Write a Sales Representative Resume Using These Examples

Looking into getting a sales representative job? Show off your abilities with a perfect sales representative resume with our expert examples and advice.

OUR USERS HAVE BEEN HIRED BY

OUR USERS HAVE BEEN HIRED BY

Table of Contents

  1. Sales Representative Resume Example
  2. How to Write a Sales Representative Resume
  3. What to Highlight in a Sales Representative Resume
  4. The Structure of a Sales Rep Resume
  5. Do’s and Don’ts for a Sales Representative Resume
  6. FAQ: Sales Representative Resume Example

Sales Representative Resume Example

Sales Representative Resume Example RH 1 min min
Sales Representative Resume Examples
Sales Representative Resume Examples
Sales Representative Resume Examples

How to Write a Sales Representative Resume

Sales representatives are the lifeblood of any business. Businesses rely on sales reps’ knowledge of company products to meet sales goals, source potential customers, take care of customer needs and follow up with after-sales service. Sales professionals use their product knowledge to help businesses achieve their sales targets. As such, sales positions require a variety of skills. 

Highlight that you have the essential sales skills that hiring managers are looking for in a sales representative job.

Make sure to have the best resume possible with help from our sales representative resume example.

Build My Resume

What to Highlight in a Sales Representative Resume

A professional resume should show that you are suitable for the role. For a salesperson, that means demonstrating you have the sales skills necessary to persuade customers to buy from you. It also means sharing evidence through things like conversion rates in previous sales experience and knowledge of sales strategies.
 
The perfect resume will highlight that you will be an asset to the business and that you can attract prospective customers while fulfilling the requirements of account management.

The Structure of a Sales Rep Resume

There are three different resume formats for you to choose from. These are the chronological format, which emphasizes work history, the functional format, which emphasizes skills, and the combination format, which emphasizes both. You’ll use the same sections for each format. All that changes is the order. It’s up to you which resume format to choose. If you think your experience is a strength, go with the chronological format. If you don’t have much experience, go with a functional format to put your skillset front and center.
 
Contact information
 
The resume header with your contact information always appears first. Your full name with links to your LinkedIn profile and any other relevant professional links, as well as your phone number and address should be here. This makes it convenient for the hiring manager to contact you.
 
Resume summary or objective
 
Your resume objective or resume summary is like a newspaper tagline briefly highlighting your career background. This section should be clear and concise and no longer than three sentences. Outline your experience and highlight any specialties that you have, such as experience at trade shows. Here are some helpful tips to help you write the perfect resume summary.
 
Skills
 

In the skills section, you have an opportunity to highlight the hard and soft skills you possess that will help in your future role. Sales team members perform various tasks, and you must use this section to show you have the skills necessary to complete them. In these bullet points are some examples of sales skills that a recruiter will be looking for:

  • Communication skills — verbal and presentation style
  • Knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, like Salesforce
  • Time management
  • Interpersonal skills — the ability to network and build relationships
  • Problem-solving — using data to find solutions
  • Microsoft Office proficiency, including Excel
  • Prospecting — using sales strategies to identify potential clients

These are some of the crucial skills you’ll need to show you have an awareness of what the role entails. Any hiring sales manager wants to see that you can perform the role’s duties. This should go beyond some experience with cold calling. They need to believe that you can genuinely expand their customer base and keep existing customers satisfied.

 
Work history
 
In the experience section, list your previous roles in reverse chronological order. Your years of experience should feature your responsibilities within each role. Focus on any overlap between your expertise and the demands of the position you are applying for. If you have industry-specific experience, focus more on those roles to show you already possess industry expertise. If you are an entry-level candidate, feature previous roles that showcase transferable skills. Help the recruiter see your potential by drawing a line between your experience and the advertised role. Senior sales managers are not averse to hiring a candidate with a lack of experience if they can see potential and ambition.
 
Education
 
A sales representative will need at least a high school diploma to apply for a role. It is increasingly common for sales reps to have a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field. If you are applying for an in-demand industry-specific position, the education section of your resume should show you have the necessary training. For instance, if you would be selling products or services in the medical or pharmaceutical industries. Include any relevant certifications in this section.


Do’s and Don’ts for a Sales Representative Resume

Any sales representative resume sample should follow these basic do’s and don’ts:
 

Do:

  • Take the time to review and edit. All hiring managers look for candidates who produce quality work. Messy, error-strewn resumes simply get dismissed.
  • Use the job description provided. You did a job search for a reason. Sales representative roles vary based on industry and the tasks you will be responsible for. Take the time to pinpoint exactly what is being asked of you and address this in your resume.
  • Use the expert advice in the resume builder from ResumeHelp. It’s there to help you.

Don’t

  • Falsify any claims about experience or industry knowledge. Sales recruiters know when there is a lack of substance to somebody’s claims, and it will only damage your application to overpromise.
  • Overfill your experience section with roles that don’t apply to the job you want. Many candidates make this mistake. Concentrate on positions that reflect the job you are applying for. If the recruiter wants to know more, they can ask in the interview.
  • Don’t make general claims on your resume without supporting them with examples, scenarios or data.


FAQ: Sales Representative Resume Example

Q: What should a cover letter include?

Always write a cover letter. It backs up the assertions you implied in your resume and offers the opportunity for further explanation of your best skills and achievements. It also shows a personal touch. A good cover letter should include keywords and phrases in the job description weaved through a structure that includes a concise opening and summary between body paragraphs. Learn more about writing cover letters from ResumeHelp.

Q: How do I write a good sales resume summary?

Keep it clear and concise. Don’t get too convoluted. If there are intricacies, explore them in the resume main sections and the cover letter. Keep it to the headlines, but use the resume summary to highlight a specialty if it relates to the advertised role.

Q: How do I change my resume for different sales rep jobs?

Updating your resume for each job application based on keywords is a useful move. This will help your resume get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) that hiring managers use to screen resumes. Read the helpful guide on writing a targeted resume.

ResumeHelp grey rectangle conversation bubble logo.

Move your resume to the top of the yes pile!

Build My Resume

We personalize your experience.

We use cookies in our website to ensure we give you the best experience, get to know our users and deliver better marketing. For this purpose, we may share the information collected with third parties. By clicking “Allow cookies” you give us your consent to use all cookies. If you prefer to manage your cookies click on the “Manage cookies” link below.

Manage Cookies