5 Inside Sales Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Shifting to inside sales isn’t just a growing trend—it’s a smart career move. Opportunities in B2B and SaaS companies are expanding, and the demand for skilled professionals handling sales remotely remains strong.

However, the competition can be fierce, and it’s easy to feel overshadowed. That’s where we can help. We’ll guide you in creating an inside sales resume that shows hiring managers your adaptability and proven results. By putting on display your CRM skills and mastery of lead-gen tools, we’ll make sure you stand out in this ever-evolving, tech-driven sales world.

To kick things off, let’s dive into the inside sales resume example below.

Sample resume for inside sales representatives

Easily start your resume for inside sales using our free, ready-to-use template—perfect for anyone unsure of where to begin. You can adapt it further with our AI-powered resume builder to make it your own.

For those seeking a more detailed approach to perfecting an inside sales resume, the following sections of the guide will cover everything you need.

How to format an inside sales resume

The best format for an inside sales representative resume is reverse chronological, as it puts your most recent and relevant sales experience at the forefront. This structure also makes it easy for both applicant tracking systems (ATS) and employers to quickly spot your sales expertise.

To keep your resume clear and organized, follow this section order:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary/Objective
• Work Experience
• Education
• Certifications
• Skills
• Optional sections like Languages or Interests

We’ll break down each component in detail, but first, here are some key formatting tips to help you create an effective resume.

Resume design tips for inside sales reps

• Keep margins between 0.5-1 inch for a polished and easy-to-read look.
• A clean, two-column layout works best to present your skills, achievements, and sales metrics clearly.
• Use professional fonts like Arial, Rubik, or Lato, sized 10-12 pt, and keep colors neutral adding accent colors only for section headers or job titles.
• Aim for a one-page resume that’s concise and impactful, just like a great sales pitch.

Contact information

• In the resume header, include your name, phone number, and a professional email.
• Adjust your job title to match the inside sales role you’re targeting. For instance, if you’re applying for a role in a SaaS company, your headline can read “Inside Sales Representative—Software Solutions.”
• Add a streamlined LinkedIn profile to underscore your sales achievements.
• Skip the photo unless the job posting specifically asks for one.

File format

• Name your file clearly—something like "DanielWoodsInsideSalesRep_Resume.pdf"—so recruiters can easily locate it.
• Save your resume as a PDF unless instructed otherwise by the job listing.
• Lastly, double-check for spelling or formatting errors, as even small mistakes can make a difference to both ATS and human eyes.

See how your resume would score against real applicant tracking software, using the Enhancv resume checker.

Now, let’s move on to building a strong sales experience section.

How to write your inside sales resume experience

The experience section is where you really show off what you've done and how it aligns with the inside sales role you're applying for.

Here’s how you can structure it to make a strong impact:

• Start by listing your job title, the company you worked for, and the dates of employment.
• Detail your main tasks, but tailor this section to the industry you're in and emphasize skills the employer is looking for. That might include lead generation through cold calling and email outreach or conducting product demos.
• Add quantifiable achievements. Whether it’s exceeding quotas, increasing revenue, or closing high-value deals, add specific metrics to demonstrate your success. Recruiters love numbers.
• Mention key tools and technologies you’ve mastered. This shows that you can hit the ground running with minimal training.

More importantly, you should target your resume to each specific sales role.

Why resume tailoring matters

Tailoring your resume helps you stand out by directly addressing the qualifications recruiters are looking for.

Here’s why it’s essential:

• It shows you have the specific qualifications the role requires.
• A targeted resume increases your chances of passing ATS filters by using relevant keywords.
• It demonstrates you’ve made an effort to align your resume with the company’s needs.

To tailor your resume, review the job description closely. Identify key skills, technologies, and responsibilities, then ensure these are reflected in your experience.

Below is a real-world example of an inside sales job description. We’re going to use the highlighted parts to build a targeted work history section.

Here’s the result:

This is how this experience section was targeted:

• The company name and role were tailored to align with B2B sales, reflecting the trade and furniture sectors mentioned in the job description.
• CRM expertise and collaboration with cross-functional teams directly target the key requirements of the job description.
• Phrases such as "trusted advisor," "sales cycle," and "new business acquisition" are used to reflect the job posting’s language, improving both recruiter appeal and ATS compatibility.
• Metrics like client retention, revenue generation, and sales targets were included to underline measurable impact.

As mentioned earlier, metrics and numbers make a powerful impact on resumes. In the next section, we’ll dive deeper into how to leverage them effectively.

How to quantify your experience on a resume

One of the most important aspects of writing a resume is quantifying your achievements. This gives recruiters clear, measurable proof of your success.

To quantify your accomplishments properly, consider the following:

• Share your average monthly or quarterly sales numbers and show how often you exceeded your targets.
• Include the percentage increase in revenue you contributed to by managing specific accounts or clients.
• Mention the number of cold calls or emails you made weekly and the conversion rate that led to successful sales.
• Provide the total revenue generated from upselling or cross-selling to existing clients within a given period.
• Report the percentage of leads you nurtured that converted into long-term customers or repeat business.

If you’re just starting out in sales, we have some resume strategies that will help you get noticed.

How do I write an inside sales resume with no experience?

If you’re applying for an entry-level inside sales role and don’t have direct work experience, include other sections to showcase your potential.

Here’s what to add:

• Choose a functional template that allows you to emphasize your strengths in a detailed Core Competencies section.
• Prioritize relevant transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, or active listening. When listing them, try to provide examples of how you’ve used these skills in real life.
• Underscore any sales-related courses, certifications, or relevant classes. Sales workshops or online training programs also count.
• Mention any academic or personal projects related to sales or business, such as leading a group assignment or developing a sales strategy.
• If you speak more than one language, it can be a valuable asset for inside sales roles, especially in global or diverse markets.
• Focus on your objective statement—it really is your sales pitch.

How to write an inside sales resume objective

While in-depth product knowledge is crucial for sales professionals, one area you can excel in, even without prior experience, is storytelling. Your ability to communicate effectively is key to both your career success and the strength of your resume. Your inside sales objective should highlight exactly that.

Here’s how to emphasize your strengths if you’re an entry-level candidate:

• Use 2-3 concise sentences to show your motivation and readiness to contribute to the inside sales team.
• Mention any relevant background in customer service, sales, or other transferable skills, like communication or CRM proficiency.
• Stress your commitment to learning and growth in inside sales, whether it’s developing consultative sales techniques or mastering specific software.

Look at a good example below:

This inside sales resume objective distills everything that matters by shining a light on relevant skills and aligning with the company’s goals. It also shows eagerness to learn, while also incorporating important keywords that improve ATS compatibility.

Tailoring your resume is crucial, no matter your experience level. Next, we’ll dive into how to customize the Skills section for maximum impact.

How to present your skill set on an inside sales resume

When describing your skills on a resume, it’s important to prioritize those that directly relate to the job you’re applying for. In your case, focus on things like CRM proficiency, lead generation, and customer relationship management.

Hard skills, like those mentioned above, are best highlighted in a dedicated skills section to catch the attention of recruiters and improve your ATS score. Once you determine which practical abilities to include, consider grouping them into easy-to-read categories, such as "Tools" and "Sales Process."

Here are some examples to get you inspired:

Be even more strategic when listing your soft skills. Rather than using vague terms like "communication," explain how you’ve used this skill, such as "excellent verbal communication for cold calling and customer outreach." Whenever possible, tie a skill to an accomplishment. For example, mention that you "leveraged CRM tools to track and convert 30% of leads into clients.”

Next, let’s explore if and when you need an education section to strengthen your resume.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

To become an inside sales rep, you might not need an advanced degree, but having a relevant education section on your resume can still make a difference. If the job listing specifically asks for a certain level of education or relevant coursework and you meet that requirement, be sure to include it.

When you do include an education section, here’s what it should show:

• The degree relevant to the job you're applying for.
• The institution you obtained your degree from, together with the year of graduation.
• Sales-related courses, business management, or communication classes.
• Any certifications related to CRM tools or sales techniques.

Here’s an example tailored to the job listing above:

Although the job posting doesn't specifically require formal education, the example provided demonstrates that if your educational background is relevant—such as a degree in business or marketing—it can strengthen your application. Highlighting relevant coursework or projects can maximize your impact and showcase your readiness for the role.

To enhance your application even further, consider listing your certifications in a separate section. This is crucial, especially for inside sales roles in the tech sector, where continuous learning and staying up-to-date are highly valued.

Here are the top credentials for an inside sales resume:

By displaying your most relevant certifications, you demonstrate that you're proactive about your professional development, which can be a big advantage in today’s competitive market.

To finish your sales resume strong, let’s pay attention to the section with the most potential to impress recruiters—the summary.

How to write your inside sales resume summary

The summary on your resume isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s your first chance to show recruiters why you’re the right person for the job. We save writing it for last because, by the time you’ve nailed down all the details in your experience and skills sections, you’ll have the clearest idea of what to underline.

Above all, the resume summary has to be tailored to the position you're applying for. It needs to strike a balance between showcasing your biggest achievements and ensuring you're not overselling yourself like a telemarketer with a one-size-fits-all script.

Here’s what it should include:

• Three to five sentences about your top sales achievements and how they’ve impacted the business, using numbers where possible.
• A focus on relevant industry experience and sales tools, like CRM software, that aligns with the job.
• A quick mention of how you’ll contribute to meeting big-picture objectives, such as revenue targets or lead generation goals.

Here’s a resume profile example that aligns with the job posting shared earlier:

This summary is very likely to get you an interview call because it highlights quantifiable achievements, emphasizes relevant skills, and clearly demonstrates your ability to drive significant business growth.

Now that your summary sets the stage, consider adding optional sections to further strengthen your application. These can showcase your human side and how it complements your work process, making you a more well-rounded candidate.

Additional sections for an inside sales resume

As an inside sales specialist, you should include additional sections on your resume when you have relevant skills, experiences, or qualifications that extend beyond your work history and further emphasize your potential to recruiters.

Here are some suggestions:

• Foreign languages: Being bilingual or multilingual can be a huge asset in inside sales, as it allows you to connect with a broader range of clients and markets.
• Volunteer work: This illustrates your ability to build relationships, work on teams, or solve problems in different contexts, adding a personal touch to your application.
• Awards and achievements: Helps to validate your success in previous roles and sets you apart as a top performer in the sales field.
• A “My Time” Chart: With Enhancv’s resume builder you can visually illustrate how you allocate your work time across different responsibilities. This simple graphic can help recruiters quickly understand your strengths and focus areas in the role.

In conclusion

The most important goal of an inside sales resume is to showcase your ability to drive results. This means highlighting how your skills, experience, and strategies have led to increased revenue or met sales targets. Our guide will help you present this effectively, so you can start landing interview calls in no time.