How To Write a Sales Associate Resume
Sales associates need a combination of customer service skills and marketing knowledge to succeed, and both of these aspects need to be reflected on your resume. Creating a targeted resume that gets you noticed doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does need to be done intentionally. Learn how to write a sales associate resume that highlights your best skills and qualifications with our tips and examples below.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
The profile summary is where a potential employer learns who you are as a candidate and what you can bring to their organization. This should be short, no more than three or four lines, and doesn’t need to be complete sentences. Make sure to include basics, such as how many years of experience you have, your sales background, and your best attributes as an employee.
Profile Example
Experienced sales associate with 10+ years of professional experience in retail environments, working in furniture, fine jewelry, and health and personal care sectors. Highly effective in building professional relationships with clients to achieve sales goals and maximize profits.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Personable and professional sales associate with 2+ years of retail store experience. Extensive knowledge of women’s clothing and fashion and technically proficient with point-of-sale systems. Seeking an opportunity to apply enthusiasm for clothing and fashion and exceptional customer service skills to a career with a leading clothing retail company.
2. Add a results-driven professional experience section
Whether you’re a senior- or entry-level employee, your professional experience section will look similar. Include a job title for each position, the company name and location, and your dates of employment. Include some results-based numbers in your bullets, such as how much you exceeded sales targets or your average customer review score. Sales managers rely on this kind of data for their teams and including it in your resume shows that you understand the importance of these numbers and gives some external validation to your accomplishments.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Store Associate
Steve Quick Jeweler, Chicago, IL | March 2018-Present
- Continuously 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
- Maintain 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
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Retail Sales Associate
Rewind, San Antonio, TX | July 2019-Present
- Assist an average of 50 customers per day
- Exceeded monthly sales goals by 10% for six consecutive months, earning Best Sales Associate in 2020
- Guide customers on purchases based on interests, promotions, and other sales
- Perform general store upkeep during store hours and after closing, including cleaning, organizing shelves, and restocking items
- Stock and organize inventory with accuracy and efficiency, completing tasks 10% faster than staff average
- Maintain up-to-date product knowledge and information on brands and product lines
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Many sales associates have diverse backgrounds, so it’s normal if your education doesn’t necessarily line up with sales or marketing. But it’s still a good idea to include any degrees you have, as some positions will require a base level of education. If you took any marketing or business classes, you may also want to list these. Certifications are also valuable and can give you an edge compared to other applicants. Retail, food service, CRM, and software certifications are all appropriate to list on a sales associate resume.
Certifications
Template:
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
- Professional Program Certificate in Retail, Olivet Nazarene University, 2016
Education
Template:
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
- Bachelor of Arts in Business
- The University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, May 2010
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Most hiring managers are looking for applicants who can hit the ground running after some company-specific training, so they likely have a list of qualifications they’re looking for. You may see this in the job description under a heading such as “must haves” or “preferred skills.” Use this to guide what you include in the key skills and proficiencies section of your resume. If you aren’t sure what else to include, this list of common competencies for sales associates can help.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Basic math skills | Closing techniques |
| Communication | Cross-selling |
| Customer service skills | Marketing |
| Market research | Merchandising |
| POS systems | Product knowledge |
| Product presentation | Relationship building |
| Team player | Upselling and cross-selling |
How To Pick the Best Sales Associate Resume Template
Sales associate resumes should be clearly organized with headers and bullets and should be easy for a hiring manager to skim quickly. A template can make constructing your resume easier, as these give you the basic structure while still letting you customize the individual sections and put in your own information. Make sure the template you choose has a standard font and a clean, simple design. Bright colors and fancy scripts can make it harder for a hiring manager to read, and these resumes often end up straight in the “no” pile.
Sales Associate Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Maria Hernandez
(123)-456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, San Antonio, TX 12345
Profile
Personable and professional sales associate with 2+ years of retail store experience. Extensive knowledge of women’s clothing and fashion and technically proficient with point-of-sale systems. Seeking opportunity to apply enthusiasm for clothing and fashion and exceptional customer service skills to a career with a leading clothing retail company.
Professional Experience
Retail Sales Associate, Rewind, San Antonio, TX
July 2019 – Present
- Assist an average of 50 customers per day
- Exceeded monthly sales goals by 10% for six consecutive months, earning Best Sales Associate in 2020
- Guide customers on purchases based on interests, promotions and other sales
- Perform general store upkeep during store hours and after closing, including cleaning, organizing shelves and restocking items
- Stock and organize inventory with accuracy and efficiency, completing tasks 10% faster than staff average
- Maintain up-to-date product knowledge and information on brands and product lines
Junior Sales Associate, Rewind, San Antonio, TX
July 2018 – July 2019
- Assisted customers with questions, concerns and purchases
- Performed cross-sells and upsells based on customers’ interests and tastes to drive additional store revenue
- Learned features and specifications of new brands and product lines
- Ensured cleanliness and safety on the sales floor for customers
- Attended weekly sales meetings
Education
High School Diploma
Gloria Anzaldúa High School, September 2014-July 2019
Key Skills
- Bilingual
- Communication skills
- Customer service
- Merchandising
- Problem-solving
Julian VanBuren
(123)-456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Chicago, IL 12345
Profile
Motivated sales associate with 5+ years of experience in retail environments, working both at Bloomingdales and Yves Saint Laurent. Recognized for the ability to provide outstanding customer service, boosting sales and strengthening brand loyalty. Seeking to transfer my high energy and passion for the retail industry to a leading luxury retailer.
Professional Experience
Sales Associate II, Yves Saint Laurent, Chicago, IL
April 2018 – Present
- Provide exemplary customer service by portraying a gracious, friendly and engaging manner
- Anticipate and promptly respond to client needs, adhering to store service experience standards
- Maintained 98.5% customer service satisfaction score over 12 consecutive months
- Accurately and efficiently process all POS transactions
- Adhere to and apply visual directives, ensuring that store standards are executed daily
- Communicate the brand aesthetic, philosophy and lifestyle to clients
Store Associate, Bloomingdales, Chicago, IL
May 2014 – April 2016
- Achieved 100% of individual and store sales targets for two consecutive years by engaging proactively with customers and marketing new brands and product lines
- Maintained sales floor by arranging and organizing merchandise, stocking merchandise, and setting up displays per company standards and store policies
- Effectively handled all customer requests, ensuring professional and prompt customer service
- Operated point-of-sale systems, processing sales, refunds, exchanges, and distribution of returns to appropriate departments
- Opened store on 25% of shifts, including opening cash drawer and fulfilling a 20-point opening checklist.
Education
Associate of Arts in Business
City Colleges of Chicago, IL, August 2012 – May 2014
Key Skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Customer service
- Merchandising
- POS systems
- Time management
Certifications
- Professional Program Certificate in Retail, Olivet Nazarene University, 2016
Joselyn Harden
(123)-456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Chicago, IL 12345
Profile
Experienced sales associate with 10+ years of professional experience in retail environments, working in furniture, fine jewelry, and health and personal care sectors. Highly effective in building professional relationships with clients to achieve sales goals and maximize profits.
Professional Experience
Store Associate, Steve Quick Jeweler, Chicago, IL
March 2018 – Present
- Continuously 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
- Maintain 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
Lead Store Associate, West Elm, Chicago, IL
January 2015 – March 2018
- Assisted an average of 50 customers per day, providing beneficial advice and knowledge on furniture and promoting customer loyalty
- Operated point-of-sale systems, processing sales, refunds, exchanges and distribution of returns to appropriate departments
- Awarded Employee of the Month twice for excellence in achieving customer satisfaction goals as well as individual and store sales goals
- Conducted daily inventory and sales reports with accuracy and efficiency
- Trained 24 new hires on store policies and procedures
Store Associate, Lush Cosmetics, Chicago, IL
May 2012 – January 2015
- Maintained constant presence on the sales floor to address customer needs
- Exceeded sales targets by 5% in first year and by 7% or more in subsequent years
- Demonstrated use of products to customers, consulted with customers on beauty care needs and recommended appropriate products
- Operated point-of-sale systems, processing sales, refunds and exchanges
- Performed daily inventory and sales reports and attended weekly sales meetings
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Business
The University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, August 2006 – May 2010
Key Skills
- Building client relationships
- Customer service
- Interpersonal skills
- Merchandising
- Problem-solving
- Upselling
Certifications
- Professional Program Certificate in Retail, Tacoma College, 2016
Frequently Asked Questions: Sales Associate Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for sales associate resumes?+
As a sales associate, your resume is also an example of your skills because you’re trying to sell a potential employer on hiring you. And just like your phrasing and what pain points you target with a customer are important, so are the words you choose when describing your professional experience. If you’re struggling with coming up with enough strong action verbs, our list below can help you round out your resume with unique verbs that can describe your duties and responsibilities more effectively.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Assisted |
| Closed | Collaborated |
| Communicated | Cultivated |
| Demonstrated | Established |
| Exceeded | Followed up |
| Generated | Identified |
| Organized | Presented |
| Prospected | Recommended |
| Resolved | Strengthened |
| Trained | Upsold |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts that job growth among sales positions will remain steady through 2031. This means that there may be more competition for the best positions, so crafting a resume that stands out is important. One way to do this is to ensure that your resume is tailored to each position. Include key skills and qualifications from the job description and tweak your resume each time to reflect the company culture. While you may include the same basic information, a resume you send out for a high-end furniture showroom should be more formal than a resume created for a children’s clothing boutique.
What is the best sales associate resume format?+
The reverse chronological format is usually a good fit for a sales associate resume. It provides a place to list your previous experience and sales metrics for each position, and you can add in a section for any key skills that don’t fit into job duty bullets. A reverse chronological resume also makes it quick and easy for a hiring manager to determine if you have the right level of experience they’re looking for.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
Any time you send out a resume, including a customized cover letter can give you more room to sell yourself as a candidate and potentially set yourself apart from other applicants who only include a resume. Cover letters are usually only about half a page long, and you can use our sales associate cover letter examples and templates to help you get started.
