FeedBuild a Great Sales Resume - tips and sample
Jan 19, 2010
Your resume is your door opener. A well-written resume can get you in the door. A poorly written resume can leave you at the curb.
To view a sample of a well-written resume, please click here. Below are some additional tips that can help you.
Build a Great Sales Resume:
Since you are looking for a great sales role, it is critical that your resume highlight your key achievements as they pertain to your sales career. Some of the key metrics you should add (where applicable of course) for each sales role include:
- Quota and performance against quota for all roles
- Vertical Industries called on (i.e. public sector, financial, health care, residential, manufacturing, etc...)Type of accounts called on (Small or Medium Businesses, Fortune 500, Tier I, II, III, etc...)
- Products/Solutions sold
- % of sales as hunter (New Business Development role) versus farmer (Account Management role)
- Experience leveraging channel partners and resellers (through distributor or direct to end users)
- Average sale size, average sale cycle, transactional vs. consultative, etc.
- Level called on within accounts (CIO, CEO, COO, procurement, warehouse, store managers, etc..)
- Territory (geographic? major accounts? channel partners?, West, North, postal code)
- % of Prospecting - cold calling, research for new companies vs Leads, lists provided, referrals presented, etc...
Other things to consider including in your resume:
1. For each company that you have worked at, provide a brief description of what that company does/sells and an understanding of their size (i.e. personnel, # of offices and revenues). Be sure to include accurate dates and ensure there are no gaps. If you were unemployed that is okay, just fill in the blanks ie from Oct 01 to Jan 02 took Mat Leave or travelled or ...
2. Include: Your title, who you reported to (VP, Sales) and what you sold (print & online advertising solutions) and to whom you sold it (company GM's, marketing executives).
3. Key metrics to highlight:
- Total number of accounts opened annually
- Year-over-year account revenue growth (grew portfolio base 20% in '06, 15% in '05, etc.
- Average quota attainment (i.e. 2004 - 105%, 2005 - 115%, 2006 - 125%, etc. )
- Renewal rates
4. Key Accomplishments:
- Closed largest order ever in history for the company
- Opened the most new accounts annually/monthly for the company
- Re-engaged closed accounts
5. Highlight Key Awards/Trips:
- Year and Name of Award (i.e. 2006 - Top Sales Person)
- 2004 & 2005 - Won company sales trip to St.Lucia & Mexico
- Presidents Club in year 1 and 2, etc...
6. List any/all relevant sales training courses and/or team leadership of school projects or events, etc..
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Be consistent. Dot your i's and cross your t's. Ensure your punctuation is complete and your grammar is correct throughout your resume. If you are describing your responsibilities on past roles, ensure your words are past tense. Use consistency and action words ie Managed, Produced, Provided, Supported, Collaborated, etc. Be sure to spell check, not all words are spotted, ie you vs your etc.
I hope this helps get the juices flowing to revise your resume. I guarantee you will have more interviews in the future, if you keep your resume up to date with all pertinent points as above.
Category: general