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 Specialist sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a Sales Specialist resume experience section
Sales Specialist 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 Specialist resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
- Business & Channel GTM Development with 80+ FlexPod Premium Partners & Certified Resellers. Gave webinars on Solution Update & Roadmap to VARs and SIs throughout EMEA, achieving double-digit growth YoY for five successive quarters in CY 2017
- Presented to Partners & Customers on solution TCO & ROI benefits, driving key initiatives to support sales activities: ex.: Partner webcasts; Onsite Partner events; Industry trade fair presence & activities
- Set up and piloted the FlexPod EMEA Sales Desk: Multivendor Joint business qualification & tracking, enabling Centralized Opportunity discovery, validation & joint business sales forecasting and metrics/ analytics for key Cisco & NetApp stakeholders
- Supported EMEA field country teams - Channel + Sales - as a ‘product champion’ overlay role for FlexPod
- Supported key initiatives aimed at increasing pipeline growth around Hybrid Cloud, AI/ML and SAP workloads
- Managed and coordinated the proposal development process across internal and external stakeholders on rapid turnaround proposals valued at $1M-$30M.
- Created and administered SharePoint team sites to track proposal activities, document repository for RFP and exhibit documents, schedule and milestones dates and document management approvals.
- Assisted Sales Directors in updating Salesforce CRM for tracking pre-sales activity per proposal.
- Coordinated product and solution proposal demos and presentations.
- Highlight: Consistent Top Performer; Trusted by Sales Director to 'on-board' and train 30+ Desk AMs on BT's Data portfolio in an initiative to knowledge share, reduce costs and drive up customer satisfaction via new Channel
- Responsible for selling BT’s Voice & Data Convergence (LAN/WAN) portfolio, including Hosting & Co-location Services.
- Accountable for proactive sales activities across Enterprise Accounts (Multi-Sector) & Public Sector (Inc. NHS).
- The 'Go to' for all Convergence and Pre-Sales activities from prospecting to close
- Collaborate with Strategic Partners, Internal Sales Teams, Product Managers and Portfolio Community to achieve objectives
- Build client relationships up to senior CXO level, work with functional business managers to influence and deliver customer ICT strategy
- Successfully Launched Clients' Products in Respective Markets and Achieved High Sustainable Sales Targets
- High-Ticket Product Evaluations for Clients All Around the Globe
- Improved Marketing Campaings by using Updated Strategies leading to 200% Sales Rise
- Increased Amazon Sales by 10x and Reduced Expenses through Analysis, Targeted Marketing, and Advertising Optimizations
- Amazon Seller Herself
- Managed key accounts within multiple industries, including public sector accounts, insurance, FSI, manufacturing, and retail.
- Generated more than $20M in new pipeline, through digital prospecting strategies, and event planning with business partners, and product offering managers.
- Leveraged the channel to close business, and helped identify 5 new ISVs.
- Acted as the Agile leader for our team, and helped Implement Agile practices within the sales organization.
- Involved in customer success initiatives to improve business unit NPS score.
- Received recognition All Star Award from direct managements and business unit executives.
- Acheived, sometimes over achieved quarterly quota.
- Demand generation through targeted campaigns to the Oracle install base and net new accounts.
- Managed accounts from various sectors, including Financial services (1 year), manufacturing, and airlines (1 year), Government sector (3 years)
- Won over the business from the competition (mainly Microsoft and IBM) by demonstrating keen product expertise and competitive intelligence to ensure superior service delivery.
- Analyzed economic conditions, industries trends, and viability of potential global markets.
- Built and maintained effective relationships with more than 300 Oracle partners (System integrators, software vendors, hardware resellers) based out of America, Asia and EMEA region.
- Maintained an awareness and updated continuously the channel on Oracle’s business practices.
- Submitted accurate forecast on a weekly basis through Oracle CRM.
- Supported team membres with some challenging accounts.
- 109.87% to goal Leading District
- Q2 2021 #5 in Nation (Geo Report 4-30)
- Q1 2021 #2 in Region for New Referrals
- Q3 2020 Largest growth in new patients starts Austin District (Catalyze Award)
- 2019 Career Ladder Promotion CL4
- Implemented initiatives to drive strategic and developmental growth
- 1 of 5 districts recognized for achieving 15% new referral growth in Summer contest
- Top 20% performance during launch year
- Selected to be a Field Based Trainer
- Performed train the trainer functions and executed sales training for expansion sales force
- Achieved 80% growth in first 2 years
- Generated over $3M in 4 years - 350% increase on previous 4 years
- Took managerial control of entire education sector for Canon in South Australia within 6 months of starting
- Ranked #1 (out of 9) in Education sales at Canon for South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia
- Participated in a variety of Education events and sponsorship opportunities to develop relationships and promote brand awareness
- Maintain approximately 400 existing relationships to develop and grow sales
- Currently manage over 350 products across 150 accounts
- Online transactions augmentation
- Digital marketing strategies for BTL campaigns
- Social media management and development
- Web content management
- Google Analytics
- Newsletters
- Built and maintained effective working relationships with store associates and management.
- Trained retail staff on client products, promotions and messaging.
- Elevated the customer experience by maintaining merchandising standards of all products and displays.
- Sell, promote and demonstrate products to existing/potential customers, assisting them in selecting the best suited products to their needs.
- Manage the assigned geographic sales area and product lines to maximize sales revenues and meet corporate objectives.
- Provide OR and/or Cathlab assistance whenever necessary
- Develop and manage a regional sales strategy in direct partnership with field sales.
- Collaboratively work with regional sales teams to proactively identify, expand and close software consumption opportunities.
- Price, position and negotiate the closure of opportunities utilizing financial analysis, presentation and relationship skills.
- Partner with channel resources to remain updated on any program changes, incentives or sales campaigns.
- Develop and manage a regional sales strategy in direct partnership with field sales.
- Collaboratively work with regional sales teams to proactively identify, expand and close software consumption opportunities.
- Price, position and negotiate the closure of opportunities utilizing financial analysis, presentation and relationship skills.
- Partner with channel resources to remain updated on any program changes, incentives or sales campaigns.
- Clearly demonstrate and differentiate Cisco offerings from competing OEM offerings and build an overall business case to support the sale
- Develop a growth strategy focused both on financial gain and customer satisfaction
- Arranging business development meetings with prospective clients
- Customer Relationship Management
- Lead generation
- Quarterly target of USD20000
- Lead generation
- End to end sales
- Responsible for opening and closing the store on multiple occasions
- Enjoyed nurturing relationships with both new and repeat customers
- Really enjoyed energising the customers around newly released shoes
- Guided MedLearn in how to set up a sales strategy.
- Provided insight in quality of data.
- Created a sales approach and script for our sales staff.
- Helped set up processes in MedLearns CRM.
- Target call point is Dermatologists
- Launched brand new product in November 2012
- Exceeded expectations in Chicago South territory, and was asked to relocate to the Atlanta South territory to bring territory standing to a satisfactory level
- Maintained 25% market share in Atlanta South after three months in territory
- Provided field level marketing support to marketing team on a biweekly basis--including but not limited to: basic level market research utilizing new marketing pieces and detail aids to explore efficacy in the field, providing feedback to home-office based marketing team on success of marketing efforts, and isolating participants for clinical trials and survey programs
- Advising customers and conversion to sales
- Stock management
- Cash register experience
PRO TIP
Include quantitative data throughout your Sales Specialist resume to impress the hiring manager. Real facts and figures that show off your competency as an audit manager go a long way. Did you reduce the costs of audits? Manage a large team? Boosted efficiency? Show off the real numbers!
Action Verbs for your Sales Specialist Resume
Recommended reads:
Sales Specialist 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 Specialist 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.
Recommended reads:
Sales Specialist Resume Header: Tips, Red Flags, and Best Practices
CHECKLIST For Your Sales Specialist 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 Specialist 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 Specialist Resume Summary Best Practices
Checklist: What to include in your Sales Specialist 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
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
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 Specialist resume
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Sales Specialist. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Sales Specialist Resume: Additional Writing & Formatting Tips
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.
Sales Specialist Resume Summary best practices
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.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Sometimes you’ll want to go after a job which requires more experience than you have. Instead of using a typical Sales Specialist resume layout, you can use a creative layout. Getting noticed is the most important challenge and a creative resume layout might help you get invited for an interview as most of other accountants have boring resume designs.
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 Specialist resume:
Sales Specialist 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 Specialist 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 Specialist 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.
