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Sales Representative Resume Examples
Related resume examples
Choose the right resume format for your sales representative resume
How to write a sales representative resume in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for your sales representative resume
Commonly asked question about resume writing

There is an adage in sales that says, “If you don’t believe in what you’re selling, neither will your prospect.” The same holds true in the job search — if your sales representative resume doesn’t clearly convey that you’re perfect for the role, you’ll never get the chance to convince a hiring manager.

To learn how to write a sales representative resume that sells you as an expert sales professional, study our sales representative sample resumes. Written by professional resume writers, they show you how to showcase the marketing prowess, product knowledge and people skills that make you great at your job.

With the help of some easy-to-follow instructions on how to write a resume, tips on which sales representative skills to use and sample sales representative resumes for reference, the task of writing a standout resume can be much simpler than you think. Here, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know to write an impressive sales representative resume in a matter of minutes.

Keep reading to learn more about:

Sales representative resume examples for applicants with and without experience.
Tips and tricks for writing your resume, including how to study a sales representative job description for resume keywords.
What to include in every section of your sales representative resume.
How to choose the right resume template and format for the role.

Ready to write your sales representative resume now? Use our professional AI Resume Builder for step-by-step help writing every section.

Sales Representative Resume Examples

Entry-level sales representative resume example

Resume entry level example sales representative

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What makes this a great sales representative resume sample?

Utilizes the right resume format.
Since this applicant is applying for an entry-level sales role, she has chosen a functional resume format to highlight her education and impressive skill set over her somewhat limited work experience.
Professional resume template.
This resume uses a straightforward template with a pip of color to add personality. The versatility of this resume template makes it appropriate for use in different company types.
Uses data and metrics to show impact.
This sales resume sample uses eye-catching numbers to show employers not only skills but also how using those skills has impacted the bottom line for past employers.

Experienced sales representative resume example

Resume experienced example sales representative

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What makes this a great sales representative resume sample?

Utilizes a chronological resume format.
Since this candidate is a highly experienced sales person with more than a decade of experience under his belt, he chose a resume format that highlights his impressive work experience and strong career progression.
Uses special sections.
The applicant highlights his certifications and special training through the use of a special section. While these could be nestled into the education section, communicating them this way makes them stand out.
Abundance of action verbs.
Since recruiters sometimes read dozens of resumes in a single day, it’s critical that your content is engaging. Here, the applicant makes great use of language, using action words like “generate” and “interacted” to describe his work experience rather than simply creating a list of job duties.

Choose the right resume format for your sales representative resume

To land the sales representative job you want, you need to get the right information in front of a recruiter. How do you accomplish that? By selecting the right resume format.

Here’s how to decide which one is right for your sales representative resume:

Applicants with no related experience should consider using a functional resume format which puts transferable skills front and center.
Midlevel applicants with a few years of related experience should consider using a combination resume format, which is ideal for showing employers both your skills and work experience.
Experienced applicants who have five or more years of relevant experience should consider a chronological resume format to highlight work experience and a strong career progression.

Visit our guide to learn more about how to format a resume for more information on how to best showcase your skills, training and experience.

Select an appropriate sales representative resume template

Create your resume

While every sales representative resume template will have the same basic sections — a professional summary or resume objective, skills, work history and education — you can customize the look and feel of your resume by selecting the right template.

Since sales representatives are hired in all kinds of fields — from car sales to clothing sales — choose your template based on the culture of the employer. For sales jobs in a creative industry — like advertising — choosing a creative resume template with some flair might be appropriate. However, for sales representative roles in more conservative fields, like insurance, consider one of our more understated modern resume templates or simple resume templates.

How to write a sales representative resume in 5 simple steps

While there are some basic rules for writing a great resume, top candidates for competitive sales representative jobs know that the key to getting noticed is to write a resume that is specific to the industry and the role they seek. Here we outline five steps to writing a customized resume that will get you noticed.

Step 1

Study the sales representative job description

The most effective sales representative resumes are customized to include keywords that show employers that you have the skills and experience it takes to perform the role.

To understand why customization is important, consider this: Many employers run resumes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen out unqualified candidates based on preset keywords. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, you’ll be eliminated before a human ever sees your resume. To make your resume ATS-friendly, you’ll need to customize it to the job description. That’s why if you’re able to successfully incorporate the right keywords, you’ll improve your chances of landing a job interview.

But how do you know which keywords to use? Study the sales representative job description.

While every role will be a little bit different, a good job ad should tell you everything you need to know about which keywords to add to your sales representative resume. The key to success is to study the job description and make a list of critical keywords.

For example, if the job description for the sales representative role you seek asks for a solid sales record, customer service experience, plus point-of-sale (POS) and communication skills, you’ll want to be sure to use those exact words in your sales representative resume. Look for opportunities in your professional summary, skills section and work experience section to add the keywords you’ve identified. Then, go through your resume and make sure what you wrote matches the wording in the job description so that the ATS recognizes it.

It may sound like a lot, but once you get used to the process, it should only take you a few minutes to do and will get your sales representative resume better results than if you don’t tailor it.

Step 2

Write a professional summary or resume objective

Depending on your level of experience, your sales representative resume should include either a professional summary or a resume objective to start. Think of this section as your resume profile, where you provide potential employers with a summary of your most relevant skills and experience and some professional highlights.

Candidates with less experience should choose a resume objective, which states your transferable skills and your career goals. Applicants with more direct experience in a sales role should use a professional summary, which outlines your skills and experience and highlights some of your most notable professional accomplishments.

Here are some strong examples for your sales representative resume:

Sales representative professional summary example:

Sales representative with six years of proven experience in driving revenue growth on high-performing sales teams. Skilled in building and maintaining strong client relationships and adept at executing strategic sales plans that consistently exceed targets. Achieved a 30% increase in annual sales over the past three years. Exceptional communication skills and a track record of developing positive relationships with clients.

Sales representative objective example:

Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration seeks to utilize academic foundation in an entry-level sales representative role. Strong data analyzation skills and ability to turn effective sales strategies into revenue. Strong verbal and written communication skills, an enthusiasm for collaboration and a knack for building relationships. Eager to apply fresh insights and knowledge to execute sales strategies and foster lasting client relationships.

Step 3

Highlight your most relevant sales representative skills

Regardless of your experience level, hiring representatives will be looking closely at the sales representative skills you list. Skills for a sales representative resume should be added to your resume skills section and peppered into your professional summary (or resume objective) and your work experience section.

It’s critical that you provide employers with a solid mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the measurable skills needed to perform a job, like data analysis. These skills are easily taught in a classroom. Soft skills, like communication, are behaviors and personality traits, which make them difficult to measure. Below, we provide a side-by-side list of hard and soft skills to help you see the difference between the two.

Hard and soft skills for a sales representative resume

Hard Skills

Analytics
Revenue growth
Strong math skills
CRM software
Sales planning
Data analysis

Soft Skills

Written and verbal communication
Time management
Relationship-building
Attention to detail
Empathy
Deadline-driven

Here is an example of a strong sales representative skills section:

Proficient in customer relationship management software, including Salesforce
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to foster strong customer relationships
High attention to detail

Pro tip

When writing your skills section, adding computer skills and other technical abilities are great. However, soft skills count, too. Try to find a mix of hard and soft skills to show that you are a well balanced applicant.

Step 4

Write a strong sales representative work experience section

While the required background and experience will be different for each role, the key to getting noticed is writing a work experience section that demonstrates what you will bring to the table.

The most effective way to highlight your previous achievements is by detailing your work experience on your resume. List your roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent, with bullet points that highlight your responsibilities and achievements using compelling language and metrics wherever possible to show the impact of your work.

Here is an example of a great sales representative work experience entry:

Sales representative, Big O Tires
Massapequa, NY
January 2019 – Present

Part of a team of 12 sales representatives, which consistently surpass quarterly revenue targets by an average of 20%.
Analyze sales metrics to identify areas for improvement, resulting in an 11% increase in personal conversion rates.
Executed management’s strategic sales plans, contributing to a 25% growth in the client base within a single fiscal year.
Participate in cross-departmental learning sessions with marketing and product teams to learn about online and in-store sales strategies, new promotions and new products.

Pro tip

Make your sales representative credentials pop by using action words, data and metrics to capture the attention of a hiring representative.

Step 5

Showcase your education and training on your sales representative resume

To be hired as a sales representative, you’ll need to show employers that you have the required education and training. Top candidates for this role often list a bachelor’s degree in business administration, psychology or another relevant area and certifications or special training in sales. There is no need to list your year of graduation unless you are a very recent grad.

How to list your sales representative education:

Education:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

Certifications:

Certified Sales Professional (CSP)
Sales Management Association
Issued: November 2021

Pro tip

Don’t add graduation dates to your sales representative resume unless you graduated in the last two years. Otherwise, you could be introducing age bias into the hiring process.

Optional sections for your sales representative resume

Awards and honors

Adding honors and awards on your resume is a smart way to show off your abilities, achievements and qualifications. Being a successful sales representative is all about numbers and volume, so including awards for exceptional performance can be a real boon to your resume by showing the employer you’re truly dedicated to your field and capable of making significant contributions to their organization, which ultimately will increase your chances of landing the job.

How to list awards on your sales representative resume:

2020
Strategic Sales Award
Toyota of San Francisco

2018
Salesperson of the Year
One Toyota of Oakland

Projects

Projects are a great addition to your sales representative resume because they show you’re motivated to use your skills to produce results. Projects are also a tangible demonstration of the types of skills — from problem-solving and time management to teamwork and leadership — that are valuable to employers. Listing a relevant project can highlight your expertise in a specific area of sales.

How to list projects on your sales representative resume:

Sales incentive programs: Worked with management to design and implement an incentive program to motivate members of the sales team. Helped select markers of individual performance and design levels of prizes and cash rewards.

Languages

In sales, where communication is key, speaking multiple languages expands your communication abilities, giving you access to a wider variety of clients, customers and vendors, and opening the door to international opportunities.

All else being equal, if a job opening comes down to two candidates and one of them lists multiple languages on their resume, the multilingual candidate will often be more attractive to the employer.

How to list languages on your sales representative resume:

Fluent in Chinese and English
Proficient in Cantonese

Interests and hobbies

Adding hobbies to your resume is appropriate as long as they’re relevant to the job or not overly political or religious in nature. They offer an opportunity to show your personality and emphasize your transferable skills, like creativity or leadership.

Finally, hobbies and interests can demonstrate whether you’re the right culture fit for a company. They enrich your overall profile, showing the employer how you spend your time outside of work.

How to list interests and hobbies on your sales representative resume:

Volunteer dog walker – ASPCA of San Francisco
Ceramics enthusiast

Add a cover letter

Cover letter example sales representative

Create your cover letter

Adding a cover letter for a sales representative to your application can help you stand out. Why? Because it gives you extra space to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job.

Learning how to write a cover letter for a sales representative job starts with studying our cover letter examples to learn how to express your unique candidacy in a compelling way and how to format your cover letter for success.

Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Builder, which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.

Key takeaways for your sales representative resume

Follow our steps for a standout sales representative resume:

Take care to write all five sections of your resume in a way that is specific to the job you seek. Your professional summary, skills, work experience and education section should all contain information that is targeted to the job ad.
Select the appropriate resume format:

Decide what you’d like to emphasize the most on your sales representative resume — such as strong skills, an impressive work history or both — and then select the format that will help you put your best foot forward.
Be specific to the role:

Use specific information from the job ad rather than generic resume filler when crafting your document. Again, a well-written job description will tell you the critical credentials you must emphasize on your resume.
Include both hard and soft skills:

Being a sales representative requires a mix of technical and personal skills to do the job well. Study our list of hard and soft skills to be sure that you include a balance of both types in your resume.
Make your work experience section shine:

Accomplish this by using action verbs, data and metrics to show the impact of your work.
Choose an appropriate resume template:

Sales is a varied field that exists in creative environments and conservative workplaces alike. If you’re applying for a job at a conservative organization, you’ll want to choose a conservative resume design. For creative fields like marketing, your sales resume can be more colorful and creative.
Go the extra mile:

Including a well-written sales representative cover letter can increase your chances of landing a job interview, so take advantage of the opportunity to add one with your resume.

Commonly asked question about resume writing

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Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.