How To Write a Sales Representative Resume

If you’re interested in a new position as a sales representative, you need an accomplishment-driven resume that maximizes the visibility and impact of your sales experience. Emphasize your ability to understand customers’ pain points and demonstrate how a product or service addresses them. Use our list of tips and examples to create a resume that works.

  • Entry-level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-level
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1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your sales representative qualifications

The profile goes at the top of your resume, and it should list your years of experience and the top three to five reasons you’re a qualified candidate. For example, if the hiring manager seeks someone who can generate and qualify new leads, you could highlight your cold-calling experience. If you excel at finding new ways to sell to current customers, add a statistic or two about your cross-selling and upselling percentages.

Senior-Level Profile Example


A certified inside sales representative with five years of experience specializing in manufacturing sales, lead generation, prospecting, and cross-selling. A strong history of building business relationships and identifying opportunities to drive market penetration.

Entry-Level Profile Example


A sales professional with one year of experience within the medical sales industry, specializing in upselling, lead generation, cold calling, and sales strategy. Adept at analyzing competitive sales trends and delivering in-depth product demonstrations to client businesses.

2. Showcase your sales representative experience

To craft an accomplishment-driven resume, you need high-impact bullet points that capture the most compelling aspects of your sales experience. After your job title, company, and dates of employment, each entry in your work history should include a list of bullet points that describe your career achievements. As a sales professional, you’ll need to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible to grab the attention of prospective employers.

For example, if you exceeded annual sales quotas, incorporate percentages for each fiscal year. If you achieved a significant increase in revenue growth by developing a sales pipeline, you may opt to feature a monetary figure instead of a percentage depending on the scale of the accomplishment. Also, be sure to highlight the sales technique or strategy you used to provide additional context for the hiring manager.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example


Inside Sales Representative, Ark Manufacturing Inc., Burlington, VT

April 2017 – Present

  • Conduct over $400K in annual sales for a leading manufacturing company, support lead generation efforts, and attend meetings with client executives and the sales manager to deliver sales presentations and conduct negotiations
  • Serve as the point of contact for accounts, field client issues and concerns, build long-term relationships, and deliver value-added services to improve account retention
  • Provide training to seven new sales representatives on company services, internal sales processes, client relations, and sales best practices
  • Conduct sales forecasts, analyze metrics and competitor trends, and generate sales reports for senior leadership using Salesforce CRM tools

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example


Sales Representative, Corbin Medical Products Inc., Charleston, SC

April 2020 – Present

  • Generate $140K in sales for a medical device company, exceed quotas by up to 20% each month, conduct cold calling, and execute lead generation activities
  • Build relationships with the local medical community to secure referrals for new business, which includes interfacing with hospitals, physicians, and medical centers
  • Deliver sales presentations and product demonstrations to prospects and recommend medical devices according to organizational and clinical needs
  • Coordinate cross-functionally with sales and product marketing teams to drive promotional campaigns and execute marketing events
  • Utilize Salesforce CRM to conduct sales reporting and maintain prospect database

3. Outline your education and sales representative-related certifications

While an outgoing nature and people skills are helpful for a sales representative, most hiring managers will be looking for candidates with formal education and training. A marketing or business administration degree can put you at the top of the applicant pool.

Industry certifications should also be listed prominently on your resume, as they show you have taken the initiative to develop your skills and stay up to date with changes in the industry. Valued certifications in sales include Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) and Certified Sales Development Representative (CSDR), among others.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]

Example

  • Bachelor of Science in Marketing
  • University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA – May 2018

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example

  • CPSP, National Association of Sales Professionals, 2019

4. Include a list of your sales representative skills and proficiencies

Including relevant professional skills is a big part of creating your resume. Each position is unique. But hiring managers generally seek sales representatives who can educate potential customers on the company’s products or services and handle contract negotiations. They also look for someone who can report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives and key results (OKRs.)

Tailor this list to the position as much as possible. For example, if the hiring manager is looking for someone with customer relationship management (CRM) experience, include all the tools you’ve worked with instead of keeping it generic. To get started, use this list:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Account management Business-to-business (B2B) sales
Business-to-consumer (B2C) sales Business development
Client relations Cold calling
Consultative sales CRM
Cross-selling Inside sales
Lead generation Lead qualification
Product demonstrations Prospecting
Salesforce Sales presentations
Sales strategy Solution selling
Strategic selling Upselling

How To Pick the Best Sales Representative Resume Template

Your resume is your first chance to show a hiring manager how good your sales skills are, so you need a well-designed template highlighting your accomplishments. Stick with a design that’s clean and easy to read. An accent color or flourish or two is generally fine for sales, but ensure it doesn’t distract from the content. The template should be well-organized and use headers, bolding, italics, and bullets to make it easy for hiring managers to find the information they want.

Sales Representative Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Example #1
  • Example #2
  • Example #3

Xialing Chen
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345

Profile

A Sales Representative with two years of experience within the insurance industry, specializing in cross-selling, cold calling, lead generation, and client relations. A proven track record of developing customer relationships and identifying appropriate products based on client needs.

Professional Experience

Sales Representative, Allstate Insurance, New York, NY
April 2019 – Present

  • Upsell and cross-sell life insurance, homeowner insurance, and travel insurance to prospects, analyze coverage needs, identify optimal insurance plans, and utilize strategic selling techniques to close new business
  • Achieve 120% of quota in 2019 and 135% of quota in 2020 and generated $130K in annual revenue YOY
  • Conduct cold calling, prepare quotations on insurance plans, provide education on benefits, risks, and liabilities, and attend in-person sales meetings with prospects
  • Maintain a database of prospects and existing clients, create reports on sales forecasts and trends, and utilize internal CRM tools

Sales Associate, Best Buy, New York, NY
May 2018 – April 2019

  • Provided customer service and sales assistance to 25-40 customers per day, fielded phone inquiries, and provided education on products, pricing, and promotions
  • Achieved the Top Sales Performer of the Month award in June 2018 and November 2018 for generating 140% and 130% of quota

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Marketing 
Brooklyn University, New York, NY September 2014 – May 2018

Key Skills

  • Upselling
  • Lead Qualification
  • Client Relations
  • Prospecting
  • Strategic Planning
  • Strategic Selling
  • Insurance Sales

Certifications

  • Certified Sales Development Representative (CSDR), 2019
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Expert Advice
Advice from a Recruiter: David Pratt
David Pratt - Senior Sales Recruiter At Merrimack Valley Consulting, LinkedIn
Meet our Expert: David has 13+ years of experience recruiting sales professionals in SaaS, financial planning, and health care, primarily supporting young professionals breaking into technology careers.
1. What are the most in-demand skills for sales representatives that should be featured on a candidate’s resume?-

Stats. Your resume is like a baseball card, so list your numbers. Include the number of calls and appointments you set. Include your percent to quota, rank amongst peers, average deal size, and sales cycle. Do not write just revenue numbers because the person reading it doesn’t work at your company, so they have no idea how that number relates to the company.

2. What work experience and other accomplishments are hiring managers seeking in a sales representative?-

Hiring managers look for goal setters and the type of people who accomplish things outside of work, such as running a marathon.

3. What else should a sales representative candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers besides a resume?-

Sales and interviews are very similar. Most companies will evaluate how you conduct yourself during the process to determine if you are a good sales professional. 

  • Are you prepared for each call? 
  • Did you do your research?
  • Are you asking good questions? You want to get enough information to make an educated decision.
  • Are you actively listening?
  • Are you asking for the next steps?
  • Are you calm and collected during calls?
  • Find ways to control the call. No one likes interviews, not even the person conducting the interview. Make it a conversation. Break down their wall.

Sometimes, you may be asked for a 30-60-90 days plan for manager-level roles.

4. What advice would you give a sales representative candidate about their job search? -

Be different. Do not just apply to a ton of opportunities. Find roles that fit your background or roles that are intriguing to you. Spend time doing research before you apply. Find the decision maker and reach out directly with a tailored message. Do not be “cookie cutter.” Tell them why you are interested in their organization with specific details. That does not mean reading the mission statement and saying you align with the values. Find articles or read customer testimonials.

Frequently Asked Questions: Sales Representative Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for sales representative resumes?-

Starting sentences and bullets with action verbs makes your resume more engaging and provides more places to highlight your skills. Action verbs for sales representative resumes should be focused on connecting with the lead, nurturing sales relationships, and identifying opportunities for additional deals. These verbs should be targeted to the job whenever possible.

For example, if the job description says they’re looking for a candidate who can qualify leads and contribute to lower churn, you might use verbs like “identified, “qualified,” and “reduced” in your resume. Here are some common action verbs for sales rep resumes to get you started:

Action Verbs
Achieved Advised
Analyzed Built
Championed Closed
Conducted Consulted
Coordinated Delivered
Developed Drove
Educated Generated
Identified Led
Managed Negotiated
Qualified Sold
How do you align your resume with a sales representative job description?-

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects little to no change in the projected job openings across the sales industry through 2031. This means sales reps seeking new roles could face a competitive job market. To help you stand out, tailor each resume you send to that specific position. Do this by being strategic with your language and adding keywords.

For example, if a hiring manager says the position will entail converting warm leads and identifying cross-selling opportunities, use the words “converted,” “warm leads,” and “cross-selling” in your professional experience bullets, key skills list, and/or profile.

What is the best sales representative resume format?-

The right resume format depends on your skills and experience level. The reverse chronological approach is generally the best option if you’re a seasoned professional with years of sales experience. This allows you to feature your most recent and relevant achievements right away. However, if you’re at the entry level, a combination approach might be better suited for your needs, as this enables you to list your skills, certifications, and academic projects above your professional experience section.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume
Including a cover letter with your resume allows you to sell yourself as a top candidate for the job. You can only cover so much in a resume. But the cover letter allows whole sentences and paragraphs describing your accomplishments in more detail and explaining why you want to work with this specific company.  For some ideas, check out our sales cover letter examples and templates.
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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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