Highlighting your skills on your resume is just as important as detailing your qualifications and work experience. Many employers are looking for skills-based hires, especially in customer-facing roles like sales, and including the right sales skills on your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume can help you find your next position.
Why Sales Skills for a Resume Are Critical
Sales is a competitive field. In many cases, who gets hired comes down to who does the best job showing they have the necessary skills and a history of measurable results. Having well-defined sales skills for your resume shows a hiring manager you’re prepared to succeed in the role and can positively impact their revenue, customer satisfaction, and company goals.
Including top sales skills on a CV when creating your resume can emphasize your ability to adapt to different sales environments. For example, you could list business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) sales skills to show you can close the deal, regardless of the target audience.
Essential Sales Skills for a Strong Resume
1. Communication and persuasion skills
For those in the sales industry, communication and persuasion skills are important and key to building trust with clients and making the sale. Provide context for these skills by highlighting examples of how you used them in previous roles and what the results were. For example, you may have “negotiated high-value deals” or “tailored communication to diverse client needs resulting in the highest number of sales for Q3 in the department.”
2. Customer relationship management
Customers need an average of seven interactions with a brand to make a purchase, which means skills related to building and maintaining customer relationships are key. For both brick-and-mortar and online businesses, customer relationship management (CRM) software is a big part of tracking these interactions and moving clients through the pipeline. List sales resume skills like Salesforce and HubSpot to show you have technical skills and experience with these tools.
3. Product knowledge and industry expertise
Having in-depth knowledge of the company’s products and services is important to build credibility with the customer and ensure you can recommend something that fits their needs. Give hiring managers an idea of how quickly you can build this knowledge once you’re on the team and how you apply it to specific sales scenarios.
4. Data analysis and sales metrics
Tracking employee performance, understanding customer behavior, and adapting sales strategies to customers’ needs all count on data analysis. Show these skills by focusing on metrics, such as “increased sales by 30%” or “exceeded sales targets by 50%.”
5. Adaptability
Adjusting to quickly changing scenarios, whether different customer needs or handling objections, is key to success in sales. Use your resume to show your adaptability by providing examples of adjusting to new markets, new technologies, or varying client needs.
Examples of Sales Skills for Resumes in Action (With Bullet Points)
Sales associate resume skills
Store Associate, Steve Quick Jeweler, Chicago, IL
March 2018 – present
- Surpassed monthly sales targets by 9% for all years and maintained 97.5% positive customer reviews over 12 consecutive months
- Deliver exceptional customer service by portraying an accommodating and engaging attitude, building and maintaining professional relationships with clients
- Share knowledge of all types of precious stones and metals and familiarity with designs and trends in fine jewelry
- Prepare estimates, invoices, and warranty certificates
- Collect payment and wrap merchandise
- Maintain jewelry displays, checked inventory, and performed basic housekeeping
Sales manager skills for a resume
Sales Manager, HVAC Equipment Co., Tampa, FL
August 2016 – Present
- Manage and build a team of over 40 sales representatives and account executives, coordinate the sales process for commercial HVAC equipment, implement new sales incentives, successfully achieve 130% of annual sales quota, and generate over $25 million in annual revenue
- Interface with client stakeholders to resolve escalated issues related to HVAC equipment products, identify appropriate solutions, and improve client satisfaction from 80% to 93%
- Coordinate cross-functionally with the marketing department to align quarterly sales campaigns with overarching marketing strategy, resulting in a 10% increase in sales conversions
Account executive resume skills
Sales Account Executive, Innovative Solutions, Philadelphia, PA
May 2019 – Present
- Manage over 20 accounts within the Greater Philadelphia territory, generating over $600,000 in annual revenue
- Analyze client business needs, develop strategies to ensure customer success, and lead efforts to develop sales pipelines and enhance revenue growth
- Partner with the Head of Sales to close inbound and outbound opportunities and exceed revenue targets by 5% to 10% month-over-month
- Utilize internal CRM tools to track sales activity and deliver status updates to the sales team and senior leadership
Retail sales resume skills
Retail Sales Associate, Universe Comics, San Diego, CA
October 2020 – Present
- Serve as a product expert for comic books and board games, conduct research to maintain knowledge of product trends, and exceed sales goals by 20% to 30% each month
- Build rapport with customers, provided education on new products, and achieved over 135% of annual goals for enrollments in the store loyalty program
- Coordinate with the store manager to plan weekly events to increase sales volume
See these resume examples that demonstrate sales skills:
Retail Sales Associate Resume Example
Ashley Parker
(555) 987-6543 | [email protected] | San Diego, CA 92101 | LinkedIn Profile
Profile
Dynamic retail sales associate with three years of experience exceeding sales targets and delivering excellent customer service. Skilled in product knowledge, loyalty program enrollment, and event coordination to drive revenue and improve customer satisfaction.
Key Skills
- Customer relationship building
- Loyalty program sales
- Product expertise and recommendations
- Event planning and coordination
- Inventory management
- Point-of-sale (POS) systems
Professional Experience
Retail Sales Associate, Universe Comics, San Diego, CA
October 2020 to present
- Serve as a product expert for comic books and board games, conducting research to stay informed on trends and exceeding monthly sales goals by 20%-30%
- Build strong rapport with customers, provide product education, and achieve 135% of annual loyalty program enrollment goals
- Coordinate with the store manager to plan weekly events, increasing store traffic and driving a 15% rise in monthly revenue
Sales Associate, Pacific Trends Boutique, San Diego, CA
July 2018 – October 2020
- Delivered exceptional service in a fast-paced retail environment, consistently achieving 110% of monthly sales goals
- Assisted with visual merchandising to enhance product visibility and improve customer engagement
- Managed inventory counts and ensured the timely restocking of popular items
Education
- Associate Degree in Business Administration, San Diego Community College, San Diego, CA | May 2018
Certifications
- Certified Customer Service Professional (CCSP) | 2021
Why this resume is strong:
Ashley’s resume effectively demonstrates her ability to meet and exceed sales goals while showcasing soft skills like customer rapport and technical skills like event planning. Learn how to tailor your resume to highlight retail sales skills here.
Sales Account Executive Resume Example
James Carter
(555) 123-4567 | [email protected] | Philadelphia, PA 19104 | LinkedIn Profile
Profile
Results-driven account executive with five years of experience managing high-revenue accounts and consistently exceeding sales targets. Skilled in CRM tools, strategic planning, and building lasting client relationships to maximize revenue.
Key Skills
- B2B sales and negotiations
- CRM software (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Pipeline development and management
- Strategic account planning
- Data analysis and reporting
- Cross-functional collaboration
Professional Experience
Sales Account Executive, Innovative Solutions, Philadelphia, PA
May 2019 to present
- Manage 20+ accounts in the Greater Philadelphia area, generating $600,000+ in annual revenue
- Analyze client business needs, develop tailored strategies, and lead pipeline development to enhance revenue growth
- Partner with the head of sales to close inbound and outbound opportunities, exceeding revenue targets by 10% month-over-month
- Utilize Salesforce CRM to track sales activity, forecast revenue, and deliver status updates to senior leadership
Sales Representative, Keystone Software, Philadelphia, PA
June 2016 – April 2019
- Managed a client portfolio of small and mid-sized businesses, driving $400,000 in annual sales revenue
- Provided product demonstrations and consultations, converting leads into long-term contracts
- Worked with marketing teams to align product launches with client needs, increasing product adoption rates by 25%
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | May 2016
Certifications
- Salesforce Certified Sales Representative | 2020
Why this resume is strong:
James’s resume emphasizes measurable achievements, such as exceeding revenue targets and managing high-value accounts, while highlighting technical skills like CRM proficiency. Find advice on incorporating sales metrics effectively here.
How To Tailor Sales Skills To Different Job Types
Sales associate roles
These are direct, customer-facing roles. Emphasize your interpersonal, active listening, and communication skills by providing examples of specific sales techniques or customer engagement tactics.
Sales representative or account executive roles
Sales representatives and account executives often focus just as much on targets and data as on relationship-building. Key sales representative skills for resumes include CRM tools, quotas, and account growth.
Sales manager or team leader roles
The sales resume skills for a sales manager or team leader center around strategic planning and performance tracking. Include skills that detail how you’ve improved team metrics in the past and your strategy to align sales techniques to company goals.
Action Verbs That Highlight Sales Skills on a CV or Resume
When you’re displaying sales skills on your CV or resume, it’s important to use strong, unique action verbs in your bullet points. Stay away from overused, vague terms such as “led” or “responsible for” and try some of these verbs instead:
- Achieved
- Closed
- Converted
- Engaged
- Exceeded
- Expanded
Frequently Asked Questions About Sales Skills on Resumes
What are the most important sales resume skills?-
Crucial sales skills to list on your resume include those related to customer service and performance tracking. Entry-level candidates should focus on customer-facing skills like communication, adaptability, and product knowledge.
Mid-level sales professionals can show growth in the field by highlighting proficiency with CRM tools and account growth. Managers and team leaders should list skills that show their ability to motivate employees toward a shared goal and track relevant metrics.
How do I write sales skills on a CV when I don’t have much experience?+
Many sales associate positions are open to entry-level applicants, so you don’t necessarily need direct sales experience to get a job. If you lack professional experience, focus on transferable skills, such as negotiating, understanding your target audience, and helping clients solve problems.
Should I include both soft and technical skills?+
Including soft and technical skills when creating a sales resume skills list is a good idea. Technical skills like CRM tools or data analytics are generally measurable proficiencies. Soft skills show you can work well with customers and other team members.
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