Crafting a CV that truly reflects your sales achievements and persuasive skills can be daunting. Our guide provides tailored advice to help you highlight your top sales figures and negotiation prowess, ensuring your CV stands apart in the competitive job market.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Structuring your salesman CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your salesman CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a salesman CV
- Sales Experience showcases proven results and successes.
- Sales Skills section demonstrates specific competencies and abilities.
- Key Achievements highlights top sales milestones and accolades.
- Industry Knowledge emphasises expertise in relevant sectors.
- Customer Relationship Management reflects ability to maintain and grow client bases.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight quantifiable sales achievements by specifying revenue targets met or exceeded, as well as the percentage growth in sales figures you've contributed to within previous roles.
- Showcase your ability to cultivate client relationships by mentioning any repeat business you've secured, long-standing client partnerships you've maintained, or customer satisfaction scores you've achieved.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of the sales process by detailing your experience with various sales techniques, sales funnel management, lead generation strategies, and customer retention approaches.
- Include any relevant product or industry-specific expertise to show that you understand the market and can hit the ground running with minimal training.
- Emphasise your adaptability and continuous professional development by listing sales training programmes or certifications you’ve completed, or how you’ve effectively adapted to new sales technologies or changing market demands.
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Making a good first impression with your salesman CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for salesman:
- Senior Sales Manager | B2B and B2C Expert | Strategic Planning | 10+ Years' Experience | MBA
- Junior Sales Associate | Customer Acquisition Specialist | CRM Skills | 2 Years in Tech Sales
- Territory Sales Representative | Market Expansion Strategist | Key Account Management | 5 Years' Experience
- Sales Executive | SaaS Solutions | Lead Generation & Conversion | 7 Years in Software Sales | Cert. Prof. Salesperson
- Inside Sales Consultant | B2C High-Volume Sales | Product Launches | 3+ Years' Experience | BA Hons
- Business Development Director | International Markets | Negotiation Pro | 15+ Years' Expertise | Sales Excellence Award
Opting between a salesman CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your salesman CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a salesman job:
- Seasoned sales professional with over a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, adept in CRM software and persuasive communication. Spearheaded a groundbreaking regional sales strategy, resulting in a 30% surge in revenue for ABC Pharma Ltd.
- Dynamic sales executive with 8 years' frontline experience in the competitive telecommunications sector, proficient in Salesforce and client relationship management. Accomplished a record-setting sales increase of 40% year-over-year for XYZ Communications Inc. by leveraging advanced consultative selling techniques.
- Former financial analyst with 5 years' experience, eager to transfer analytical and negotiation expertise to a sales career. Exceptional track record of managing multibillion-dollar portfolios, now focused on excelling in sales strategy and client acquisition to achieve outstanding revenue growth for a forward-thinking sales organisation.
- Ambitious marketing coordinator with 4 years' experience, looking to transition into a sales role. Recognised for exceptional event coordination and lead generation campaigns that resulted in an increased market share by 15% for Creative Solutions Ltd, aiming to drive sales through effective client engagement and product promotion.
- Keen to embark on a sales career, I bring unwavering enthusiasm and a commitment to learning cutting-edge sales techniques. My objective is to leverage my extensive customer service background and in-depth product knowledge to exceed sales targets and contribute to the company's success.
- Highly motivated individual, with no formal sales experience but a passion for customer interaction and a dedication to ongoing personal and professional development. My goal is to immerse myself in the sales environment, providing unparalleled customer experiences and fostering long-term client relationships.
The best formula for your salesman CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Expertly managed a diverse product portfolio, consistently achieving a 15% quarterly sales increase through the strategic implementation of upselling techniques and product knowledge.
- Led the regional sales team of 10, fostering a culture of achievement and motivation that resulted in a 20% increase in team sales targets over two years.
- Successfully opened 30+ new accounts in one fiscal year, through effective networking and relationship-building strategies, surpassing the annual target by 25%.
- Conducted market research to identify emerging trends, enabling the adaptation of sales strategies that resulted in capturing a leading market share within the sector.
- Oversaw the sales process from lead generation to closing, employing a consultative selling approach that resulted in a customer retention rate of 85%.
- Implemented a CRM system which streamlined the sales pipeline, leading to a reduction in lead conversion time by 30% and increasing the efficiency of follow-up procedures.
- Collaborated closely with the marketing team to co-develop targeted campaigns for key demographics that boosted qualified lead generation by 40%.
- Regularly exceeded personal sales targets by at least 10% each quarter through the effective use of data-driven sales tactics and a commitment to continuous professional development.
- Maintained thorough product knowledge across all categories, ensuring the ability to provide exceptional service and support, evidenced by a personal customer satisfaction rating of 95%.
- Developed and implemented a strategic sales plan targeting large enterprises which expanded our customer base by 35% by the second year.
- Led a team of 5 sales representatives, mentoring them on product knowledge and sales techniques which increased team sales by 20% year-over-year.
- Initiated and cultivated relationships with key decision-makers in the tech sector, consistently exceeding quarterly sales targets by an average of 15%.
- Identified opportunities within the automotive sector, delivering bespoke service solutions, and drove an average annual revenue growth of 25%.
- Delivered dynamic presentations at trade shows that captured audience attention and generated an average of 80 new qualified leads per event.
- Conducted market analysis to identify emerging trends, positioning the company to leverage new technologies resulting in a 10% increase in market share.
- Closed deals for high-end residential properties, consistently reaching sales targets and achieving a record sale of £3.5 million for a premier London townhouse.
- Collaborated with marketing to create engaging online campaigns that increased web traffic by 40% and enhanced client interest.
- Provided exceptional post-sales support, improving customer satisfaction scores by 30% through personalised follow-up and communication.
- Planned and executed sales strategies within my designated territory, directly contributing to the company's penetration into three new markets.
- Managed and grew a client portfolio by 50% by leveraging deep industry knowledge, resulting in a significant increase in repeat business.
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to streamline the order fulfillment process, reducing delivery times by an average of 20%.
- Directed sales initiatives within my region that captured a 15% surge in B2B sales for our SaaS products within the first year.
- Engineered a turnaround strategy for underperforming territories, converting them into profitable sectors within 12 months.
- Facilitated intensive sales training programs which empowered the team to collectively enhance their closing ratios by over 25%.
- Expertly matched client requirements with company offerings to modify industrial equipment, driving a 150% increase in bespoke solutions sold.
- Implemented a CRM tool tailored to the industry needs, improving lead tracking accuracy and the sales cycle by 35%.
- Fostered an environment of collaboration between sales and engineering teams, leading to a 20% reduction in pre-sales qualification time.
- Streamlined sales pipeline management which led to a 40% increase in efficiency and a 30% boost in sales performance metrics.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive sales reports that provided insight into sales trends, enabling strategic adjustments that increased quarterly revenues by 18%.
- Championed a sales training initiative that emphasized data-driven sales approaches, augmenting the team's capacity to meet diverse client needs.
- Delivered outstanding customer service that increased customer retention rates by 25% by resolving queries and ensuring satisfaction with our service.
- Created up-selling strategies during service calls that generated an additional £250,000 in upsell revenue over the three-year period.
- Managed critical client accounts which brought in revenues exceeding £1 million annually through consistent engagement and relationship-building.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Key salesman CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your salesman CV:
Product Knowledge
CRM Software Proficiency
Lead Qualification
Sales Presentation Skills
Negotiation Techniques
Marketing Strategies
Customer Needs Analysis
Sales Reporting
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Financial Acumen
Communication Skills
Active Listening
Empathy
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Teamwork
Time Management
Persuasiveness
Resilience
Networking Ability
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Further professional qualifications for your salesman CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your salesman CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your salesman CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
