Crafting a CV that distinguishes you from numerous applicants in the sales sector can be exceptionally challenging. Our guide provides step-by-step advice to enhance your CV, ensuring you present a compelling narrative of your sales achievements and skills.
What information should you include in your sales CV? Learn how to create your interview-landing and job-winning profile with our bespoke guide on:
- Applying best practices from real-world examples to ensure your profile always meets recruiters' expectations;
- What to include in your work experience section, apart from your past roles and responsibilities?
- Why are both hard and soft skills important for your application?
- How do you need to format your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker Software (ATS) assessment?
If you're writing your CV for a niche sales role, make sure to get some inspiration from professionals:
Structuring and formatting your sales CV for an excellent first impression
The experts' best advice regarding your CV format is to keep it simple and concise. Recruiters assessing your CV are foremost looking out for candidates who match their ideal job profile. Your white space, borders, and margins. You may still be wondering which format you need to export your CV in. We recommend using the PDF one, as, upon being uploaded, it never alters your information or CV design. Before we move on to the actual content of your sales CV, we'd like to remind you about the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS). The ATS is a software that is sometimes used to initially assess your profile. Here's what you need to keep in mind about the ATS:- All serif and sans-serif fonts (e.g. Rubik, Volkhov, Exo 2 etc.) are ATS-friendly;
- Many candidates invest in Arial and Times New Roman, so avoid these fonts if you want your application to stand out;
- Both single and double column CVs can be read by the ATS, so it's entirely up to you to select your CV design.
PRO TIP
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 CV
- Professional Summary showcases your sales expertise and highlights your top achievements.
- Sales Experience lists your relevant positions and quantifies your accomplishments.
- Key Sales Skills highlights the specific abilities that make you a top salesperson.
- Education and Training details your educational background and any sales-specific courses.
- Industry Recognition and Awards demonstrates peer recognition and sales success.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight quantifiable sales achievements, such as revenue generated or percentage growth, to showcase your effectiveness and impact in previous roles.
- Emphasise your ability to build and maintain client relationships by mentioning your experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems and your proficiency in creating long-term customer loyalty.
- Demonstrate your communication and negotiation skills by providing examples of complex deals you have closed or persuasive presentations you have delivered.
- Include any sales training or certifications you have completed to show your commitment to professional development and staying updated on sales methodologies.
- Focus on your adaptability and competitive nature by outlining how you have successfully adapted to market changes or contributed to outperforming competitors.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your sales CV header
Right at the very top of your sales CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for sales:
- Lead Sales Manager | SaaS Solutions Specialist | B2B Strategy | 10+ Years of Progressive Experience
- Senior Sales Executive | FMCG Expert | Relationship Building | Chartered Institute of Marketing Certified
- Regional Sales Director | Market Expansion Proponent | Team Leadership | 15 Years Industry Dominance
- Junior Sales Associate | Tech Enthusiast | Customer Engagement | BSc Business Management Graduate
- Business Development Officer | Healthcare Sector | Strategic Partnerships | 5-Year Track Record
- Inside Sales Representative | Cybersecurity Focus | Client Retention | NEBOSH Qualified | 3+ Years' Experience
Your sales CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
sales 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 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 job:
- Accomplished sales professional with over 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, adept at relationship building and exceeding sales targets. Boasting proficiency in strategic account management and market analysis, with a record-breaking achievement of growing regional sales by 30% within a single fiscal year.
- Dynamic sales expert with a 10-year track record in the high-tech software market, specialising in SaaS solutions. Renowned for advanced negotiation skills and a deep understanding of complex sales cycles, notably achieving top salesperson accolades for four consecutive quarters through innovative client acquisition strategies.
- Highly motivated former Marketing Manager transitioning to a sales career, bringing a unique blend of creative branding strategies and analytical skills acquired over 5 years. Instrumental in tripling lead generation at a leading digital agency through targeted campaign management and strategic partnership development.
- Resourceful former educator eager to apply 8 years of experience in curriculum design and student engagement to foster meaningful client relationships in the sales industry. Recognised for ability to train and motivate teams, aiming to leverage interpersonal skills to exceed sales objectives in a dynamic new environment.
- Aspiring sales professional eager to leverage a background in customer service and a passion for technology to excel in a challenging sales environment. Committed to utilising outstanding communication skills and a fast-learning aptitude to develop a deep understanding of product offerings and generate significant sales growth.
- Diligent and proactive individual seeking to develop a career in sales, bringing a strong foundation in business administration and a keen interest in market trends. Dedicated to mastering sales techniques and product knowledge to contribute to the success of an innovative sales team.
The best formula for your sales CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Articulated how I consistently met or exceeded sales targets by detailing specific percentages or revenue amounts to demonstrate a strong track record of success.
- Illustrated expertise in product knowledge by describing how I effectively communicated features and benefits to customers, resulting in increased sales.
- Outlined my ability to identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities, leading to a significant expansion of the customer base.
- Highlighted leadership skills by explaining how I successfully managed and motivated a sales team to achieve top performance in a competitive environment.
- Demonstrated customer relationship management by showcasing my ability to build and maintain long-term clients, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
- Detail-oriented approach was evident in maintaining accurate sales records and reports that contributed to strategic planning and inventory management.
- Emphasised adaptability and innovation by explaining how I effectively embraced new sales technologies or methodologies to stay ahead of market trends.
- Provided examples of effective negotiation and closing techniques that led to high-value deals and enhanced profit margins for the company.
- Referenced specific sales campaigns or projects where I played a key role, illustrating my ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive sales success.
Work Experience
Senior Sales Executive
GadgetCorp
01/2020-Ongoing
- Spearheaded a sales strategy overhaul at GadgetCorp, targeting B2B clients, which led to a 35% increase in revenue over 18 months through enhanced customer engagement.
- Coordinated with the marketing department to develop and launch a successful social media campaign that generated a 50% upsurge in online leads.
- Mastered CRM software to track sales opportunities, improving conversion rates by 25% through targeted follow-ups and personalised solutions.
Work Experience
Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist
PharmaHealth
06/2015-12/2019
- Exceeded annual sales targets at PharmaHealth by 40% by forging strong relationships with key healthcare providers and offering tailored pharmaceutical solutions.
- Implemented a consultative selling approach that positioned me as a top performer, consistently ranking in the top 10% of the sales force.
- Facilitated cross-functional team efforts to develop a new drug's go-to-market strategy, which became a leading product contributing to 20% of the annual revenue.
Work Experience
Account Manager
TechSolutions
03/2012-05/2015
- Managed a portfolio of 150+ accounts for TechSolutions, consistently maintaining a 95% customer retention rate through strategic account management.
- Negotiated and closed deals averaging £300,000, directly contributing to an annual growth rate of 30% for the company.
- Initiated and led a training program for new sales associates, enhancing the team's performance and reducing the ramp-up time by 50%.
Work Experience
Business Development Manager, Sales
GreenTech Ltd
02/2016-08/2020
- Pioneered an entry into the renewable energy sector for GreenTech Ltd, resulting in securing contracts worth £1.2M in the first year.
- Collaborated with product development teams to inform enhancements of solar panel designs, meeting clients' specific requirements and boosting customer satisfaction by 60%.
- Orchestrated GreenTech Ltd's participation in industry trade shows, leading to the acquisition of 50 new business leads and a subsequent 20% increase in market share.
Work Experience
Regional Sales Director
Luxe Apparel
07/2018-Ongoing
- Transformed the regional sales strategy for Luxe Apparel, identifying and pursuing untapped markets, resulting in a revenue increase of £500,000 within a year.
- Curated a client-centric approach that revitalized stagnant accounts, pulling in an additional £750,000 in sales from clients previously considering competitors.
- Launched a mentorship program that equipped sales representatives with advanced negotiation and client management skills, boosting team revenue by an average of 15% per quarter.
Work Experience
E-commerce Sales Manager
BuySmart Electronics
04/2014-11/2017
- Developed and managed a new eCommerce sales channel for BuySmart Electronics, contributing to 40% of the company's online revenue within two years.
- Analysed customer purchase data to tailor promotions, resulting in a 60% increase in repeat customer transactions.
- Negotiated with suppliers to secure exclusive online discounts, enhancing our competitive edge and leading to a sustained 25% quarter-over-quarter sales increase.
Work Experience
Software Solutions Sales Leader
Innovative Tech Inc.
09/2009-01/2013
- Drove sales for cutting-edge software solutions at Innovative Tech Inc., securing on average 5 high-value enterprise contracts per quarter, each worth upwards of £500,000.
- Cultivated a high-performance sales culture as team lead, mentoring junior sales associates to exceed their targets by 20%.
- Coordinated with the product team to relay customer feedback, leading to feature enhancements that contributed to a user base growth of 50%.
Work Experience
Luxury Property Sales Consultant
Prime Realty
08/2011-02/2016
- Championed the sales process for luxury property developments at Prime Realty, achieving an annual sales volume of £15M and exceeding quota by 30%.
- Built and nurtured a network of high net-worth individuals, increasing referral-based sales by 70%.
- Implemented a targeted digital marketing campaign that boosted lead generation by 200% and significantly shortened the sales cycle for premium properties.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your 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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PRO TIP
Describe how each job helped you grow or learn something new, showing a continuous development path in your career.
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 sales CV:
HARD SKILLS
Product Knowledge
Lead Generation
CRM Software
Sales Forecasting
Negotiation
Business Acumen
Market Analysis
Data Analysis
Marketing Strategies
Communication
SOFT SKILLS
Active Listening
Empathy
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Teamwork
Time Management
Persuasion
Emotional Intelligence
Motivation
Resilience
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your sales 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 CV:
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional sales CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
