Crafting a CV that concisely showcases your ability to manage client relationships and drive sales can be a daunting task. Our guide offers you expert advice on structuring your CV to highlight these competencies, helping you stand out in your job applications.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Structuring your account manager CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your account manager CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a account manager CV
- Professional Summary details your biggest achievements, mirroring the account management role as it summarises the candidate's top qualifications and career highlights, pertinent to account management.
- Work Experience showcases your history in customer relations and account growth as it's crucial to prove your ability to manage client accounts effectively and deliver results.
- Key Account Management Skills highlights your ability to nurture client relationships and manage sales cycles, directly reflecting the core competencies required for the role.
- Education and Professional Development indicates your foundational knowledge and continuous learning attitude, showing you have the academic and practical frameworks to excel in account management.
- Achievements in Account Retention and Growth demonstrates your tangible impact on businesses, providing concrete examples of how you've successfully maintained and expanded client portfolios.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your relationship-building skills by detailing how you’ve successfully managed client portfolios, nurtured client relationships, and retained business in previous roles to show your capability as an account manager.
- Demonstrate your ability to drive sales by including specific examples of how you’ve met or exceeded targets, as this is a key component of an account manager’s responsibilities.
- Showcase your strategic thinking by describing instances where you’ve identified growth opportunities within a client's account or improved service delivery through innovative solutions.
- Emphasise your communication skills, particularly in presenting and reporting, as account managers must effectively convey insights and strategies to both clients and internal teams.
- Include any relevant certifications or training, such as in CRM software or sales techniques, to show that you have the necessary technical skills and knowledge to support complex client accounts.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your account manager CV header
Located at the top of your account manager CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:
- Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. koolKittyCat$3@gmail.com is definitely a big no);
- Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for, integrating keywords and action verbs;
- Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light. It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.
What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:
Examples of good CV headlines for account manager:
- Strategic Account Manager | B2B Sales Expert | CRM Pro | 5+ Years' Experience
- Key Account Executive | Tech Industry Specialist | CIMA Certified | Relationship Building
- Senior Client Manager | Digital Marketing Enthusiast | 10 Years' Success | Revenue Growth Strategist
- Global Accounts Lead | Master's in Business Administration | Multilingual | 8-Year Track Record
- Junior Account Manager | Customer Retention Ace | Emerging Markets | Business Development Graduate
- Lead Relationship Manager | Financial Services Authority | Portfolio Growth | 15+ Years' Expertise
Your account manager CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
account manager candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you account manager CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a account manager job:
- Seasoned Account Manager with over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector, skilled in fostering long-term client relationships and negotiating high-value contracts. Achieved a 30% increase in account value through strategic upselling and cross-selling techniques.
- Dynamic professional with a decade of proven success managing key accounts in the financial industry, adept at leveraging CRM platforms to track client interactions. Spearheaded the retention of a multimillion-dollar client portfolio during a critical merger period.
- Former Sales Manager with 8 years of experience, now seeking to apply a strong track record of leading high-performing teams to the account management field. Excelled in competitive markets, increasing sales by over 50% in the tech industry.
- Eager Marketing Specialist transitioning into account management, bringing 5 years of experience in developing robust marketing campaigns and a deep understanding of client needs analysis. Recognised for a client-first approach resulting in a 40% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Aspiring Account Manager, passionate about building rewarding client relationships, eager to utilise a BSc in Business Management and internship experience to deliver exceptional service and contribute to revenue growth in a challenging new field.
- Motivated to launch a career in account management, I offer a fresh perspective combined with an MSc in Marketing and a dedication to mastering negotiation and client engagement to drive business success and foster lasting partnerships.
Narrating the details of your account manager CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your account manager CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with a portfolio of clients, ensuring a high level of satisfaction and retention rates, leading to a 15% increase in repeat business year on year.
- Successfully negotiated contracts and agreements with clients, resulting in a 25% growth in account value over a two-year period.
- Identified new business opportunities by analysing market trends and client needs, resulting in a 20% uptick in sales for the financial year 2021-2022.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure the timely and successful delivery of solutions according to client needs and objectives, increasing project efficiency by 30%.
- Consistently exceeded sales targets by implementing strategic account plans that added value to clients and differentiated services from competitors.
- Managed and resolved client issues effectively, reducing churn rate by 10% through proactive service and support.
- Conducted quarterly business reviews with key clients to assess performance against goals and gather feedback for service improvement, leading to a 95% client satisfaction score.
- Led the onboarding process for new clients, providing comprehensive guidance and education on product features which improved client engagement by 40%.
- Utilised CRM software to track account details, sales projections, and client interactions, ensuring all account information was accurate and up-to-date for internal stakeholders.
- Strategically grew key account portfolios by 35% through the implementation of comprehensive account planning and relationship building techniques.
- Led a cross-functional team project to streamline client onboarding procedures, reducing time-to-productivity by 25% and enhancing client satisfaction scores.
- Achieved a 15% increase in up-sell revenue by identifying and tapping into unexplored client needs, fostering trust and long-term business partnerships.
- Managed a digital product portfolio, ensuring a consistent 20% year-over-year growth by leveraging data analytics to inform strategic decision-making.
- Orchestrated the successful launch of an enterprise-level SaaS platform, coordinating between product development and marketing teams to ensure alignment with customer expectations.
- Spearheaded a customer feedback initiative that captured user experiences and product enhancements, directly influencing three major version upgrades.
- Developed and maintained strategic relationships with top-tier clients to ensure the retention of accounts contributing over GBP 10 million in annual revenue.
- Delivered tailored IT solutions which resolved critical client issues, improving system reliability by 40% and user satisfaction.
- Devised a bespoke training program for clients on new software products that increased feature adoption rates by 50%.
- Implemented a robust client engagement strategy across the commercial sector accounts, resulting in a client retention rate of 92%.
- Negotiated high-value contracts with a keen focus on profitability, adding five new enterprise accounts, each exceeding GBP 5 million in deal value.
- Acted as the primary liaison between clients and product teams, facilitating custom solution development which addressed unique client challenges.
- Managed a portfolio of 25 small to medium-sized business accounts, driving sales efforts that resulted in a 20% YOY increase in contracted services.
- Improved client report satisfaction levels by introducing advanced analytics into quarterly performance reviews.
- Cultivated lasting relationships through the organisation of regular networking events which enhanced client engagement and business opportunities.
- Pioneered a partnership model with four industry leaders that expanded service delivery capabilities and diversified revenue streams by 30%.
- Drove the customer-centric rebranding initiative for client-facing communications, creating a more cohesive and impactful client experience.
- Served as the project lead in the integration of CRM systems post-merger, ensuring a seamless transition for a portfolio of over 300 clients.
- Managed a diverse global account portfolio, exceeding regional sales targets by 20% each quarter through aggressive business development and strategic market analysis.
- Championed the development of an inter-departmental knowledge sharing program that enhanced global account strategies and performance.
- Actively contributed to the 50% growth of the EMEA region’s market share by leading successful client expansions into new verticals.
- Orchestrated an account turnaround strategy that brought a key account back to profitability, resulting in a 100% renewal rate and securing GBP 8 million in annual revenue.
- Initiated a comprehensive Client Success Program, which drove software adoption rates by 60% within six months and significantly reduced churn.
- Developed and executed a multi-channel client communication framework that improved engagement quality and resulted in the expansion of enterprise contracts by 40%.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your account manager CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
The CV skills' divide: between hard and soft skills
Of course, you may have read the job requirements plenty of times now, but it's key to note that there is a difference between technical and personal skills. Both are equally relevant to your job application. When writing about your skill set, ensure you've copy-pasted the precise skill from the job requirement. This would not only help you ensure you have the correct spelling, but also pass any Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessments.
- Hard skills show your technological capabilities. Or whether you'll be a good technical fit to the organisation. Ensure you've spotlighted your hard skills in various sections of your CV (e.g. skills section, projects, experience) by including the technology and what you've attained;
- Soft skills pinpoint your personality and people or communication skills, hinting at if you'll easily accomodate into the team or organisation. Quantify your soft skills in your CV achievements, strengths, summary/objective, and experience sections. Always support your soft skills with how they've helped you grow as a professional.
Top skills for your account manager CV:
Client Relationship Management
Sales Strategy
Business Development
Negotiation
CRM Software Proficiency
Financial Acumen
Marketing Knowledge
Data Analysis
Project Management
Contract Management
Communication
Empathy
Leadership
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Teamwork
Time Management
Attention to Detail
Strategic Thinking
Persuasion
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Further professional qualifications for your account manager CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your account manager CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your account manager CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
