Sales Resume Guide | Building A Modern Sales Resume That Converts

To get to the point — this is a guide to help you build a better sales resume.

We know you see the potential in sales, we won’t sell you on that. But what we will try and sell you on is the importance of a stellar resume. Because no matter how talented you are, how overqualified you are for a role, or how good a talker you are; if your resume doesn’t convert, you won’t land any roles.

This guide is structured to first teach, and then enable you to create the perfect resume package. You will learn what makes a great sales resume and cover letter, see examples of modern sales resumes in action, and then be handed the tools and templates to get started making your own.

The perfect sales resume is only a short guide away! Enjoy section by section or skip ahead!

1. Creating A Stellar Sales Resume
2. Using The Right Resume Language
3. Sales Resume Examples
4. Sales Resume Templates
5. Writing An Effective Cover Letter
6. Cover Letter Examples

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1- Creating A Stellar Sales Resume

Your resume is a concise, informative summary of your past experience and qualifications as a candidate. It’s meant to highlight your strongest attributes and help differentiate you from the competition.

Sales resumes are one item on a multi-step journey towards landing a sales job. Resumes are often the first contact you have with a potential employer, so you’ll want to pay extra attention to avoid small mistakes.

The best sales resumes are tailored to the position you’re applying for. You’ll want to be selective about the skills and experiences you share based on the language used in the application.

Build The Best Sales Resume With Uvaro

• Our resume templates are a fantastic way to quickly build professional sales resumes with ease
• Attend our Career Coaching events to build skills that’ll make you stand out to potential employers

General Resume Tips

Resume Language:

• Be specific– don’t speak in generalizations.
• Always use the active voice, never passive.
• Focus on the two Q’s: quantify and qualify.
• Tell your story, not the story the employer wants to see.

Top 7 Sales Resume Mistakes:

1. Spelling errors
2. Grammar errors
3. Missing contact information
4. Too much passive voice
5. Not well organized
6. Not results-oriented
7. Multiple pages long

Don’t:

• Use first person (I)
• Use abbreviations
• Include references to age or gender
• List your references
• Use slang or jargon

Do:

• Focus on formatting and consistent spacing and styling
• Make it easy to skim
• List education, experience, and skills in the relevant order
• List items in reverse-chronological order (most recent first)
• Make sure formatting holds up in PDF format

2 - Using The Right Resume Language

The words you use on a resume speak volumes. Put your best foot forward by using the best words for the job at hand. There is always a plain way to say things, and often this is the most effective way to do so. But on a resume, spicing up mundane tasks is acceptable.

Nothing adds that spice like an action-oriented verb. Below are some of the more flavourful ones you can use to replace the generic terms like led, handled, and was responsible for...

Instead of led,” consider…

• Coordinated
• Executed
• Headed
• Organized
• Oversaw
• Produced

Instead of saved time or money,” consider...

• Conserved
• Decreased
• Diagnosed
• Reconciled
• Reduced
• Yielded

Instead of increased revenue,” consider...

• Accelerated
• Achieved
• Boosted
• Enhanced
• Gained
• Generated
• Improved
• Lifted

Instead of changed,” consider...

• Converted
• Modified
• Overhauled
• Redesigned
• Refocused
• Restructured
• Simplified
• Transformed

Instead of hit our target,” consider...

• Attained
• Demonstrated
• Exceeded
• Outperformed
• Surpassed
• Targeted

3 - Sample Resume Examples

Sales Resume 1:

What we LOVE about this resume:

• Personalizing the call to action is absolutely brilliant!
• The design is clean and easy to digest
• The skills section lifts keywords from the job description and requirements

Sales Resume 2:

What we LOVE about this resume:

• The experience section speaks to results, not tasks!
• This candidate made experience their selling point, giving it the most space
• The education section shows continued growth, not a one-time degree

4 - Sample Resume Templates

Sales Resume Template 1:

This resume template is perfect for….

• Covering an equal blend of experience and education
• Showcasing your personality
• Highlighting areas of unique expertise

Template In Action:

Get Started With This Template

Template:

Get Started With This Template

Sales Resume Template 2

This resume template is perfect for….

• Limited sales or work experience
• Showcasing your personality and skillsets
• Highlighting other areas of value such as volunteering, awards, or certificates

Template In Action:

Get Started With This Template

Template:

Get Started With This Template

5 - Writing An Effective Cover Letter

Cover letters are one-page documents that you submit as part of a job application. Often a cover letter serves as your first introduction to a hiring manager or recruiter Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be between 250 to 400 words long.

Your cover letter should not be a regurgitation of your resume.

A good cover letter will:

• Spark the recruiter's interest in you as a candidate
• Make them want to learn more about you via your resume
• Show you’ve researched the position and are ready to bring value to the conversation

A bad cover letter will send you directly to the discard pile. Even if you have the world’s best resume and are perfectly qualified for the role, chances are an employer will never see it if you phone it in on the cover letter.

Cover Letter Tips:

• Always address the cover letter to a specific person when possible
• Cover letters are tailored documents, not generic cookie-cutter documents
• Use concise language to fit your letter on one page.
• Supports the skills and qualifications referenced on your resume
• Write in the first person, but don’t overuse the word I”
• The active voice works best
• Check that your cover letter exports properly to PDF format
• Match your cover letter and resume font

6 - Cover Letter Example

The following cover letter is a great example of what is possible with a bit of wordplay and positioning. The candidate below lacked work experience in the industry or role they were applying for, but they used their past experiences to open the door and start a conversation around how they might add value.

What pile would you add this cover letter to?

Uvaro - Your Best Resume Helper

When it comes to sales resumes, we get that many sales rep want to go at it alone. But if you are finding the rejections are coming fast and furious, there is support out there to help beef up your sales resume.

Our 12-week accelerator program is geared towards teaching you the knowledge and skills needed to not only land a tech sales role but to excel once you do.

If your resume could use some real-life sales experience on it, we've got you covered as well. Our paid sales residency program will pair you with a leading software company to help your experience gap. This will give you the real stories, anecdotes and results you can then put on your resume and refer back to during your upcoming sales interviews.

Grab It To Go!