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by NASP Team
What is a bigger challenge: hiring a pro salesperson or writing an appealing CV for the position? That is the question that starts arguments between HR managers and salespeople.
Instead of taking sides, we offer you a chance to take a walk in your opponent’s shoes. If you’re a salesperson who’s struggling with composing a CV, become your own HR manager!
This overview unveils why writing a great sales resume is similar to sales itself and how your professional knowledge will help you on this path.
PS: It’s worth reading even if you’ve only just started your career.
You can find multiple variations of CVs on the net. But what should you include in your resume to ensure you are invited to a job interview?
There are two major components in any of the sales resume examples you will ever come across: content and formatting.
The first one depicts who you are; the second one – is your ability to comply with official requirements. In other words, it’s an adequacy test.
We’re going to start with what to write in your resume for a salesperson. And don’t worry if you’re an aspiring sales star – there are hacks for you, too!
Salespeople know how to sell anything – or at least, they think they do.
For inexperienced but ambitious people, here’s some advice: handle resume writing in the same way you’d handle a deal. Imagine describing a product.
We usually highlight its strong points and benefits for the buyer, right? So, try to transfer the same approach to your sales job resume.
For instance, your babysitting duties with your younger brother have taught you time management and responsibility.
Also, here’s a small writing tip to show your motivation and leadership qualities. When composing your sales position resume, use active verbs more than passive ones.
Are you a sales expert struggling with reflecting it in your CV? If so, don’t worry: you can either follow our guide to create a powerful self-introduction or download a pre-prepared sales resume template.
Just include the following information:
The best CVs feature statistics, which can be easily checked and take up less space than a lengthy description.
If you are a veteran of the sales industry, you are probably used to proving yourself through results, but writing a complimentary cover letter may feel confusing.
Try a sales summary resume. This is where you highlight your level of expertise, detailing your skills and how they will be beneficial for your future boss.
Compose 2-3 sentences or bullet points. Place them above the main text in your resume for the salesperson.
People tend to remember short and clearly formulated phrases, so don’t neglect this tip. Besides, it saves the HR manager’s time.
The best sales resume examples show that a bit of boasting produces better results.
Don’t forget to provide channels for connecting with you. This is an important section of a salesman job resume, so make it neatly laid out and noticeable.
The information typically included in this section includes your:
Sometimes links to social media accounts are required. Make sure your account looks acceptable. Imagine a resume for a salesperson stating they have strong communication skills.
If their recent social posts are very much like “I’d rather live in the woods than work,” that’ll be an unwelcome flag for the HR manager.
You may wonder, ‘Who wants to know about my hobbies if I apply for the job?’
Actually, some HR managers will pay attention to that part of your sales job resume.
The corporate culture of some companies involves team-building activities. Often that means arranging hangouts outside of work hours.
In that case, your potential boss will be delighted to discover that you fit into the company philosophy. Fancy playing badminton or football? Join the team!
We’re done with what to write, so now let’s move on to how to write it. It’s less complicated than content but has its special requirements, too.
Though ready-made sales resume examples make life easier, check out the following recommendations.
Take a moment and appreciate the HR workload: they receive dozens of resumes daily and complete a lot of other paperwork. So, make your sales CV easy to read:
Decide how you want to tell your story. Choose a type that will put you in a better light.
Inversion type:
Functional type:
Hybrid type:
Check up on the application requirements. These will help you to figure out if you need a cover letter, references from a previous employer, or any special kind of resume – for instance, a video sales CV.
Adapt your offer for every new job.
‘But it’s still the sales I’m applying for! Why bother changing anything? As a salesperson, you know the power of personalized offers, so why not use them to your advantage?
Put the skills they’re looking for in your sales job resume to grasp their attention.
How? When you read the job description, determine the pain points of your potential employer.
So, let’s sum up how to write a CV that might become a ticket to a job interview. In short, put yourself in the HR manager’s place.
Reread job descriptions several times and determine the pain points of that position. This will make it easier for you to compose a perfectly matching CV.
Don’t forget to be precise: Good sales resume examples always contain numbers and the results you have achieved.
And on top of that, show your adequacy, but at the same time, your ability to think outside the box.
After all, that’s what salespeople do most of the time.
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