How To Write a VP of Sales Resume
As a VP of sales, your resume should reflect your ability as a sales leader and strategist who meets or exceeds revenue goals. This guide will share expert strategies for creating a resume highlighting your accomplishments in sales roles and your foundational skills for helping companies surpass their targets.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your achievements
Think of the profile section of your resume as your 15-second sales pitch highlighting your qualifications and career accomplishments. You’ll start by identifying your job title, how many years you’ve worked in the role, and three or four strengths relevant to the role you seek.
For example, share something interesting about your sales background that relates to your goals, such as thriving in a startup setting or expertise in a particular industry, whether it’s online lead generation or selling manufacturing equipment.
Profile - Example #1
Vice President of Sales with extensive experience driving revenue growth for large-scale businesses. Dedicated leader and strategist who sets viable short- and long-term growth plans and motivates teams to achieve 100%+ of goals. Committed to ongoing professional development and education. Earned MBA from University of Pennsylvania.
Profile - Example #2
Vice President of Sales with 10+ years of advancement and excellence. Thrive in dynamic startup and small business environments. Natural leader who sets viable sales strategies and motivates teams to achieve ambitious revenue targets. Passionate about bringing innovative new technology products to market. Earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
2. Add a detailed professional experience section
The professional experience section of your resume is not just about listing job duties – it’s also a collection of your career achievements and accolades. Employers want to know how you can set effective sales strategies and guide organizations to meet or exceed their revenue goals. Sharing specific numbers (such as exceeding sales goals by 38% year over year or leading a sales division that brought in $28.4 million) can help paint a compelling picture of your abilities.
In addition, mention your leadership abilities and technical prowess, such as adapting to market conditions, new sales platforms, and collaborating with other company teams like marketing or product development.
Professional Experience - Example #1
VP of Sales, ABC Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
April 2015 to Present
- Conceive and develop sales and client relations strategies fueling market share growth of this industry leader
- Consult and advise executive team on high-potential client and market opportunities
- Lead 10 direct and 80 indirect reports
- Launched a new merit-based bonus plan that helped motivate 80% of sales reps to set new personal records in the first two years of implementation
- Streamlined internal sales processes, raising the bottom line by $400K
Professional Experience - Example #2
VP of Sales, ABC Software Inc, New York, NY
April 2018 to Present
- Appointed to devise core sales strategies fueling revenue and profit growth of a newly launched enterprise
- Work closely with Founder and CEO to locate and pursue potential clients and markets for a new SaaS product
- Established a collaborative work culture and merit-based bonus structure for the newly formed sales division, inspiring reps to achieve individual excellence while sharing ideas and best practices
- Worked with Operations to consolidate and streamline internal sales processes, translating to a $200K bottom-line improvement
3. Include your education and certifications
Some employers may favor candidates with college or advanced degrees, such as an MBA, for high-level sales jobs. Certifications can also play a role in certain industries, so keep that in mind for any specialized types of sales roles you may be seeking.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY | 2015
4. List relevant key skills
To help get your resume past the applicant tracking system (ATS) that most companies use to screen candidates, add a key skills section. Some skills you might include:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Change leadership | Client relations |
| Coaching and mentoring | Cross-functional collaboration |
| Customer satisfaction | Market share growth |
| Mergers and acquisitions | New market penetration |
| New system implementation | Operational streamlining |
| Organizational development | Project and program management |
| Revenue and profit growth | Strategic business development |
| Strategic planning | Talent development and retention |
| Targeted resource allocation | Team leadership and motivation |
How To Pick the Best VP of Sales Resume Template
When choosing the best template for your resume, select one that’s clean, professional, and easy to read. Content and qualifications need to stand out more than any large graphics or colorful imagery. Going with a simple structure that focuses on you is always a good idea.
VP of Sales Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- Example #3
Joseph Corbin
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia, PA 12345
Profile
Vice President of Sales with extensive experience driving revenue growth for large-scale businesses. Dedicated leader and strategist who sets viable short- and long-term growth plans and motivates teams to achieve 100%+ of goals. Committed to ongoing professional development and education. Earned MBA from University of Pennsylvania.
Professional Experience
VP of Sales, ABC Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
April 2015 to Present
- Conceive and develop sales and client relations strategies fueling market share growth of this industry leader
- Consult and advise executive team on high-potential client and market opportunities
- Lead 10 direct and 80 indirect reports
- Launched a new merit-based bonus plan that helped motivate 80% of sales reps to set new personal records in the first two years of implementation
- Streamlined internal sales processes, raising the bottom line by $400K
VP of Sales & Business Development, XYZ Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
April 2007 to April 2015
- Led a top-caliber sales team charged with growing a lucrative new market for this large corporation with a presence in nine countries
- Set and executed plan to capture market opportunities and grow client relationships with key industry players
- Motivated team to exceed quota by ~20% on average for eight consecutive years despite severe early challenges posed by the 2008 financial crisis
- Co-developed formal training and talent development program to help sales associates hone their skills and build up-to-date industry knowledge
Prior Experience
Advanced through a series of client relations and sales management roles for 123 Incorporated (Philadelphia, PA). Gained a strong foundation in key leadership principles.
Education
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS) — Economics
Key Skills
- Client Relations
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Customer Satisfaction
- Market Share Growth
- New Market Penetration
- New System Implementation
- Organizational Development
- Project & Program Management
- Strategic Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Targeted Resource Allocation
- Team Leadership & Motivation
Raymond Mander
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 12345
Profile
Vice President of Sales with 10+ years of advancement and excellence. Thrive in dynamic startup and small business environments. Natural leader who sets viable sales strategies and motivates teams to achieve ambitious revenue targets. Passionate about bringing innovative new technology products to market. Earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Professional Experience
VP of Sales, ABC Software Inc, New York, NY
April 2018 to Present
- Appointed to devise core sales strategies fueling revenue and profit growth of a newly launched enterprise
- Work closely with Founder and CEO to locate and pursue potential clients and markets for a new SaaS product
- Established a collaborative work culture and merit-based bonus structure for the newly formed sales division, inspiring reps to achieve individual excellence while sharing ideas and best practices
- Worked with Operations to consolidate and streamline internal sales processes, translating to a $200K bottom-line improvement
Sales Director, XYZ Tech Services LLC, Minneapolis, MN
April 2012 to April 2018
- Assembled and oversaw a sales team charged with tapping a potentially lucrative new software market
- Partnered with Business Development to form a viable plan for penetrating the market and growing share with key industry players
- Trained and motivated team to exceed quota by 18% on average for five consecutive years
- Co-developed formal training program to help sales associates maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry and client trends
Education
University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS) — Economics
Key Skills
- Change Leadership
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Market Share Growth
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- New System Implementation
- Operational Streamlining
- Project & Program Management
- Revenue & Profit Growth
- Strategic Planning
- Talent Development & Retention
- Team Leadership & Motivation
Jasmine Brown
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 W 15th Street, Minneapolis, MN 12345
Profile
Vice President of Sales with 5+ years of experience in competitive markets. A strategic leader who unifies teams around a common vision and motivates staff to consistently achieve goals. Highly adaptable to new work challenges and industry conditions. Master of Business Administration.
Professional Experience
VP of Sales, ABC Company Inc, Minneapolis, MN
April 2020 to Present
- Set and execute core strategy governing and promoting the success of the company’s sales organization
- Collaborate with other senior leaders to identify and define responses to business-wide challenges and growth opportunities
- Realigned sales division’s goals with broader company mission and values, building a more accountable and collaborative work culture
- Led team to maintain positive client relations and steady market share throughout 2020 and 2021 despite uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
- Worked with Operations to consolidate and streamline internal sales processes, translating to a $200K bottom-line improvement
VP of Sales, XYZ Company LLC, Minneapolis, MN
April 2017 to April 2020
- Charged with guiding and driving continuous improvement of the company’s sales division
- Led organization to achieve 100%+ of revenue and profit goals for three consecutive years
- In partnership with HR, spearheaded new sales training and development program that renewed staff engagement and helped boost retention by 8%
Education
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS)
Key Skills
- Change Leadership
- Client Relations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Customer Satisfaction
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- New Market Penetration
- Operational Streamlining
- Organizational Development
- Revenue & Profit Growth
- Strategic Business Development
- Talent Development & Retention
- Targeted Resource Allocation
Frequently Asked Questions: VP of Sales Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for VP of sales resumes?+
One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the hiring manager’s attention and show the varied nature of your experience. The following list can help you find a good mix of action verbs for your VP of sales resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieve | Advise |
| Build | Collaborate |
| Develop | Devise |
| Direct | Establish |
| Exceed | Execute |
| Grow | Hone |
| Launch | Lead |
| Motivate | Raise |
| Streamline | Train |
How do you align your resume with a VP of sales job posting?+
When you find a VP of sales job opening that intrigues you, note the company’s industry. Have you worked in the same sector? If so, mention that experience in your resume’s profile section. For instance, if the company makes home appliances, your first profile sentence might read, “Senior business leader with 11 years of advancement and experience, including four years in home appliance sales.” Taking this extra step will make your resume more relevant to the job opening at hand and more likely to attract the hiring manager’s notice.
What is the best VP of sales resume format?+
Most job seekers should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
By fusing these two features, a combination resume offers the best of both worlds. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you display your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. As a result, you can present yourself clearly and strategically. With this format, you give hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths, so they can make an informed decision to call you for an interview.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Another way to set yourself apart from other candidates is to include a cover letter with your resume. Especially for a VP-level role, hone your sales pitch for why you would be perfect for the job. To get you started, read our Sales Manager Cover Letter Examples or our more general Sales Cover Letter Examples.
