Crafting a CV that encapsulates your ability to drive substantial revenue growth and manage high-performing sales teams can be a daunting challenge. Our comprehensive guide offers tailored strategies to help you effectively highlight your leadership skills and sales achievements, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
- Answer job requirements with your head of sales CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your head of sales CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
How to ensure your profile stands out with your head of sales CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your head of sales CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your head of sales CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your head of sales CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
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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 head of sales CV
- Professional Summary highlights your sales leadership skills.
- Employment History shows progression and achievements in sales.
- Key Sales Metrics provides concrete proof of sales performance.
- Sales Training & Certifications denote expertise and commitment.
- Strategic Sales Planning experience showcases big-picture thinking.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your track record of reaching and exceeding sales targets to demonstrate your ability to drive business growth and generate revenue.
- Detail your strategic planning and execution skills by showcasing successful campaigns and initiatives that led to market expansion and sales team improvements.
- Emphasize your leadership abilities by providing examples of how you have built, mentored, and led high-performing sales teams to success.
- Include evidence of your relationship-building prowess, stressing your proficiency in developing and maintaining key client partnerships and networks.
- Focus on your analytical skills by illustrating how you use data-driven decision-making to optimise sales processes and customise approaches to different markets.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning head of sales CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for head of sales:
- Regional Sales Director | B2B Growth Expert | Strategic Partnerships | MBA | 15+ Years' Experience
- VP of Sales | SaaS and Tech Specialist | Revenue Growth Strategies | Certified Sales Executive | 20 Years
- Senior Sales Manager | FMCG Sector | Market Expansion Guru | Negotiation Pro | 10+ Years' Record
- Head of Sales | E-commerce Expansion | Digital Marketing Savvy | Chartered Institute of Marketing | 12 Years
- Global Sales Leader | Telecom Innovations | Strategic Planning | Top Performer | MSc International Business | 18 Years
- National Sales Director | Pharmaceutical Expert | Client Relationship Builder | Certified Professional Sales Leader | 8 Years Experience
Opting between a head of sales CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your head of sales CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a head of sales job:
- With over a decade of leadership in high-volume tech sales and a track record that includes a 70% increase in annual revenue for a multinational corporation, my expertise lies in developing strategic plans that vastly improve sales performance and market penetration.
- A seasoned professional with 15 years in pharmaceutical sales, I have successfully launched new products into competitive markets, achieving a 60% market share growth within two years, and adeptly managed sales teams to consistently surpass targets by at least 30% quarter-on-quarter.
- Transitioning from a successful 8-year military career, I bring unparalleled dedication and discipline to strategic sales initiatives, coupled with proven leadership and a robust understanding of large-scale operations and logistics.
- As an experienced educator aiming to shift into sales, I leverage over 12 years of experience in instructional leadership, curriculum development, and a genuine talent for persuasive communication to drive robust sales strategies and enrich client relations.
- Eager to channel my enthusiasm for cutting-edge technology and customer engagement strategies into the dynamic world of software sales, my objective is to deliver exceptional results through diligent prospecting, relationship-building, and a keen aptitude for learning market trends.
- With a newfound passion for the complexities of B2B sales, I aim to apply my extensive interpersonal skills and strategic analysis from a 6-year career in journalism to foster strong client partnerships and drive sustainable revenue growth.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your head of sales CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Led a sales team of 30+ members, achieving a consistent annual growth rate of 25%, exceeding the company's target by 10%.
- Designed and implemented a strategic sales plan that expanded the company’s customer base by 40% and increased market share.
- Directly managed key accounts, resulting in a 35% increase in revenue from top clients through strategic relationship building and targeted sales initiatives.
- Conducted quarterly sales training workshops, improving team conversion rates by 15% and driving an overall performance increase.
- Introduced innovative lead generation strategies that contributed to a 20% uplift in qualified leads, thereby boosting the pipeline by £1.5M.
- Negotiated and closed deals averaging over £500,000, setting a new record for the largest sales contracts in the company’s history.
- Utilised data analytics to refine sales processes, which led to a reduction in the sales cycle duration by 10 days on average.
- Collaborated with the marketing department to create compelling sales collateral that increased customer engagement by 30%.
- Championed the adoption of a new CRM system, leading to improved sales tracking and a 20% increase in team productivity.
- Pioneered a new strategic sales approach that increased customer retention by 25% within the first two years by implementing data-driven customer success initiatives.
- Spearheaded the expansion of our product line into three new international markets, resulting in a 40% increase in global sales revenue.
- Led a team of 50 sales professionals, fostering a highly motivational environment that saw an increase in team performance by 35%.
- Developed a comprehensive sales training programme that reduced onboarding time by 30%, simultaneously enhancing sales team productivity.
- Orchestrated negotiations with key accounts which secured long-term contracts worth over £20M, underpinning the company's revenue base.
- Cultivated deep relationships with industry leaders that led to a collaborative venture, boosting product visibility and sales by 22%.
- Implemented an innovative AI-driven CRM system that led to a 30% enhancement in lead qualification processes and a 20% uptick in conversion rates.
- Brokered a game-changing partnership with a leading e-commerce platform that led to a 50% leap in online sales channels.
- Launched a targeted social media advertising campaign that tripled the company's online consumer engagement and drove a 25% increased sales revenue stream.
- Crafted and delivered a bespoke B2B sales strategy that attracted four industry top-tier clients and increased the B2B sales division's contribution to total revenues by 33%.
- Championed a salesforce performance overhaul through strategic KPI implementation, boosting average deal size by 40%.
- Drove an inter-departmental collaboration initiative that optimized product development aligned with market demand, thus enhancing sales by 28%.
- Led the successful acquisition and integration of a smaller competitor which expanded market share by 15% and generated an additional £10M in annual revenue.
- Revitalised the sales department with a focus on digital transformation, thereby reducing sales cycle times by an average of 18%.
- Masterminded the pivot to a remote sales model amidst the global health crisis, maintaining 100% client service levels while increasing the team's efficiency by 25%.
- Oversaw a landmark product launch that exceeded sales targets by 200%, cementing the company's reputation as an innovator in its sector.
- Drove a continuous improvement culture that resulted in year-on-year sales growth of 12% across a 5-year period.
- Instituted a strategic analytics initiative that decoded complex market trends, allowing for informed decision making that improved sales outcomes by 18%.
- Maximized sales department efficacy by implementing a data-centric sales methodology that led to an increase in annual revenue figures by £8M.
- Crafted and executed high-impact sales strategies across emerging market segments, which contributed to a 50% rise in market penetration.
- Drove the adoption of customer lifecycle management tools that improved customer experience and led to a sustained 15% increase in customer lifetime value.
- Conceived and implemented a digital sales transformation programme that enhanced sales team agility and increased annual digital sales by 35%.
- Executed a cross-functional strategy revamp, aligning sales with marketing and product development to deliver a 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores.
- Facilitated key industry partnerships that bolstered the brand's authority, leading to an amplified sales volume by 17% in the core product category.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your head of sales 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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Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your head of sales CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your head of sales CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your head of sales CV:
Sales Strategy Development
Market Research & Analysis
Sales Forecasting
CRM Software Proficiency
Financial Acumen
Product Knowledge
Negotiation Techniques
Marketing Principles
B2B and B2C Sales
Team Leadership & Training
Communication
Relationship Building
Strategic Thinking
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Motivation
Teamwork
Decision-Making
Persuasion
Emotional Intelligence
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Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
Further professional qualifications for your head of sales CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your head of sales 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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Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your head of sales 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.
