How to Write a Resume for a Sales Position
Hiring managers and human resources representatives look for very specific information when hiring a sales person. You may choose to write your résumé in the traditional chronological style, listing each employer in order and detailing the functions that you performed there.This style is still widely used, but head hunters and professional résumé writers often feel that it's best to focus your sales résumé on your skills and achievements rather than on your work history.
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Instructions
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Provide valid, clear contact information. Make sure that the reader can easily reach you for questions. Print your name, address, phone number(s) and email address at the top of each page.
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Enter a goal statement that specifically references your personal skills, experience and career goals. Do not say "I am looking for a sales job that allows me to use my skills and experience to grow business for the company." This is too general. A specific goal statement would be: "My goal as a sales professional is to leverage 10-plus years of relationship-building experience to develop long-term, profitable partnerships with new customers." This tells the reader who you are (salesperson), what kind of sales you like to pursue (new business) and a bit about your sales style (relationship-builder). Goal statements should be no more than three lines of type long.
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List your accomplishments. Use a heading such as "Accomplishments." Do not list mere functions. Virtually all sales people talk to clients so "interact with clients" does not tell the reader anything important. Instead, tell the reader something specific you accomplished with one client, such as "salvaged struggling relationship with major client and increased their annual volume by 15 percent." Make sure that each accomplishment shows a clear benefit to the employer.
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List your places of employment. Use a heading such as "Career History." List each employer, the city and state in which its headquarters are located and the years during which you worked for it. If you worked from a home-based office, note that information as well. Include volunteer work if it is applicable.
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List your major clients under "Major Clients," but only if this information will tell your potential employer something important. If you handled Fortune 500 clients or clients that are especially significant in your industry, list them. This step does not apply to business-to-consumer sales positions. Do not include any contact information for clients.
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List any awards or recognition you have won under "Honors." List the award, the issuing authority and the year in which it was awarded. If you received the same honor in more than one year, list it once along with the years won. If you won an award for several months in a calendar year, list the honor once, then state the number of times you were acknowledged. For example, state "Employee of the Month, Sales-R-Us, four months of 2008." Unless the award is particularly impressive (such as a Nobel Prize or a Medal of Honor) list only honors received in the last 10 years. Do not limit this information to work-related honors. If you won your community's Volunteer of the Year award, include it.
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List your educational background under "Education." Do not include high school if you have a college degree. List the institution, the title of your degree (e.g., AA, BS or PhD,) your concentration (e.g., political science, business management, etc.) and the year you graduated. If your minor is important, include it. For example, you may wish to list a minor in biology if you are applying for a pharmaceutical sales role.
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Tips & Warnings
Use numbers wherever possible. Do not say "significantly increased regional sales." Instead, say "increased regional sales by 22 percent in six months." Be prepared to back up numbers with proof.
Do not include references on your résumé unless specifically requested. You need not state that references are available; this is assumed.
Do not include any information that violates a confidentiality agreement or non-compete if one is in place. When in doubt, consult your attorney.
Stay to one page per 10 years of experience. Feel free to adjust your margins, but keep the font readable (at least 10-point).
Carefully consider whether you want to list awards that reveal personal information such as your marital status or religious beliefs.
References
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