INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wholesale & Manufacturing Sales positions are at a 5% growth rate, which is slower than average. With that said, there are currently 1,625,700 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 77,600 to 1,703,300 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Wholesale & Manufacturing Sales jobs was $65,420 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $31,950, and the highest 10% more than $129,200.
Our conclusion? The Wholesale & Manufacturing Sales job market is wide open for candidates.
Top sales agent sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a sales agent resume experience section
Sales agent resume's job experience checklist:
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don’t go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you’re applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
- Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords;
- Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.
The work experience samples below come from real Sales Agent resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
- Served customers in a friendly, efficient manner following outlined steps of service
- Logged reports, expenses, receipts and sales documents into digital database
- Approached browsing customers to initiate conversations to determine buying preferences
- Used consultative sales approach to understand customer needs and provide excellent service. Tudeschini Locação de Maquinas e Tratores LTDA Truck Operator setembro de 2015
- outubro de 2019 (4 anos 2 meses) Taubaté, São Paulo, Brasil
- Operated and drove 31 ton capacity vehicles
- including dump trucks and water trucks
- transporting paving materials, construction supplies such as water, gravel, sand and rocks
- Transported loads from construction sites to other cities (an average of 40 km per trip) and transporting materials within construction sites
- Continuing my experience as self-employed through new company, with different approach and know-how.Currently starting, getting weekly educations and monthly seminar to get in flow with selling financial services with Winners Group Ltd. Portfolio, which include longterm investing, health, car and home insurance, as well mortgage credits.The responsibilities are the same as my last experience.
- Determined financial needs by assessing existing coverage and aligning new products and services with long-term goals.
- Evaluated leads obtained through direct referrals, lead databases and cold calling.
- Conducted research on insurance packages and investment options to generate client recommendations.
- Displayed consistent, positive attitude towards customers, peers and other personnel, even during high-stress situations.
- Top Performer
- Consistently achieved sales results of > 120% of target
- Senior Representative
- Explained features and benefits for various P&C policies
- Worked with Firemen, Police Officers, Nurses and Educators to offer tailored policies
- Upsale coverages and add additional lines
- Worked with Underwriters on a daily basis
- Opened the market of Egypt from nothing in 2014 to €4.2 Million Turnover in 2016.
- In charge of sale in north Africa and Middle East country.
- Participate at Asia fruit logistica fair in Hong-Kong- September 2015
- Increased sales,
- Managed product quality.
- Controlled inventory including requisitioning and receiving supplies reviewing stock and maintaining first-in first-out food use policies.
- Consulenza con più Mandati di agenzia diretta VENDITA ENEGIA E GAS, Canale Pmi/aziende e domestico.
- Agente di commercio PLURIMANDATARIO Riportando tutto il mio operato al Area Manager Centro-Nord Sviluppo di contratti Residenziale e Aziendali
- Zone di competenza Emilia Romagna
- Mandato di Agenzia diretto MONOMANDATARIO. Commerciale e Vendita servizi di Pay tv pubblici esercizi.
- – Divisione Business – Bar & Hotel Riportando tutto il mio operato al Area Manager Centro-Nord Canale Ho.Re.Ca + esercizi pubblici + Aziende.
- Zone di competenza Ravenna e provincia, Forlì – Cesena e provincia, Ferrara e provincia.
- Toimin myyjänä Telian Express pisteillä ja toimipisteeni ovat tällä hetkellä Forum, Iso-Omena ja Sello. Työhtehtäviini kuuluvat uusasiakashankinta eli kontaktoida aktiviisesti asiakkaita pisteelle, liittymä-, lisäpalvelut-, ja laitemyynti sekä asiakaspalvelu.
- Lisäksi olen ollut mukana erilaisissa messutapahtumissa.
- Vuonna 2016 osallistui Telia Expressin järjestämään esimiesvalmennukseen.
- Support clients
- Identify clients needs
- Handle and respond to customer queries.
- Identify clients needs
- Contracts preparing
- Office management
- Ranked first in Auto and Home sales for three consecutive month
- Avg more than 30 sales per month
- Recorded more than 40k in premium per month
- Was top five agent for four consecutive month
- Sold over 250 ignition interlock devices
- Provide feedback in order to streamline daily work procedures
- Sold personal line insurance polices in 40 states
- Ranked in the top 25 agents in premium written and multi line sales
- lead meetings in order to bridge the challenging gaps between agents and consumers
- Nominated employee of the month
- Nominated by peers to lead leadership council
- Significantly reduced past due receivables from $7M to $5M within four months, accelerating cash flow
- Out of 30 applicants, one of only 5 trainees offered a contract after articles
- Trained and supervised more than 4 summer interns each for a period of 3 weeks
- Global CyberSoft Named In Vietnam’s 30 Leading IT Companie in 2014
- Reduced company costs 50% through centralized purchasing
- Trained over 50 people (including shop floor and mid-management level employees) from various departments
- Serviced clients that are looking for a flight in business class. Closed at least 7 new sales permonth and at least 8 repeat clients per month. 15 orders on average monthly
- Assesses clients' needs based on their previous experience and current expectations.
- Worked with the client full cycle starting from prospecting and up to closing the deal (lookingfor the best option, presenting it, working with objectives, signing the needed documentation,constant follow up in between and after the sale)
- Dealing with cancellations/changes/ emergency cases, resolving conflicts, and delivering/generating the best ways out of them.
- · Providing a stable company income based on my personal GP (gross profit).Exceed the monthly sales goal each time by 10‑15%.
- B2C sales
- Market research
- Sales coordination and organization
- Account management and tracking
- Responsible for providing comprehensive customer support services to support end users.
- Work within the pre-determined SLAs
- Organize and utilize all support resources including documents, emails and others
- Successfully passed the probation (within 2 months) period of 3 months, making the very first project successful with a revenue of US$ 25.000 (without previous experience in tele-sales)
- Exceeded the company’s annual target of US$100.000 (my first year in the company) by 10%, making a revenue of US$110.000
- Built a very successful and trustful relationship with individuals- heads of learning & development departments from several banks that lead landing the most profitable deal (ever) for the company,learning path and transformation project for one of the biggest banks in the Middle East.
- Contribute to company's loyal clients (accounts)
- No.1 (most profitable ) Salesman for 2017
- Setting the company record with largest sale for one of the leading banks in the Middle East
- Gestione del parco clienti di Roma città Zone(Roma Centro/SUD+ Grandi Gruppi(Vaticano, Serraino,Crimi)
- Fatturato gestito € 1.400.000
- Portafoglio prodotti gestito,BUSCOPAN,ANTISTAX,BUSCOFEN,BISOLVON,ZERINOL,DULCOLAX, GUTTALAX,RINOGUTT,MUCOSOLVAN.
PRO TIP
Check the Sales Agent job description for inspiration. Look for similarities between your employer’s values and your experience.
Action verbs for your sales agent resume
Recommended reads:
Sales Agent Resume Skills’ Tips & Tricks to Impress Recruiters
Resume skills section checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top skills for your sales agent resume
Salesforce
MS Office
CRM
Forecasting
Cold Calling
Business Development
Customer Service
Project Management
Relationship Building
Time Management
Storytelling
Research / Information Gathering.
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving.
Tech Savvy
Networking
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Sales agent resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your sales agent resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Sales Agent resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Sales agent resume summary best practices
Checklist: What to include in your sales agent resume summary.
- Years of experience;
- Highlight top 3 skills and proficiencies;
- One big professional accomplishment you’re most proud of, that you can tie with the aforementioned skills;
- Use short, direct sentences - but no more than three - to keep the HRs interested.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a professional taster. Use it wisely. Effectively convey your professional profile and let the hiring manager know that if they hire you, they won’t be disappointed. Make sure to include keywords from the job description too! Elaborate on your abilities further in your experience section. Again, cater to the job description.
Recommended reads:
Listing your education, certifications and courses
Resume Education Section Checklist:":
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Certifications for your Sales Agent Resume
Sales Training: Practical Sales Techniques
Sales Hacking: Essential sales skills, sales strategies and sales techniques to sell just about anything!
Learn To Appoint a Sales Agent Abroad
HOW TO HIRE A RELIABLE SALES AGENT ABROAD
Sales Training: How To Close More Sales
Closing Sales: Sales Training Course: Sales Skills; Selling Techniques; Sales Strategies for B2B, B2C Direct Sales
Sales Machine: The Sales Training B2B Master Course
Learn Sales Strategies & Sales Techniques to Sell ANYTHING for Entrepreneurs, Startup, B2B Sales, & Business Development
Sales Strategies Masterclass: Basic To Advanced Strategies
50+ sales strategies step-by-step explained, project-based learning & from beginner to expert sales training
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
How to write a sales agent resume
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
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PRO TIP
Test your draft Sales Agent resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company (corporation or start-up; innovative or traditional), job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Sales Agent resume:
Sales agent resume: How to make yours more creative & stand out
When you send your resume to a potential employer, chances are it's the fiftieth one they've seen that day. That's why you need to make your Sales Agent resume stand out for the right reasons. That means showing your personality, not just your professional experience. Employers are far more likely to remember a candidate who seems like a genuine person and not a robot. Do this by including your passions (which is also a great place to demonstrate skills on a resume), share your favorite books, or even what your usual day looks like.
What makes a great sales agent resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
