How To Write a Sales Manager Resume
Writing a sales manager resume is a lot like selling a product or service to a prospective customer. You need to identify the problem the hiring manager is trying to solve and then show how you’re a solution to that problem. Get more tips and examples on how to write a sales manager resume below.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Write a brief summary of your sales manager qualifications
The goal of your profile summary is to catch the hiring manager’s attention, so they want to keep reading the rest of your resume. Start strong by clearly outlining who you are as a candidate and how you can contribute to the organization if hired. It’s always a good idea to include how many years of experience you have, but don’t forget to target the summary to the job by including keywords from the description.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A results-driven Sales Manager with 14+ years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, specializing in account-based sales, marketing strategy, and client relations. A proven track record of identifying opportunities to increase client satisfaction and drive operational excellence.
Entry-Level Profile Example
An innovative Sales Manager with six years of experience building and managing diverse sales teams in fast-paced business environments. A proven track record of interfacing with client stakeholders to drive business development and customer success. Adept at utilizing Salesforce CRM to generate and qualify high-value leads.
2. Create a powerful list of your sales manager experience
The professional experience section is where you get to show what you can do for a company and how you’ve been successful before. List your previous work experience, usually in reverse chronological order, and include your job titles, where you worked, and the dates. Create a bulleted list of job duties and responsibilities for each position, focusing on numbers and stats that can quantify your success. For example, you might note your close percentage, the total revenue of your accounts, or how you were able to increase conversions.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Hotel Sales Manager
Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points South, Birmingham, AL | August 2016-Present
- Develop and implement new account-based sales and marketing strategy for a premiere hotel with 400+ rooms, resulting in over $2M in new business over three years
- Oversee a team of 30+ hotel representatives, deliver training on guest relations and upselling techniques, and improve sales revenue for add-on services by 25%
- Coordinate with marketing teams and executive leadership to support a large-scale rebranding initiative, contributing to a 20% increase in bookings in 2022
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Sales Manager
XYZ Solutions, Oakbrook, IL | July 2019-Present
- Manage a team of 15+ sales representatives and account executives, provide support during high-level consultations, and identify opportunities to improve performance, resulting in a 40% increase in sales revenue in 2022 and an average close rate of 35%
- Serve as the point of contact for escalated client issues, manage stakeholder relationships with multi-million-dollar accounts, and improve client retention from 60% to 80%
- Coordinate with the sales director to develop and implement new sales strategies to expand market penetration and facilitate revenue growth across two territories
3. List your education and certifications relevant to sales managers
You don’t have to have a degree in marketing to be fantastic at sales, but when you’re trying to move into managerial roles, having a formal education can help you land a job offer. Make sure to list any education you’ve completed on your resume, including the degree type and major, the school’s name, and the year you graduated. Certifications can also boost your chances of rising to the top of the candidate pile, especially if they are in marketing, CRM systems, and management.
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP), National Association of Sales Professionals, 2019
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example
- MBA Specializing in Marketing
- University of Florida, Miami, FL – June 2012
4. List your sales manager-related skills and proficiencies
Showing hiring managers your professional skills is a key part of your resume, and it can be a great way to work in keywords from the job description to help tailor your resume and get it past any applicant tracking systems the hiring manager may be using. As a sales manager, it’s important to list technical and soft skills in this section. For example, a hiring manager may be looking for someone who has HubSpot and Google Suite experience and has strong communication skills. Here are some common key skills sales managers can highlight.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Ability to motivate a team | Budget experience |
| CRM software experience | Emotional intelligence |
| Knowledge of the sales process | Market research |
| Negotiation | Networking skills |
| Product knowledge | Self-motivated |
| Strong ethics | Works well under pressure |
How To Pick the Best Sales Manager Resume Template
A resume template is a preformatted resume that is already organized. All you have to do is fill it out with your information. Using a sales manager resume template can help you save time, but picking the right one is important. A good template should be easy to read and look professional. There should be enough white space so it doesn’t feel cramped, and the hiring manager should be able to immediately see if you have the education, skills, and experience to succeed in the position.
Sales Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Jennifer Greenhough
(012) 345-6789
[email protected]
123 Main Street, Tampa, FL 12345
Profile
A Sales Manager with over eight years of experience, specializing in pipeline development, territory management, team building, and consultative selling. A proven track record of developing and coaching high performance sales teams to exceed revenue goals. Adept at building lucrative relationships with high value client accounts.
Professional Experience
Sales Manager, HVAC Equipment Co., Tampa, FL
August 2016 – Present
- Manage and build a team of 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 $25M 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
Associate Sales Manager, Premiere HVAC Solutions, Orlando, FL
July 2012 – July 2016
- Managed and developed a sales team comprised of 20+ representatives, delivered training on upselling and consultative selling techniques, and improved close rates by 10% on average across the team
- Provided support to team members during high-level sales consultations and served as the point of contact for client accounts ranging from $300K-$2.5M
- Led the team to exceed annual sales quotas by 20%-35% YOY
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
University of Florida, Miami, FL, September 2006 -June 2010
MBA Specializing in Marketing
University of Florida, Miami, FL, September 2010 – June 2012
Key Skills
- Team Leadership
- Account Management
- Sales Strategy
- Consultative Selling
- Business Development
Frequently Asked Questions: Sales Manager Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for sales manager resumes?-
Writing the professional experience section of your resume isn’t easy. You have to take sometimes mundane daily duties and transform them into impressive achievements, and it can be hard to come up with a new action verb for every bullet. To help you along, we’ve compiled a list of common action verbs for sales manager resumes. Consider swapping out some more basic verbs with one of these choices to give your resume more impact.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Accelerated | Amplified |
| Closed | Drove |
| Exceeded | Expanded |
| Fostered | Generated |
| Improved | Increased |
| Influenced | Maximized |
| Nurtured | Pioneered |
| Pursued | Revitalized |
| Strengthened | Transformed |
| Validated | Yielded |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
When you identify a job you want to apply for, don’t just send out a generic resume. Just like a sales pitch needs to be customized to the client, your resume needs to be tailored to the job description. You can do this by using the same words and phrases as the hiring manager and ensuring that your skills list matches the qualifications on the posting. Job growth for sales managers is expected to be about as fast as average for the next few years, which means it’s even more important to have a strong, tailored resume that works for a competitive job market.
What is the best sales manager resume format?-
When it comes time to format your resume, you have several options, and the right one will depend on your qualifications and experience as well as the job you’re applying for. If you have a lot of relevant experience and a strong work history, reverse chronology is a solid option. Functional or combination resumes may better serve those with nontraditional backgrounds.
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Once your resume is finalized, it’s time to start on the cover letter. A good sales manager cover letter includes why you want to apply for the job, why you’re a good fit, and how you can help the company achieve its goals.
