Achieving a balance between boasting professional achievements and demonstrating your ability to drive revenue growth is a significant CV challenge for a sales executive. Our guide offers practical tips to articulate your successes with precision, ensuring your CV captures your sales acumen and stands out to potential employers.
- Answer job requirements with your sales executive 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 sales executive CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Formatting your sales executive CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional sales executive CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional sales executive CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
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Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a sales executive CV
- Contact Information ensures the recruiter can reach you easily.
- Professional Summary showcases your key achievements and skills.
- Work Experience details your relevant sales history and successes.
- Key Achievements section highlights significant sales milestones.
- Education and Training displays your foundational knowledge base.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your sales achievements by quantifying your results, such as revenue growth, percentages in target attainment, or new accounts acquired, to demonstrate a track record of sales success and target-driven performance.
- Detail your experience with sales methodologies and CRM systems to showcase your technical and strategic expertise in managing and closing sales cycles.
- Emphasise your communication and negotiation skills, noting specific deals where you have successfully negotiated terms, built strong relationships with clients, or managed complex sales negotiations.
- Include specific industry knowledge relevant to the sales executive role, indicating your understanding of market dynamics, customer profiles, and product knowledge within your sector.
- Point out leadership experience, such as managing sales teams or training colleagues, to establish your capability in leading initiatives and driving sales team performance.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your sales executive CV header
Located at the top of your sales executive 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 sales executive:
- Senior Sales Executive | SaaS Solutions Expert | Strategic Relationship Builder | 10+ Years' Experience
- Sales Manager | International Market Expansion | Key Account Growth | MBA | 7 Years' Experience
- Regional Sales Director | Pharmaceutical Industry Specialist | Team Leadership | BSc, Cert. in Sales Management | 15+ Years
- Commercial Sales Lead | B2B Excellence | Contract Negotiation Pro | Chartered Certificate in Sales | 12 Years
- Junior Sales Representative | Tech Start-Ups Enthusiast | Innovative Sales Strategies | BA Hons Business | 2 Years
- Digital Sales Executive | E-commerce Strategy | SEO/SEM savvy | Modern Sales Techniques | 5 Years Experience
Catching recruiters' attention with your sales executive CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your sales executive CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a sales executive job:
- Seasoned Sales Executive with over a decade of experience excelling in the high-pressure environment of pharmaceutical sales, demonstrating a proven track record of exceeding multimillion-pound sales targets and expanding customer bases within competitive markets. Adept at leveraging in-depth knowledge of market trends and complex medical terminologies to build trust and strong client relationships.
- Dynamic professional with 8 years of unmatched success in technology sales, specialising in software solutions for large-scale businesses. Recognised consistently for top performance through promotion to Senior Sales Executive, achieving 150% of the yearly sales quota regularly, and leading cross-functional teams to launch pioneering tech products.
- Eager Marketing Specialist aiming to transfer a diverse 5-year background in brand management and strategic campaign development into a thriving sales career. Equipped with persuasive communication skills and a vibrant persona, committed to leveraging a broad understanding of consumer behaviour to excel in sales conversion and revenue generation.
- Accomplished Accountant with 7 years' experience eager to reorient career path into sales, leveraging exceptional analytical skills and financial industry knowledge to understand and meet client needs. Excelled in developing client relations and keen to apply transferable skills to achieve new benchmarks in strategic selling and client acquisition.
- Entry-level enthusiast with a passion for technology and customer service, eager to contribute fresh perspectives in the sales domain. Brimming with a commitment to learning and applying sales methodologies, seeking to develop expertise in engaging prospects and closing deals, aspiring to contribute vital energy to a forward-moving sales team.
- Motivated graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, ready to dive into the professional sales world, armed with robust theoretical knowledge and a keen desire to attain real-world sales proficiency. An objective to absorb, evolve, and surpass expected targets within a high-energy sales environment through resilience and adaptability.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your sales executive 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 10 individuals, achieving a 20% increase in overall sales revenue within one fiscal year through strategic planning and performance coaching.
- Developed and maintained relationships with key clients, which resulted in an 85% client retention rate and the acquisition of 30 new accounts in 6 months.
- Implemented a new CRM system that streamlined lead management and improved sales cycle efficiency by 15%, as evidenced by internal tracking metrics.
- Conducted quarterly training sessions for my team on product knowledge and sales techniques, leading to a 10% improvement in individual sales targets.
- Analysed market trends and competitors' strategies to adapt our sales pitch, enabling our team to outperform the market growth rate by 5%.
- Negotiated and closed deals with major industry players, resulting in a multimillion-pound increase in annual revenue.
- Orchestrated the launch of a new product line, collaborating with marketing, which contributed to a 25% revenue growth of the business unit I was responsible for.
- Forged strong partnerships with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of sales strategies with company objectives, contributing to a coherent brand message.
- Regularly exceeded personal sales targets by at least 15% each quarter through effective prospecting and client engagement techniques.
- Spearheaded regional expansion efforts by identifying and securing 10+ key industry accounts, increasing market share by 15% within 18 months.
- Led a successful negotiation for a 5-year, £3M contract with a major FMCG client, marking the company's largest single deal at the time.
- Implemented a data-driven sales strategy using CRM analytics that boosted the sales team's productivity by 35% through more targeted client interactions.
- Developed a new partner channel programme that contributed to a 25% uplift in B2B sales within the first year of implementation.
- Consistently exceeded personal sales targets by at least 20% each quarter, effectively contributing to the overall growth of the company's revenue.
- Championed the introduction of an innovative SaaS solution to the product portfolio, directly leading to a 30% increase in average deal size.
- Increased sales volume of tech products by 40% by devising and executing targeted campaigns focusing on industry-specific needs.
- Facilitated a collaborative project with the IT department to enhance product demonstrations, which majorly influenced a 50% increase in customer engagements.
- Drove the adoption of a consultative selling approach that improved the long-term value of client relationships, evidenced by a 20% rise in renewals.
- Orchestrated territory realignment strategies that led to a streamlined sales process and a subsequent 33% growth in sales within the territory.
- Delivered tailored product training sessions for clients, resulting in improved product uptake by 40% and enhanced customer satisfaction levels.
- Initiated and cultivated strategic relationships with three industry-leading partners, increasing brand reach and collaborative selling opportunities.
- Renegotiated and secured renewed contracts with five key accounts, which prevented potential loss of annual revenue amounting to approximately £2.5M.
- Drove a team initiative to optimize the RFP response process, cutting down the average proposal turnaround time by 50% and enhancing win rates by 18%.
- Identified a new market segment opportunity that led to the integration of bespoke services into the sales offerings, increasing client portfolio by 30%.
- Expanded the company's global footprint by establishing a distributor network in 5 new countries, achieving a 22% growth in international sales revenue.
- Crafted and implemented a strategic sales plan focused on emerging markets that generated a direct increase in sales volume by over 35% over two years.
- Played a pivotal role in the introduction and market penetration strategy of a new product line which became responsible for 10% of the total sales within a year.
- Initiated a partnership framework that resulted in a stable year-on-year 5-7% sales growth from strategic partners.
- Orchestrated the cross-functional team efforts leading to the closure of a complex £4.8M deal with a key enterprise client, exceeding the target by 20%.
- Led the overhaul of the customer feedback system to better align product development with customer needs, improving retention rates by 25%.
- Pioneered the adoption of artificial intelligence tools to enhance customer profiling, which attributed to a 30% improvement in sales conversion rates.
- Successfully managed a portfolio of digital products and achieved top-seller status in the company for two consecutive years.
- Cultivated a robust online client engagement strategy that increased average customer lifetime value by £1,200 through upselling and cross-selling.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your sales executive CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your sales executive CV:
Lead Generation
CRM Software Proficiency
Sales Forecasting
Market Research
Data Analysis
Contract Negotiation
Product Knowledge
Sales Presentation Development
Business Development
Digital Marketing
Communication
Interpersonal Skills
Problem-Solving
Time Management
Adaptability
Negotiation
Teamwork
Emotional Intelligence
Persuasion
Resilience
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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.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your sales executive CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your sales executive CV:
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your sales executive CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
