Crafting a resume for a phone sales position often presents the challenge of quantifying your interpersonal skills and sales achievements in a way that stands out. Our guide will show you how to effectively highlight your sales metrics and tailor your communication expertise to capture the attention of potential employers.
- Sample industry-leading examples to learn how to write your best resume yet.
- Improve the experience, education, and achievements section of your resume with insights from resume-writing professionals.
- Curate your technical expertise and personality to stand out amongst the pool of candidates.
- Succinctly focus on your unique skill set all through your phone sales resume.
If the phone sales resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:
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Phone sales resume format made simple
You don't need to go over the top when it comes to creativity in your phone sales resume format .
What recruiters care about more is the legibility of your phone sales resume, alongside the relevancy of your application to the role.
That's why we're presenting you with four simple steps that could help your professional presentation check all the right boxes:
- The reverse-chronological resume format is the one for you, if you happen to have plenty of relevant (and recent) professional experience you'd like to showcase. This format follows a pretty succinct logic and puts the focus on your experience.
- Keep your header simple with your contact details; a headline that details the role you're applying for or your current job; and a link to your portfolio.
- Ensure your resume reaches an up-to-two-page limit, only if you happen to be applying for a more senior role or you have over a decade of relevant experience.
- Save your phone sales resume as a PDF to retain its structure and presentation.
Different regions expect different formats – Canadian resumes, for example, may look unique.
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The five (plus) definite sections your resume for a phone 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 or exceeding sales targets
- Strong communication skills and phone etiquette
- Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software
- Ability to handle objections and employ effective closing techniques
- Knowledge of the product or service being sold
Guide to your most impressive phone sales resume experience section
When it comes to your resume experience , stick to these simple, yet effective five steps:
- Show how your experience is relevant by including your responsibility, skill used, and outcome/-s;
- Use individual bullets to answer how your experience aligns with the job requirements;
- Think of a way to demonstrate the tangible results of your success with stats, numbers, and/or percentages ;
- Always tailor the experience section to the phone sales role you're applying for - this may sometimes include taking out irrelevant experience items;
- Highlight your best (and most relevant) achievements towards the top of each experience bullet.
You're not alone if you're struggling with curating your experience section. That's why we've prepared some professional, real-life phone sales resume samples to show how to best write your experience section (and more).
- Exceeded monthly sales targets by an average of 20% by utilizing up-selling techniques and maintaining a high call volume of 70 calls per day.
- Developed a new script for outbound calls that increased customer engagement by 25%, as measured by longer call durations and higher conversion rates.
- Mentored 5 new sales representatives, providing comprehensive training on product knowledge and sales strategies, which improved team performance by 15%.
- Initiated and closed sales for high-end telecom solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, achieving a 30% increase in new customer acquisition.
- Sustained top performance by consistently being in the top 10% of sales representatives, contributing to the team's 5% annual revenue increase.
- Navigated through gatekeepers to reach decision-makers, successfully expanding the customer base by originating 50+ new business accounts.
- Implemented a CRM system which enhanced the tracking of customer interactions and lead management, leading to a 40% improvement in follow-up efficiency.
- Executed daily cold calls and follow-ups to a list of leads, surpassing sales goals by 35% in a highly competitive B2B market segment.
- Designed and implemented sales strategies tailored to customer needs based on data analysis, boosting the customer retention rate by 20%.
- Co-developed a targeted sales initiative that resulted in a 50% increase in sales among a previously untapped demographic segment.
- Effectively managed a pipeline of 300+ prospects, leading to the achievement of 125% of the quarterly sales target.
- Conducted market research to identify emerging trends and incorporated findings into sales pitches, enhancing product relevance and appeal.
- Implemented innovative sales techniques that led to a 45% increase in average customer lifetime value through strategic product bundle offerings.
- Collaborated with the marketing department to leverage social media channels for lead generation, resulting in a 10% year-over-year growth in sales leads.
- Customized and delivered product presentations that catered to client-specific needs, facilitating a monthly average of 60 successful contract negotiations.
- Cultivated relationships with key enterprise clients, which resulted in an 80% client retention rate and referral-driven new business.
- Managed a high-velocity sales environment, consistently placing in the top 5% for sales performance among peers through effective client communication.
- Revamped lead qualification process, decreasing time-to-contact for new leads by 50%, thereby increasing the overall conversion rate.
- Drove the adoption of a new unified communications platform amongst existing clientele, increasing per-customer revenue by 20% within the first year.
- Led a cross-functional team in a pilot project that tested new sales scripts, which increased close rates by 15% and was adopted company-wide.
- Pioneered the use of virtual reality demos in sales calls, enhancing customer engagement and helping the company stand out in the market.
- Built and maintained a network of 200+ local business clients through effective telephonic sales strategies, leading to a 90% customer satisfaction rating.
- Directly contributed to a 25% growth in regional sales revenue by successfully orchestrating several upsell campaigns.
- Conducted comprehensive needs analysis over the phone, directly influencing the development of a new service add-on that generated $3M in its first year.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the total number of phone sales calls made during previous roles to demonstrate sales volume and work ethic.
- Highlight the conversion rate from calls made to sales closed to showcase effectiveness and efficiency.
- Specify the percentage of quota attainment over time to reflect consistent performance and goal achievement.
- Document any year-over-year sales growth achieved to illustrate talent for expanding business.
- Mention the average deal size to give an indication of the value of sales secured.
- Report on customer retention rates to show ability in maintaining and nurturing client relationships.
- Quantify any upsells or cross-sells to demonstrate a knack for maximizing sales opportunities.
- Record the number of new accounts acquired to underscore expertise in market penetration and client base expansion.
Action verbs for your phone sales resume
Four quick steps for candidates with no resume experience
Those with less or no relevant experience could also make a good impression on recruiters by:
- Taking the time to actually understand what matters most to the role and featuring this within key sections of their resume
- Investing resume space into defining what makes them a valuable candidate with transferrable skills and personality
- Using the resume objective to showcase their personal vision for growth within the company
- Heavily featuring their technical alignment with relevant certifications, education, and skills.
Remember that your resume is about aligning your profile to that of the ideal candidate.
The more prominently you can demonstrate how you answer job requirements, the more likely you'd be called in for an interview.
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Showcase any ongoing or recent educational efforts to stay updated in your field.
How to showcase hard skills and soft skills on your resume
Reading between the lines of your dream job, you find recruiters are looking for candidates who have specific software or hardware knowledge, and personal skills.
Any technology you're adept at shows your hard skills. This particular skill set answers initial job requirements, hinting at how much time your potential employers would have to invest in training you. Showcase you have the relevant technical background in your communicate, solve problems, and adapt to new environments. Basically, your interpersonal communication skills that show recruiters if you'd fit into the team and company culture. You could use the achievements section to tie in your greatest wins with relevant soft skills.
It's also a good idea to add some of your hard and soft skills across different resume sections (e.g. summary/objective, experience, etc.) to match the job requirements and pass the initial screening process. Remember to always check your skill spelling and ensure that you've copy-pasted the name of the desired skills from the job advert as is.
Top skills for your phone sales resume:
CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
Lead Generation Tools
Email Marketing Platforms
Data Entry and Management
Telemarketing Software
Sales Analytics Tools
VoIP Systems
Call Tracking Software
Presentation Software (e.g., PowerPoint)
Microsoft Office Suite
Communication Skills
Persuasion and Negotiation
Active Listening
Problem-Solving
Time Management
Adaptability
Resilience
Empathy
Team Collaboration
Goal-Oriented Mindset
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If you happen to have plenty of certificates, select the ones that are most applicable and sought-after across the industry. Organize them by relevance to the role you're applying for.
Listing your education and certifications on your phone sales resume
Don't underestimate the importance of your resume education section . As it may hint at various skills (and experience) that are relevant to the job. When writing your education section:
- Include only higher education degrees with information about the institution and start/end dates
- If you're in the process of obtaining your degree, include your expected graduation date
- Consider leaving off degrees that aren't relevant to the job or industry
- Write a description of your education if it presents you with an opportunity to further showcase your achievements in a more research-focused environment
When describing your certifications on your resume, always consider their relevancy to the role. Use the same format to describe them as you would for your education. If you're wondering what the best certificates out there are for phone sales roles, check out the list below.
The top 5 certifications for your phone sales resume:
- Professional Sales Certification (PSC) - National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
- Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP) - American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP)
- Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) - National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
- Registered Sales Associate (RSA) - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP) - The Sales Management Association (SMA)
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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.
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Which one to use: a resume summary or a resume objective?
The phone sales resume summary or objective serves as a good introduction to your experience for recruiters.
Have you ever wondered which one (the summary or objective) will be more appropriate for your phone sales resume?
- If you are a less experienced professional, write a resume objective statement. The objective is about three sentences long and provides recruiters with information about your career goals, strengths, and achievements . It should basically denote how you see yourself in this particular role, and what is your relevant experience and/or know-how;
- If you happen to have plenty of relevant experience, select your most impressive achievements for your resume summary. The summary is no longer than five sentences and serves as a storytelling instrument - highlighting your greatest career wins . Don't forget to align your summary with the job requirements to ensure your resume stays relevant to the role.
Read on for more information and examples of resume summaries and objectives from real world professionals.
Resume summaries for a phone sales job
- With a proven track record of over 10 years in high-stakes financial sales and a recent pivot into telecommunications sales, this dynamic professional boasts a rich portfolio of securing multimillion-dollar deals, fostering durable client relationships, and surpassing sales targets by up to 150%. They adeptly combine acute market analysis, persuasive communication skills, and an in-depth understanding of customer needs to drive company growth and customer satisfaction.
- A seasoned sale expert with 8 years in the competitive pharmaceutical sector successfully transitioned into phone sales, delivering robust product knowledge and nurturing a vast network of healthcare professionals. With a strong ability to articulate product benefits and tailor communication styles, they exceeded quarterly sales targets by an average of 130% and pioneered innovative outreach strategies to break into untapped markets.
- Eager to leverage a decade of experience as a top-tier sales representative, this individual specializes in advanced telecommunications solutions. Their expertise encompasses not only strategic cold-calling and negotiations resulting in a 120% increase in new business acquisition but also a deep proficiency in Salesforce and VoIP technology. They have been recognized as Salesperson of the Year thrice for their exceptional ability to cultivate and maintain executive-level relationships.
- An enthusiastic sales professional with 5 years of experience in the tech industry, where they mastered complex product ecosystems and customer engagement strategies, achieving year-over-year growth of 110%. Now focusing on phone sales, they bring to the table seasoned expertise in consultative selling, CRM software manipulation, and the knack to articulate technical concepts to a non-technical audience, thereby maximizing customer retention and expanding market reach.
- As a recent graduate with a passion for the telecommunications industry, this aspiring professional is ready to contribute to sales growth through a strong commitment to learning and applying best practices in customer relationship management, negotiation, and persuasive communication. Eager to apply their extensive knowledge in communication technologies, they are enthusiastic about starting a career where they can develop lasting customer relations and contribute to company success.
- Motivated to launch a career in phone sales, this individual brings fresh enthusiasm and a commitment to achieving excellence in customer service and sales performance. Although lacking direct industry experience, they offer a bachelor's degree in marketing, excellent interpersonal skills, and a keen interest in mastering sales software and persuasive techniques to exceed sales goals and forge substantial client bonds in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
More relevant sections for your phone sales resume
Perhaps you feel that your current resume could make use of a few more details that could put your expertise and personality in the spotlight.
We recommend you add some of these sections for a memorable first impression on recruiters:
- Projects - you could also feature noteworthy ones you've done in your free time;
- Awards - showcasing the impact and recognition your work has across the industry;
- Volunteering - the social causes you care the most about and the soft skills they've helped you sustain and grow;
- Personality resume section - hobbies, interests, favorite quote/books, etc. could help recruiters gain an even better understanding of who you are.
Key takeaways
- Impactful phone sales resumes have an easy-to-read format that tells your career narrative with highlights;
- Select a resume summary or objective, depending on what sort of impression you'd like to leave and if your accomplishments are relevant to the job;
- If you don't happen to have much industry expertise, curate additional gigs you've had, like contracts and internships, to answer how your experience aligns with the phone sales job;
- Be specific about the hard and soft skills you list on your resume to define your niche expertise and outcomes of using those particular skills;
- Always tailor your resume for each phone sales application to ensure you meet all job requirements.
