Sales Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

Are you trying to apply for a job as a sales representative but you’re having a hard time writing your own resume?

You’re not the only one! In fact, a lot of people have a hard time landing interviews because they don’t know what to include in a resume; and that’s where this guide comes in handy!

Today, we will assist you while drafting your resume by providing you with 5 different sales resume examples to give you inspiration. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!

Sales Resume Examples

The correct type of outline for your resume can vary depending on your experience level.

In this section, each sales resume sample will focus on a particular aspect along with reasons why these resumes work in respective situations.

Entry-Level Sales Resume Example

If you have little sales experience (between 1 to 3 years), you can apply for entry-level jobs.

These jobs usually have high competition, so you have to focus on your skills and sales-related experience to stand out.

Junior Sales Representative (September 2022 – Ongoing)

• Researched and learned about the company’s range of products thoroughly and updated my knowledge periodically when new items are released.
• Performed calls, visits, and sales presentations to generate leads, drive sales, and win new clients through the promotion of the company’s products and services.
• Responded to client inquiries whether on the phone or in person, and provided quality service to associates and business partners.
• Met and exceeded sales goals on performance reviews and was consistently awarded for performance and diligence on the job.
• Prepared weekly and monthly sales reports, and presented them to senior sales representatives and the account manager.

Sales Representative Intern (June 2021 – August 2022)

• Worked closely with staff members under the sales manager to complete all assigned tasks
• Conducted market research and gathered valuable information by surveying employees and clients.
• Observed multiple sales pitches and carried out sale processes under the supervision of assigned staff members and the sales manager.
• Handled the schedule for sales calls through communication with clients and attended most of them to widen my experience in sales.
• Attended and participated in business meetings, exhibitions, events, and workshops, and was commended by staff members for active participation.

Project Experience

• Prepared a simple list of special discounts and commonly sold products to make it easier for co-workers to memorize them
• Contributed to a grand project to update response scripts targeting complaint resolution, which helped in improving customer satisfaction and facilitated the entire process by 30%

Skills

• Customer service
• Product knowledge
• Persuasion
• Interpersonal skills and building rapport with clients
• Eager to learn

Education

• High School Diploma, Denver South High School, Colorado

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)
• Commended by superiors during my internship
• Successful track record of achieving sales target

Why This Resume Works

This resume sample works for an entry-level sales rep because it demonstrates all the necessary qualifications to provide excellent performance on the job.

For starters, the resume includes a successful internship period where the applicant gathered remarkable knowledge of the sales industry and managed to impress the sales manager by going the extra mile.

We can see a good example of this in the project experience section. The applicant contributed to a large project that aimed to improve workflow and even helped other employees by listing the most popular products and discounts for easy memorization.

Additionally, the applicant’s skills align with the sales career objective and imply that the candidate still has a huge potential for becoming a top sales talent, which is something sales managers always look for in new prospects.

The applicant also holds a certificate in sales, which is a great asset for an entry-level employee and makes up for the lack of professional experience.

Sales Associate Resume Example

As a sales representative or associate, your experience, skills, and qualifications should allow you to increase company sales and boost customer satisfaction by providing a streamlined buying experience.

A good sales resume template here will be aligned with the core sales role in business development in addition to the necessary skills to fulfill these aspects.

Sales Associate (March 2021 – Ongoing)

• Greeted customers upon arrival and engaged with them by responding to their inquiries, recommending items, and providing excellent customer support.
• Drove sales through engagement with clients and offering helpful knowledge with suggestive selling of multiple products.
• Directed customers to the payment sections to complete transactions while occasionally assisting with the process to relieve the workload
• Maintained the sales floor’s appearance by organizing the products in an orderly appearance and ensuring the consistency of the merchandise.
• Informed the clients and customers about promotions and sales opportunities to improve sales.

Sales Assistant and Cashier (July 2019 – February 2021)

• Operated the day shift in a small fishing and diving supplies store.
• Greeted customers as they came in and offered assistance to help them buy the store’s products and merchandise.
• Maintained positive rapport with customers to improve their shopping experience and determine their needs and fitting solutions.
• Relied on my upselling skills to recommend store merchandise, which helped me to consistently exceed my sales target by 5% to 10%.
• Processed clients’ transactions and handled the POS system for sales, exchanges, returns, and card payments.

Project Experience

• Coordinated with management to introduce a wider variety of payment methods, including mobile banking apps and cryptocurrency.
• Drafted questionnaires and conducted quick client surveys to measure the extent of customer satisfaction with the products offered to determine the highest-rated ones for future recommendations.

Skills

• Upselling merchandise
• Handling POS systems
• Time management
• Communication
• Analyzing and solving problems

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, University of Illinois

Licenses & Accreditations

• The top performer of the sales department in 2021
• Certified Sales Associate (CSA)

Why This Resume Works

This resume is a good example of how a sales associate’s resume works because it displays relevant work experience that aligns with job requirements.

Additionally, the applicant also contributed to several projects that showcase their ability to increase company revenue through their skills.

The accreditation section also shows some of the applicant’s top achievements, which adds a lot of value to their bid for the job.

You can also notice the applicant’s understanding of the role by only mentioning relevant aspects and transferable skills from their older job as a cashier, such as upselling and developing influential relationships with customers.

Sales Resume Example With No Experience

If you have no experience in sales, you can still apply for a sales job as long as you target the relevant work experience and transferable skills from your other jobs.

The following resume sample is a great example of a zero-experience sales cv that can still attract hiring managers and recruiters.

Secretary (October 2021 – Ongoing)

• Greeted clients, answered calls, and handled correspondence between clients and employees of different departments.
• Prepared meeting rooms for business reviews and important scheduled meetings while attending them to ensure that the meeting goes smoothly.
• Coordinated with the sales team by receiving sales reports to compile them into grand reports for easier presentation.
• Maintained the sales office by purchasing necessary office supplies and maintaining adequate stock levels of all the necessary items.
• Liaised with multiple facility management vendors, including catering, security, and cleaning services.

Server (April 2020 – September 2021)

• Greeted customers and accompanied them to their dining tables, then handed out food and beverage menus.
• Listened to customers’ preferences and provided them with information about specials while occasionally giving them suggestions to increase order size
• Delivered meals and beverages to customers while occasionally checking on them to ensure that they were satisfied with service and quality.
• Tended to clients’ requirements during their stay and helped them with new orders and other requests.
• Prepared the bills for customers and occasionally assisted with payment processing during rush hours.
• Maintained the order and cleanliness of the dining area and prepared the tables for new customers periodically.

Project Experience

• Suggested new menu items to the restaurant management as per customers’ feedback and occasionally used my upselling skills to recommend these items, improving sales by 5%

Skills

• Excellent customer service
• Enthusiasm
• Active listening and engagement
• Cross-selling and upselling
• Time management

Education

• Associate degree in Marketing and Sales from Mesa Community College (2021)
• High school diploma from Greenfield High School (2019)

Licenses & Accreditations

• ServSafe Food Handler Certification
• Awarded employee of the month on multiple occasions in 2020

Why This Resume Works

Although this resume doesn’t contain actual sales experience, it still qualifies as a great layout of how a zero-experience sales resume should be.

As you can see, the applicant already holds a degree in sales from college, which makes up for the lack of hands-on sales training.

Also, despite working as a secretary and server, the applicant focused on the soft skills that these jobs have in common with sales.

This includes cooperation with other team members, working in close proximity to sales teams, and promoting specials and discounts while working in a restaurant.

Additionally, skills like time management, enthusiasm, and active listening are all essential skills for a successful sales rep.

Experienced Sales Resume Example

It usually takes an entry-level anywhere between 5 to 8 years to qualify as an experienced sales representative.

In this type of resume, you should focus more on showcasing your achievements and how you helped the company achieve its business targets while also optimizing your resume to include the most relevant skills and qualifications.

Senior Sales Representative (June 2021 – Ongoing)

• Spearheaded and mentored a team of 6 junior sales representatives to achieve the company’s sales target throughout the district, improving the company’s market growth in the region by 4% in 3 months.
• Established and sustained strong relationships with key accounts and high-profile clients to drive sales and generate further leads through connections networks, increasing overall sales by 2%.
• Supervised junior sales representative sales calls and visits to ensure their sales skills, provide feedback and approach training, and ensure clients’ satisfaction and operational standards.
• Prepared the sales report of the team and presented it to the sales department manager.
• Assisted in the implementation of marketing programs, which resulted in significant revenue growth of 5% compared to Q1 and Q2 2021.

Sales Representative (April 2019 – June 2021)

• Performed daily visits and sales presentations to current and potential clients to promote the company’s products and services in order to drive sales and increase company revenue.
• Researched the company’s services and products as well as the advantages of each package to improve my client targeting strategies.
• Stayed in contact with clients for after-sale inquiries and provided quality support to associates and business partners.
• Consistently met the company’s sales review expectations and was awarded the top performer on multiple occasions.
• Prepared for meetings to showcase my sales and present them to my seniors for feedback and support.

Project Experience

• Collaborated with co-workers and the human resources department to create a new format for drafting and reporting sales, which improved workflow and efficiency by 30%.

Skills

• Leadership
• Attention to detail
• Public speaking
• Consistency
• Multitasking

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston (2018)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Consistently found on the top 5 list of top achievers in the sales department since 2019
• Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)

Why This Resume Works

This experienced sales rep resume works because it puts a major emphasis on numbers and actual achievements that you can tie back to the applicants’ skills.

These achievements make the applicant a strong candidate for a managerial role, especially when leadership skills and taking initiatives are evident in his project experience section.

Director of Sales Resume Example

The director of sales position requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in sales for application.

For that reason, a good example of this type of resume should focus on showcasing the applicant’s stand-out performance and achievements throughout the years.

Director of Sales (January 2019 – Ongoing)

• Generated new business leads and increased the company’s revenue within existing and new accounts by an average of 10% annually.
• Created successful marketing and sales strategies to cross-sell the company’s product and service packages, leading to an $850,000 increase in annual revenue from existing customers alone.
• Closely monitored the performance of the sales department to oversee the implementation of the company’s plans and strategies and ensure high-quality customer service.
• Interviewed and hired multiple high-performing talents that helped in the overall growth of the company’s revenue.
• Attended weekly and monthly meetings with other department heads to assess the company’s performance.

Regional Sales Manager (February 2015 – December 2018)

• Led 4 sales teams to promote its products and services, which helped in increasing the annual company revenue by 15%.
• Implemented the sales strategies and targets created by the board of directors and communicated them to the team leaders and other key individuals.
• Ensured that all teams abide by the company’s regulations
• Communicated with senior sales representatives and team supervisors to determine their leads.
• Processed the sales reports from sales teams and submitted them to senior management.

Project Experience

• Established and maintained a sales internship program to train new employees and prospects to recruit top talents, reducing hiring costs by up to 25%.

Skills

• Leadership
• Team motivation
• Organization
• Negotiation and persuasion
• Working under pressure

Education

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. (2018)
• Bachelor in Business from the University of Findlay (2013)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Sales Professional (CSP)
• Certified Management Executive (CME)

Why This Resume Works

This resume is an excellent example of how a successful director of sales resume should be. It strikes an excellent balance between high qualifications and a proven record of achievements and high performance.

For instance, when it comes to claims about growth, the resume always uses figures and statistics to back up these claims. The resume also shows that the applicant is capable of turning insights into actionable results.

Besides professional experience, the applicant also holds a master’s degree in business administration along with certifications of the highest order, so they’re perfectly capable of handling a sales executive position.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include on a Sales Resume

When companies announce a job opening in the sales department, they receive tons of resumes from all kinds of applicants.

To facilitate the screening process, hiring managers usually run these resumes through applicant tracking systems to pick the most attractive ones.

One of the methods this software works is by looking for certain skills and action verbs necessary for the role.

In other words, incorporating these buzzwords naturally in your resume is a great way to increase your chances of getting the job you want. Let’s check some of them out.

Common Skills for Sales Resume

• Product knowledge
• Active Listening

• Customer service
• Gathering leads
• Public speaking
• Eager to learn
• Ability to multitask
• Enthusiasm
• Attention to detail
• Taking initiatives

• Interpersonal skills
• Negotiation
• Consistency
• Persuasion
• Working under stress
• Communication
• Motivation

Common Action Verbs for Sales Resumes

• Advised
• Improved
• Assisted
• Conducted
• Greeted
• Reported
• Approached
• Developed
• Enhanced
• Increased
• Built
• Drove
• Persuaded
• Directed
• Led
• Completed
• Collaborated
• Expanded
• Converted
• Grew

Tips for Writing a Better Sales Resume

There are some essential resume do’s and dont’s that you need to keep in mind if you want your resume to stand out.

Keeping these tips in mind while resume writing increases your chances of landing an interview for a sales job. Let’s check some of them out:

1. Keep Your Resume Skimmable

Your resume is your first sales pitch to the hiring manager. And like sales pitches, your resume has to be short and concise.

Filling up your resume with a wall of text makes it hard to read and easier to “pass”. Instead, take your time to make your resume more straightforward.

In fact, you can bold the most important words in order to highlight the most important aspects of your resume, which keeps it memorable and increases your chances of landing an interview.

2. Backup Your Claims with Statistics and Numbers

As you have noticed from the examples above, using statistical figures and numbers while discussing your career experience is characteristic of highly experienced professional roles.

That’s why we highly recommend that you incorporate statistical figures in your resume to improve your chances of landing an interview.

However, if you’re going to mention any numbers and growth figures in your resume, always stay honest about them and back them up with real evidence on the references page.

3. Showcase Progress in Your Career

One of the most important aspects of a promising salesperson is their ambition and drive to self-improve.

Showing these traits in your resume is critical for many hiring managers, especially if you’re applying for a lucrative role.

Among the best ways to reflect your ambition while writing a resume is to show your career progress and avoid career gaps unless you have a good explanation for it.

4. Use a Resume Writer for Improved Speed and Customization

Even if you know what you want to write, drafting and designing a resume from scratch can be a tough challenge for a lot of people.

Luckily, you can choose a resume writing service or website to help you figure out the ideal layout for your resume, depending on how you want it to look as a final product.

In addition to resume layout, resume builders offer plenty of resume designs that you can implement immediately.

This allows you to visualize your input data in a variety of designs and pick the one that best suits your personality. (you should still avoid making them too flashy)

5. Optimize Your Resume to the Sales Position You’re Applying for

Another benefit of using resume builders is that you can adjust certain aspects of your resume in a fraction of the time.

You can use this to your advantage by optimizing your resume periodically so that it’s highly optimized for the sales job you’re applying for.

6. Attach a Cover Letter

The cover letter provides recruiters with more in-depth detail about your skills and values, and how they align with the responsibilities of the role you’re applying for.

It is also a more flexible space where you can demonstrate your suitability for the role by showcasing the skills and experiences you didn’t mention in the resume (without being too irrelevant).

7. Check Your Resume Before Submitting

Once you’re finished drafting your resume, you shouldn’t rush immediately to submit it.

This is because having typos and errors on resumes are considered deal-breakers that could be a reason why a perfectly good candidate is screened out.

Proofreading your resume after writing it can help you avoid this hurdle and you can use plenty of free online tools for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Resume Types to Reference

The sales department is a dynamic part of most workplaces. This critical role allows it to be deeply interconnected with other departments with similar experiences and skills.

In other words, while drafting your sales professional resume, you can seek inspiration from similar jobs in the customer service and sales industry.

This is because they share a lot of elements and use the same tone while addressing professional experience and skill. Here are some of the best places to look for inspiration.

• Customer Service Resume: Providing good customer support is critical for completing a sale. For that reason, a customer service resume can be a great resume template if your job involves direct contact with clients.
• Sales Associate Resume: While being a sales associate can take a lot of forms (in-person, online, on-phone, etc), they all share common characteristics and essential skills that you can implement in your resume summary.
• Project Manager Resume: If you’re writing a sales resume with a task-based background, you may find a lot of helpful elements in a project manager resume sample.

Wrap Up

This marks the end of today’s guide that shows you how to write a professional resume in the sales department at different experience levels.

As you can see, optimizing your resume is all about listing relevant information and showcasing you’ve got the skills and work experience to reach sales goals.

Like always, don’t forget to share this guide if you liked it, and leave us any comments or inquiries you have in the comments down below!