How to describe your sales experience on a resume

Check out our updated version with examples: Master Sales Experience on Your Resume!

Landing the perfect job is extremely competitive.

That’s why you need every advantage you can get.

That’s why a resume is so important; it’s your first chance to impress potential employers and stand out from the competition of applicants.

The problem is that most job seekers struggle with what to put in their resume; there are so many different things you can include, but which ones will have the biggest impact?

Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful resources out there for anyone looking for advice on how to write their resume.

However, one area that isn’t always addressed is how to describe your sales experience on a resume.

Whether you’re just starting out in your career or switching industries completely, having an effective resume is essential.

Whether you’re applying for entry-level roles or more advanced positions – such as Head of Sales, Sales Director or an Executive Sales role – a CV will almost certainly be asked for during the application process.

The importance of effective resume writing

A resume can make or break your chances of getting a job.

It’s the first thing a hiring manager will see, and it gives you the chance to make a great first impression.

It lets them know about your experience, skills, achievements, and education.

There are many different ways to write a resume and many different tips and tricks to make it as effective as possible.

The key is to find the right balance.

You want to give enough information to showcase your skills and experience, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.

You want to make it easy for a hiring manager to navigate your resume and quickly see what you bring to the table.

You want to make sure you include all the right information but also keep it brief enough so that it doesn’t bore the reader.

Resumes can vary depending on the industry and the type of job you’re applying for.

Some industries have specific guidelines for what goes into a resume, but for the most part, resumes are a pretty standard format.

Finding the right words to describe your experience

The first thing you should do is decide which previous experience you want to highlight on your resume.

This will depend on what type of job you’re applying for, but for the most part, sales experience will be highly valued in almost all industries.

Once you’ve chosen the experience you want to highlight, the next step is to find the right words to describe it.

You want to use effective verbs that convey your skills, achievements, and knowledge.

For example: You don’t want to just say that you “sold products” or “managed a team”; you want to say that you “generated X amount in sales” or “managed a team of X amount people”.

The most important thing to include

One thing you should always include on your resume is your sales quota.

Quotas are probably the single most important thing to include on a sales resume since they showcase your experience, skills, and knowledge.

Any type of quota will do, whether it was for a company you worked for, a sales competition you participated in, or even if it’s just a quota you set for yourself.

Just make sure it’s recent; it’s best to use a quota from the last year or so.

There are a few different ways you can present your sales quota on a resume.

For example: You can include the actual figures, such as “grew business from X amount in (year) to X amount in (current year)”. Or you can also list them as percentages, such as “achieved % of quota in (year)”.  You can even just list the amount of time you spent working towards that quota.

Other ways to showcase your skills

Another thing you should always include on your resume is a list of your skills.

You can list these in a separate section at the beginning, or you can include them in your experience section.

You don’t have to list every single skill you have, but you want to make sure you include the most relevant ones.

Skills that are particularly relevant to sales include communication skills, negotiation skills, marketing and sales strategies, computer skills, and time management.

Any skills that are particularly relevant to the industry you’re applying for should also be included.

For example: If you’re applying for a sales job in the cyber security industry, it’s also a good idea to include strong negotiation and interpersonal communication skills and analytical problem-solving abilities.

Key takeaways

A resume should be more than just a list of your past jobs and experiences.

Instead, it should be a way to showcase your skills and abilities, as well as highlight what you have to offer a potential employer.

You want to use effective verbs and action words to describe your experience and skills. You also want to make sure to include relevant information, such as your sales quota, relevant skills, and achievements.

Once you’ve written your resume, make sure you proofread it and find someone to proofread it as well.

You want to make sure it’s as clean and concise as possible so that it’s easy to read and doesn’t contain any spelling or grammar mistakes.

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR CAREER?