makers
- Experience with sales forecasting, pipeline management, and CRM tools
- Knowledge of the specific industry or market in which the enterprise operates
Experts' advice on writing your enterprise sales resume experience
While the excitement and motivation for writing your enterprise sales resume was present in the first hour (or so), you now find yourself staring at the blank page.
The resume experience section is the one that allows you to make a memorable impression by matching job requirement with your past jobs and accomplishments.
To help you write this resume section, here are four mistakes you need to avoid:
- Listing every job you have had so far, including the irrelevant ones. Before that, consider each of your past roles based on relevancy to the role. It may be the case that the job you had 15 years ago may have taught you invaluable skills that are appropriate for the role;
- Including irrelevant work experience items. Those are past jobs that aren't linked with the role you're applying for (or so they seem). Consider how your past jobs will serve your professional presentation: will they be filling in a gap in your work history, or just taking up space?
- Focusing on responsibilities instead of accomplishments. Your enterprise sales resume shouldn't just be telling recruiters what you did in the past - as it's most often the case that candidates have had similar responsibilities. But, rather, the experience section should showcase the success you've attained in each past role, thanks to your unique skill set;
- Consider listing just your professional experience. Any role you've had in the past - e.g. volunteering, internships, etc. - can make it into your enterprise sales resume experience section. Make sure to include it alongside numbers and results.
Two more things you need to remember about your resume experience section.
The first are keywords. Or those specific job requirements that are crucial for the role . Ensure you've integrated them across your experience section to get sorted closer to the ideal candidate profile by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS).
The second are action verbs. Each of your experience bullets should start with a strong action verb, followed by your specific skill and your on the job achievements. Follow this formula to hint to recruiters what your unique value as a professional is.
Still with us? In the next section, we will show you how industry-leading professionals have avoided the four most common mistakes, while integrating keywords and action verbs in their experience section.
- Grew enterprise sales territory by 250% in the first 18 months, bringing in $5M in new contract value for cloud-based solutions.
- Led the strategic partnership development with key industry players, resulting in an expanded market share by 30%.
- Implemented a new consultative selling approach, which increased customer retention rate to 95% within the technology services sector.
- Developed a sales pipeline that consistently achieved quarterly targets by over 120%, emphasizing SaaS and PaaS solutions.
- Facilitated a cross-departmental collaboration creating a unified sales and marketing approach, shortening the sales cycle by 25%.
- Orchestrated a turnaround strategy for underperforming regional sales teams, boosting performance by 45% in one fiscal year.
- Closed multi-year deals with Fortune 500 companies, surpassing sales goals by 150% with an average deal size of $2M.
- Mentored a team of 20 sales professionals, enhancing their skills in solution selling focused on enterprise software and cloud services.
- Leveraged advanced analytics tools to refine sales strategies, leading to a 35% increase in YOY revenue in key accounts.
- Exceeded the region's annual sales targets by $1.5M by spearheading a new customer engagement model focused on enterprise mobility solutions.
- Pioneered a comprehensive sales training program, enhancing the team's expertise in competitive positioning for enterprise solutions.
- Fostered lasting relationships with C-level executives, leading to 20 new enterprise accounts and a 50% improvement in customer lifetime value.
- Implemented a customized CRM system, which improved lead tracking and increased sales conversions by 40% within the enterprise segment.
- Championed a client-centric sales strategy that resulted in a client satisfaction score improvement from 82% to 96% within two years.
- Negotiated complex sales cycles with high-level decision-makers, securing contracts worth over $3M with two industry-leading healthcare providers.
- Successfully expanded the company’s enterprise client portfolio by penetrating previously untapped verticals, such as financial services and retail.
- Played a pivotal role in a key product launch that contributed to a 70% increase in market share within the targeted enterprise audience.
- Devised and executed a territory expansion strategy that led to the acquisition of 15 new enterprise accounts in the Asia Pacific region.
- Drove a record-breaking sales quarter, generating $6M in revenue from strategic enterprise accounts within the manufacturing industry.
- Collaborated with product development teams to tailor solutions, resulting in a bespoke offering that captured a 20% increase in market demand.
- Established a comprehensive account management framework that ensured 90% renewal rates for multi-year service contracts.
- Engineered a go-to-market strategy for a new enterprise product line, contributing to a $4M revenue uplift in the first year.
- Conducted in-depth business reviews with enterprise clients, which led to improved service delivery and a 55% increase in upsell opportunities.
- Initiated a sales enablement platform that provided real-time insights to the sales team, improving their productivity by 30%.
- Surpassed global sales targets by successfully closing deals with 5 of the top 10 global retailers, introducing advanced analytics software into their operations.
- Launched a C-suite engagement program that secured 3-year contractual commitments from 80% of the new enterprise clientele.
- Cultivated a high-performance sales culture by implementing rigorous training regimes and incentive structures, leading the team to exceed revenue targets by 130%.
- Orchestrated the penetration of the European market, resulting in a deal pipeline increase of $7M and the signing of four major telecom corporations.
- Crafted a strategic account management program that retained 100% of key accounts during a period of aggressive competition from emerging tech companies.
- Implemented a digital transformation strategy within the sales team that included the adoption of AI-powered sales tools, enhancing prospecting efficiency by 50%.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Specify the dollar value of the contracts you've closed to demonstrate your ability to generate significant revenue.
- Highlight the percentage increase in sales or growth your clients have experienced due to your efforts to illustrate the direct impact of your work.
- Quantify how many new accounts you've opened to showcase your skills in expanding the company's market presence.
- Detail the size of the deals you've worked with by including average deal sizes to give a sense of the scale you are familiar with.
- Include the exact number of cross-sell or up-sell opportunities you've successfully converted to show your ability to grow existing accounts.
- Mention the percentage by which you’ve exceeded your sales targets to underscore your ability to meet and surpass goals.
- Note the number of sales team members you've led or mentored to provide a glimpse into your leadership and team-building capabilities.
- Record the number of strategic partnerships you've forged to convey your networking and relationship-building proficiency.
Action verbs for your enterprise sales resume
What if my enterprise sales experience doesn't match the requirements?
You've just graduated from college and may have no real world job experience . What should you include within your resume then?
Instead of making up information or adding irrelevant past jobs (e.g. your on-campus work during freshman year), you can:
- Shift the focus from your professional experience to your community impact with your volunteer work. This would showcase numerous soft skills you've built over time (e.g. interpersonal communication);
- Highlight the projects you've completed, as part of your coursework, or, on your own. Thus, you will align your technical background with recruiters' requirements;
- Consider spotlighting your transferrable skills. Or, what lessons and talents your current professional and personal experience has taught you and how they could benefit your potential employers;
- Even if you've had a few months of internship experience, that is relevant for the role, make sure to include this. Recruiters do care about the years of experience you happen to have, but, at the end of the day, your profile would also be assessed based on role alignment.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your enterprise sales resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
Defining your unique enterprise sales skill set with hard skills and soft skills
In any job advertisement, a blend of specific technologies and interpersonal communication skills is typically sought after. Hard skills represent your technical expertise and indicate your job performance capacity. Soft skills, on the other hand, demonstrate how well you would integrate within the company culture.
Incorporating a balanced mix of both skill types in your enterprise sales resume is crucial. Here's how you can do it:
- In your resume summary or objective, incorporate up to three hard and/or soft skills. Make sure to quantify these skills with relevant or impressive achievements; less
- The skills section should list your technical know-how.
- The strengths section is an ideal place to quantify your competencies by focusing on the achievements facilitated by these skills.
Top skills for your enterprise sales resume:
CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau)
Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
Email Marketing Platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Marketo)
Sales Enablement Tools (e.g., SalesLoft, Outreach)
Social Media Management Tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
Lead Generation Software (e.g., LinkedIn Sales Navigator)
E-signature Solutions (e.g., DocuSign, Adobe Sign)
Presentation Software (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi)
Web Conferencing Tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams)
Communication
Negotiation
Relationship Building
Problem Solving
Time Management
Adaptability
Team Collaboration
Customer Focus
Persuasion
Strategic Thinking
PRO TIP
List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.
What are the best certificates to add to your enterprise sales resume + how to curate your education section
The education and certification resume sections are the underdogs of your enterprise sales resume.
They showcase to recruiters that you've invested plenty of time to gain valuable and specific know-how, vital for growth.
As far as the resume education section is concerned:
- Detail only advanced education, specifying the institution and timeframe.
- Indicate your forthcoming graduation date if you're in the midst of your studies.
- Consider omitting degrees that don't align with the job's requirements.
- Offer a description of your academic journey if it underscores your notable achievements.
When curating your degrees and certificates on your enterprise sales resume:
- Select only accreditation that matters to the role
- Niche knowledge that could help you stand out as a candidate (as is within the past few years), should be listed towards the top of your resume
- Include any pertinent data for credibility (e.g. institute name, graduation dates, etc.)
- Irrelevant degrees and certifications shouldn't make it on your resume. Those include your high school diploma and any specializations that have nothing to do with the technical or soft skills that are required for the job
As a final note, if you feel tempted to exclude your education or certification from your resume, don't.
These two sections could help you have a better competitive edge over other candidates - hinting that your professional journey in the industry may be for a longer period of time.
Recruiters find all of these enterprise sales credentials impressive:
The top 5 certifications for your enterprise sales resume:
- Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) - National Association of Sales Professionals
- Strategic Account Management Certification (SAMA Certification) - Strategic Account Management Association
- Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP) - Sales Management Association
- Certified Sales Executive (CSE) - Sales and Marketing Executives International
- Value Selling and Realization (VSR) Certification - Value Selling & Realization Council
PRO TIP
If you failed to obtain one of the certificates, as listed in the requirements, but decide to include it on your resume, make sure to include a note somewhere that you have the "relevant training, but are planning to re-take the exams". Support this statement with the actual date you're planning to be re-examined. Always be honest on your resume.
Recommended reads:
Enterprise sales resume summary or objective? the best choice is based on your experience
If you're wondering about the relevancy of the resume summary or the resume objective to your enterprise sales application - here's the truth.
The summary and objective provide recruiters with your expertise and accomplishments at a glance, within an up-to-five-sentence structure.
The difference is that the:
- Resume objective is also more focused on emphasizing your career goals. The objective is the perfect fit for (potentially more junior) candidates who'd like to balance their relevant experience with their career goals.
- Resume summary can provide you with space to also detail the unique value of what it's like to work with you. Enterprise sales candidates who have many noteworthy accomplishments start from the get-go with their summary.
Ensure that either type of resume introduction presents your enterprise sales expertise in the best light and aligns it with the job advert.
The more details you can provide with numbers, the more compelling your resume summary or objective will be.
Real-world enterprise sales candidates follow these frameworks in writing their resume summaries and objectives.
The end results are usually as such:
Resume summaries for a enterprise sales job
- With a robust 12 years of experience in enterprise software sales, cultivated a deep understanding of cloud-based SaaS solutions, leading a sales team to a record-breaking $30 million in annual revenue. Adept in forging C-level relationships and a proven architect of complex, high-value deals.
- Dynamic enterprise sales leader with 15 years of experience excelling in a fast-paced technology environment, specializing in cybersecurity solutions. Instrumental in growing regional sales by 150% through strategic partnerships and market penetration. Holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a consistent track record of surpassing multi-million-dollar quotas.
- Career educator eager to transition into enterprise sales, bringing a decade of experience in curriculum development and teaching, with exceptional presentation skills and a passion for technology solutions that enhance learning and productivity. Eager to apply transferable skills to drive sales success and customer engagement in a new industry.
- Former military officer transitioning to enterprise sales, leveraging 20 years of disciplined leadership and strategic planning experience. Adept in risk management and operational excellence with a strong interest in cybersecurity solutions to protect organizational assets and infrastructure.
- Aspiring to spearhead enterprise sales initiatives within the technology sphere, possessing a fresh perspective bolstered by a recent MBA with a concentration in Marketing. Eager to apply academic learnings to real-world sales strategies and contribute to significant market share growth for cutting-edge solutions.
- Determined to excel in enterprise sales with no prior industry experience, yet equipped with a persuasive communication style and a fervent desire to master sales cycles. Enthusiastic about embracing the challenge of translating innovative tech services into customer value propositions and becoming a top sales performer.
Other relevant sections for your enterprise sales resume
Apart from the standard enterprise sales resume sections listed in this guide, you have the opportunity to get creative with building your profile. Select additional resume sections that you deem align with the role, department, or company culture. Good choices for your enterprise sales resume include:
- Language skills - always ensure that you have qualified each language you speak according to relevant frameworks;
- Hobbies - you could share more about your favorite books, how you spend your time, etc. ;
- Volunteering - to highlight the causes you care about;
- Awards - for your most prominent enterprise sales professional accolades and achievements.
Make sure that these sections don't take too much away from your experience, but instead build up your enterprise sales professional profile.
Key takeaways
- Your resume layout plays an important role in presenting your key information in a systematic, strategic manner;
- Use all key resume sections (summary or objective; experience; skills; education and certification) to ensure you’ve shown to recruiters just how your expertise aligns with the role and why you're the best candidate;
- Be specific about listing a particular skill or responsibility you've had by detailing how this has helped the role or organization grow;
- Your personality should shine through your resume via the interests or hobbies, and strengths or accomplishments skills sections;
- Certifications go to provide further accreditation to your technical capabilities, so make sure you've included them within your resume.
