How to build a top-notch sales representative resume

As a sales representative, you play a vital role across various industries, serving as the bridge between businesses and customers. You excel at cultivating relationships, embodying the essence of a company's brand, and showcasing its products in a positive light.

But if you're ready to take your sales game to the next level, you'll need a well-written resume that showcases your best examples of work experience, key skills, and educational credentials.

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From crafting an impressive summary that hooks employers to highlighting your sales achievements with finesse, we've got you covered.

Get ready to unlock your sales potential and land that coveted sales role with our essential steps for writing a a great sales rep resume resume. Keep reading to learn all about how to:

• Give your sales representative resume a strong format
• Write an attention-grabbing resume summary as a sales representative
• Choose your best skills as a sales representative to include in a resume
• Describe your work experience as a sales representative effectively
• Include a concise section with your educational background as a sales rep

1. Give your sales representative resume a strong format

Before you even begin to write your sales representative resume, the first step to take is to choose what format to write your resume in.

In general, the two main types of resume formats are the reverse-chronological (RC) resume and the functional resume. An RC resume focuses on work experience, while a functional resume focuses instead on education, skills, and unpaid experience (volunteering, internships, etc.).

RC resumes are the standard format expected by most employers. However, if you lack work experience as a sales representative, a functional format allows you to show off your training, education, or other credentials.

There is also a third format called the hybrid resume that spreads the focus of the document out evenly between all sections. This is a good choice for those who have large gaps in their work history or those who have work experience but are changing career paths.

No matter which format you opt for, any resume you write will need a visually appealing header that includes all your necessary professional information.

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2. Write an attention-grabbing resume summary as a sales representative

After formatting your sales representative resume in the way that works best for your needs, your next step is to write an attention-grabbing resume summary.

Remember that in order to nail your resume summary, you should:

• Highlight your sales expertise: Begin your resume summary by emphasizing your extensive experience in sales, showcasing your proven track record of exceeding targets and driving revenue growth.

• Showcase your customer-centric approach: Demonstrate your ability to build strong relationships with clients, emphasizing your exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. Mention your customer service achievements and your dedication to delivering outstanding results.

• Emphasize your product knowledge: Showcase your deep understanding of the products or services you have sold in the past. Highlight any specialized knowledge or certifications that demonstrate your expertise in your industry.

• Quantify your achievements: Incorporate specific numbers and metrics to quantify your sales successes. For example, mention the percentage increase in sales revenue, the number of new clients acquired, or the size of deals closed to provide concrete evidence of your accomplishments.

• Tailor your summary to the job description: Customize your resume summary to align with the specific requirements of the sales representative role you are applying for. Use keywords and phrases from the job description to demonstrate your fit and understanding of the position.

• Convey your enthusiasm and motivation: Express your passion for sales and your drive to excel in a competitive environment. Showcase your ability to overcome challenges, adapt to changing market dynamics, and consistently deliver results.

3. Choose your best skills as a sales representative to include in a resume

Next up, you will decide which skills you possess as a sales representative are the best to include on your resume. You should always include a selection of both technical and interpersonal skills, as this shows the employer you are a well-rounded professional.

When including skills on a resume, you can use them in one of two ways — either as a list to be included in a sidebar or as descriptors to use within your work experience section.

Generally speaking, technical skills are better for creating a list, while interpersonal skills are better for using as descriptors.

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4. Describe your work experience as a sales representative effectively

As you begin writing your work experience section — likely the largest section on your resume if you are using an RC resume format — it is important to know how to effectively describe your past experiences.

Along with using bullet points to visually organize the information on your resume, you should also include as many quantifiable details as possible, such as specific sales numbers that show an impressive ability for meeting sales goals.

5. Include a concise section with your educational background as a sales rep

To finish up your sales representative resume, you must list your educational credentials.

As a sales rep, you may have gone to school to earn a degree, or you may have learned through on-site training in different jobs. Regardless of how you came to be on this career path, you should always list your highest level of education on your resume.

6. Select relevant extra sections to make your sales representative resume shine

In a competitive job market, it's crucial to make your sales representative resume stand out from the crowd. One effective way to achieve this is by including relevant extra sections that showcase your unique qualifications and experiences.

These additional sections not only provide more depth and context to your skills but also demonstrate your commitment to professional growth and development.

By incorporating extra sections, such as certifications, professional affiliations, or volunteer work, you can highlight your expertise, industry knowledge, and versatility. For example, certifications like Salesforce CRM or Dale Carnegie Sales Training can demonstrate your commitment to mastering sales techniques and staying updated with industry trends.