Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your ability to drive sales and lead a team can be a daunting challenge. Our comprehensive guide offers insights and tips to highlight your accomplishments, ensuring your CV stands head and shoulders above the competition.
- Answer job requirements with your sales manager 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 manager CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Structuring your sales 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 sales 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 font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a sales manager CV
- Professional Summary showcases your key achievements and suitability for the role.
- Sales Experience highlights your past roles and sales successes.
- Key Sales Skills details specific skills like negotiation and CRM expertise.
- Notable Sales Achievements gives proof of targets met or exceeded.
- Education and Professional Development presents your relevant qualifications and training.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets, providing specific figures and percentages to demonstrate your ability to drive revenue growth.
- Highlight your leadership and team-building skills by detailing how you've successfully managed and motivated sales teams to achieve outstanding results.
- Include your proficiency in CRM software and other sales technologies, demonstrating your capability to leverage these tools for efficient sales management.
- Detail your strategic planning and market analysis experience, showcasing your ability to identify opportunities and tailor sales strategies to different market segments.
- Illustrate your communication and negotiation abilities with examples of complex deals or partnerships you've secured, underlining your effectiveness in sales discussions.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your sales manager CV header
Located at the top of your sales 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 sales manager:
- Senior Sales Manager | B2B Expertise | Strategic Planning | MBA | 10+ Years of Success
- Regional Sales Manager | Market Expansion Specialist | Relationship Building | 7-Year Track Record
- Assistant Sales Manager | Lead Generation & Conversion | Sales Training | CIM Certified | 3 Years' Experience
- Area Sales Manager | Key Account Management | Revenue Growth | Degree in Marketing | 5 Years in Sales
- National Sales Manager | Multi-channel Strategy | Negotiation Pro | 15+ Years' Experience | Award-Winning
- Sales Operations Manager | CRM Systems Expert | Process Optimisation | Data Analysis | 8 Years' Leadership
Your sales manager CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
sales 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 sales 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 sales manager job:
- Accomplished sales manager with over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector, proficient in CRM software and data analysis, and has surpassed annual targets by at least 15% for five consecutive years. Holds a proven track record in leading successful sales teams and developing innovative sales strategies that have driven substantial revenue growth.
- Dynamic sales leader with 12 years in consumer electronics, adept in B2B and B2C sales environments, expert in leveraging social media platforms for promotional campaigns, and recipient of the 'Top Regional Sales Manager' award for three years running. Known for exceptional mentoring abilities and driving market share increases through strategic sales initiatives.
- Former hospitality professional with a decade of experience in customer service management, seeking to transfer my expertise in client relations, team leadership, and upselling strategies into a challenging sales management career. Eager to apply my strong negotiation and communication skills to boost sales performance in a new industry.
- Experienced marketing director aiming to transition into sales management, bringing over eight years of experience in leading high-performing marketing teams, developing successful go-to-market strategies, and a deep understanding of customer psychology to maximize sales outcomes and enhance client acquisition efforts.
- As a motivated individual with a passion for sales and technology, I am committed to leveraging my quick learning ability and strong interpersonal skills to excel in a sales management position. Keen to develop my understanding of sales processes and contribute to achieving and surpassing sales targets.
- Eager to embark on a sales management career path, armed with a recent MBA in Marketing and a solid foundation in persuasive communication. Determined to utilize my theoretical knowledge and enthusiasm for sales to generate impressive results and support the company in meeting its strategic sales goals.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your sales manager 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
- Developed and executed a strategic sales plan, leading to a 25% increase in revenue within the first year, by identifying and securing new market opportunities.
- Managed a team of 15 sales professionals, providing regular training and mentorship, resulting in a 50% improvement in team sales targets.
- Implemented a customer relationship management (CRM) system that improved client retention rates by 30% through enhanced tracking of client interactions and follow-ups.
- Regularly analysed sales data and market trends to adjust sales strategies responsively, ensuring the team consistently outperformed competitors.
- Collaborated with the marketing department to develop targeted promotional campaigns, which increased brand awareness and lead generation by 40%.
- Negotiated high-value contracts with key clients, securing long-term deals that contributed to a stable revenue base and 20% year-on-year growth.
- Streamlined the sales process by identifying bottlenecks and implementing new sales methodologies, reducing the sales cycle duration by 15%.
- Presented regular sales performance reports to senior management, highlighting achievements and areas for improvement, which facilitated more informed decision-making.
- Actively participated in industry networking events to build strong business relationships, which led to successful partnerships and collaborations.
- Orchestrated the launch of a new regional sales strategy which increased market penetration by 35% within the first year, significantly boosting brand awareness.
- Led a team of 20 sales professionals, fostering a dynamic and result-oriented culture that achieved £2.5M in annual revenue, surpassing targets by 15%.
- Masterminded the adoption of a CRM system that improved customer relationship management, leading to a 25% enhancement in customer retention rates.
- Designed and implemented innovative online sales campaigns for product promotion, achieving a 45% increase in online sales within the first six months.
- Successfully negotiated key contracts with large retailers, leading to an unprecedented 60% increase in product listings across the UK.
- Implemented staff development programs that improved the sales team's product knowledge and sales tactics, leading to a 30% increase in average sales per employee.
- Spearheaded a comprehensive training program that enhanced the capabilities of the sales force, resulting in a significant reduction in employee turnover by 40%.
- Expanded the territory by identifying and capturing new business opportunities, contributing to a robust 50% growth in annual sales figures.
- Cultivated strong relationships with B2B clients, driving sustained revenue by steering complex negotiations and closing deals with major industry players.
- Streamlined sales processes and introduced a performance monitoring system that lifted overall sales productivity by 20%.
- Coordinated cross-functional initiatives with the marketing department to better align sales and marketing strategies, yielding a 50% uptick in lead conversion rates.
- Championed the acquisition and retention of strategic accounts, resulting in the establishment of long-term contracts that secured continuous revenue growth.
- Drove team to exceed sales targets by developing a rigorous accountability system, with quarterly targets achievement soaring to 95%.
- Implemented a highly successful customer feedback loop that enabled swift product improvements and a 40% improvement in customer satisfaction scores.
- Forged and solidified alliances with channel partners, contributing to a 30% yearly growth in sales through partner networks.
- Developed and executed a sales revitalization plan, which catapulted underperforming territories to the top 10% in sales performance within the company.
- Led entry into new market segments, introducing products successfully, and capturing a 20% market share within two years of launch.
- Leveraged analytics to refine sales tactics, driving a 25% improvement in sales efficiency and reducing the cost of customer acquisition.
- Initiated a company-wide sales process overhaul that elevated the average transaction value by 18% through upselling and cross-selling initiatives.
- Crafted and enforced rigorous sales training programs, equipping staff with advanced negotiation skills that led to closing high-value contracts.
- Piloted a digital transformation in the sales department, incorporating data-driven decision-making that enhanced quarterly sales plans and execution.
What to add in your sales manager CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Key sales manager CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your sales manager CV:
Sales Forecasting
Market Research
Business Development
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Negotiation
Strategic Planning
Marketing Strategy
Revenue Growth
Data Analysis
Budget Management
Leadership
Communication
Problem-Solving
Teamwork
Adaptability
Motivational Skills
Decision-Making
Time Management
Emotional Intelligence
Conflict Resolution
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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.
CV education and certificates: your academic background as proof of your skill set
A common misconception about your sales manager CV education is that you only need it, if you have less professional experience. That is completely false. The CV education section serves to back up your technical (and sometimes personal) capabilities, fill in gaps in your work history, and show you have the initial industry background and know-how. When creating your education section:
- List your degrees in the reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent (and relevant) ones first;
- Include your degree and university names, start and graduation dates. It's optional to also denote you received a "First-Class Honours" for diplomas that are more relevant to the role;
- Curate your relevant university coursework, projects, or thesis work if you happen to have less professional expertise and need to integrate more job keywords and skills.
Your professional qualifications don't need to stop at your academic background. It's advisable to also select up to three of your most noteworthy (and relevant) industry certificates and feature them in a dedicated section. Once more, include the certificate name, the institution that issued it out, and the date you obtained it on. You could feature both hard skills and soft skills certificates, as in the examples below:
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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
Your successful job application depends on how you well you have aligned your sales manager CV to the job description and portrayed your best skills and traits. Make sure to:
- Select your CV format, so that it ensures your experience is easy to read and understand;
- Include your professional contact details and a link to your portfolio, so that recruiters can easily get in touch with you and preview your work;
- Write a CV summary if you happen to have more relevant professional experience. Meanwhile, use the objective to showcase your career dreams and ambitions;
- In your CV experience section bullets, back up your individual skills and responsibilities with tangible achievements;
- Have a healthy balance between hard and soft skills to answer the job requirements and hint at your unique professional value.
