Sales Manager Resume Examples to Help You Build Yours
Sales managers need to show off specific skills in a resume to get a job. Here's how you can highlight your top abilities and experiences in a sales manager resume.
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Featured sales manager resume example
Make sure your sales manager resume looks its best by using this sample, taking cues from its organization and content.
Tips for a strong sales manager resume
>When a sales team wants to hit all their sales goals and they have someone to direct their marketing strategies, they naturally look toward a sales manager. Sales managers direct the salesforce at a company, ensuring that all team members bring in sales on a regular basis. If you think this sounds like the perfect job for you, here’s how you can use a sales manager resume example and help from resume examples to build your own sales manager resume.
Build my resumeWhat to highlight in a sales manager resume
An effective sales manager resume needs to showcase that you understand the world of sales and that you’re accomplished at guiding your sales staff in making great decisions, and producing results. This means you should highlight interpersonal skills as well as knowledge of the sales process for the particular industry you’re applying to, along with work accomplishments that prove your expertise.
How to write a sales manager resume
Your specific resume structure will depend on the resume format you choose. There are three common resume formats: the chronological resume, which prioritizes work experience, the functional resume, which prioritizes skills and the combination resume, which features both. Your professional resume can use any of these formats, but for a manager position resume, you’ll likely use the chronological format, as it focuses on career accomplishments that demonstrate your managerial experience. Regardless of the format, your resume will typically include these sections:
Header
The first element of any good resume is your header. The header includes your full name, phone number, email address and any social media profile links, such as LinkedIn. This information helps the hiring manager contact you for an interview if selected.
Resume summary
Next, you’ll write a resume summary. This is a 2-3 sentence paragraph just under the header that gives hiring managers a brief overview of your best skills and work history. A resume professional summary for a sales manager will typically feature how you’ve met your sales targets, what technical skills you use regularly and your proven track record in the sales field.
Skills
Above all else, your skills section for a sales manager resume needs to address the particular skills your potential employer is looking for. Here are some resume skills examples to consider for your document:
- Customer service
- Retail sales knowledge
- Implementing sales strategies
- Account management
- Communication skills
- Taking initiatives
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
- Merchandising
- Bringing in new business
- Pricing
- Project management
- Prospecting
- Creating sales plans
- Social media marketing
The best sales manager resume is one where your skills section balances technical skills and soft skills. Both types of skills are equally important for sales managers, and hiring managers are looking for you to showcase them both.
Work history
This is where you get to detail your professional work experience, with your most recent job listed first. Whether you list experience as a salesperson, a sales representative, a sales associate or even a sales manager in another field, show off sales metrics that show you can produce results.
Education
Last is the education section. Depending on the position you’re applying for, you may or may not need education to get the job. Oftentimes, a bachelor’s degree in business administration can be incredibly beneficial. List your top credential (whether it’s a college or high school degree) here, along with any special honors or awards earned from school.
Build my resumeDos and don'ts for a sales manager resume
- Include your certifications, if applicable. If you have any certifications as a sales manager (such as being a Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL)), including them will prove your skills.
- Use measurable metrics when possible. For example: "Led team that improved overall company sales by 12%." This helps you really prove that you were able to help the company you were working for.
- Use our resume templates to help shape the layout of your resume. You can find dozens of resume templates at ResumeHelp.
- Rush the resume writing process. Even if you have the greatest certifications, recruiters are more likely to pass over a lackluster, unprofessional resume that doesn’t present them well.
- Submit your resume without proofreading. Typos are one of the most common problem issues that recruiters notice in resumes.
- Include unnecessary work history. In general, you should only include work within the last 10 years that are relevant to your field. Focus on previous jobs and accomplishments that match up with the job you want.
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FAQ: Sales manager resumes
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Do I need to include a cover letter for a sales manager application?
It’s always a good idea to submit a sales manager cover letter with your resume. The cover letter gives you a chance to ask for the interview, and it also provides more insight into how your qualifications would benefit the company. Use the ResumeHelp cover letter builder to make sure your cover letter looks just as good as your resume.
How can I write a sales manager resume without a lot of experience?
If you don’t have a lot of experience in sales management, you can rely on certifications and any work history that showcases project management and leadership skills. Generally, a management position will require some sort of experience, but you can cite any level of your sales experience.
How do I change my sales manager resume to apply to different jobs?
To apply effectively to a new sales manager position, you need to read the job description for resume keywords: the specific skills and requirements for the job. Keywords are critical in getting past applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers use to scan resumes. Match keywords with your own abilities and feature them in your resume.
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