With the projected five percent growth in employment of sales executives from 2021 to 2031, crafting a winning resume is more important than ever, especially as your resume is the first point of call with potential employees.
By learning how to shine a spotlight on your unique skills, experience, and achievements, you can set yourself apart from your competition. As a sales executive, you’re no stranger to selling, but presenting these qualities effectively on paper is a whole new ball game.
That’s where TechSalesJobs.org comes in. We’re here to provide you with the resources and guidance needed to write a first-rate sales executive resume. Let’s get started.
What is a sales executive resume?
A sales executive resume is a document that summarizes a job applicant’s education, experience, and skills relevant to the position of a sales executive. It’s an opportunity to market yourself to potential employers and demonstrate why you’re an ideal candidate.
A sales executive resume typically includes your professional history, relevant skills, education, and achievements. The goal is to show that you would be a good fit for their tech sales company and you’re ready for the next step (the interview process).
A first-rate sales executive resume highlights these key features:
- Previous clients: Details on the projects you successfully oversaw in your past sales positions. This will demonstrate your experience and expertise in the industry. Your information lets potential employers understand the size and scope of the projects you have managed.
- Previous targets: A list of accomplishments, such as targets met or sales quotas exceeded, helping to illustrate your ability to meet and exceed performance goals as well as your record of success.
- Responsibilities: An overview of the main responsibilities you’ve performed. Doing this provides a clear understanding of the tasks and duties you have completed in your past roles and the sales areas in which you have experience.
Samples of sales executive resume
As a sales executive, a well-crafted resume is crucial in securing a job interview and standing out from the competition, whether you’re seeking entry-level jobs with high pay or remote sales positions in the tech sector.
To help you get started, let’s take a closer look at three sales executive resumes samples:
Traditional sales executive resume
A traditional sales executive resume is typically chronological, with your most recent experience listed first. Because of this, it’s referred to as a reverse-chronological resume with a straightforward and organized layout.
The typical sections of a traditional resume include:
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Professional experience
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications and professional affiliations
The traditional resume format is suitable for most job seekers and preferred by many employers as it’s easy to read and provides a clear overview of your employment and education history.
Creative sales executive resume
Creative sales resumes emphasize your unique personality and skills, with a focus on visual appeal and creativity. It’s designed to stand out from traditional resumes and capture the attention of hiring managers. In this sense, the resume’s layout is a lot more unconventional.
The sections include:
- Introduction
- Skills
- Work experience
- Education
- Projects
The content of a creative sales executive resume is tailored to highlight your personality and skills rather than just a list of your past job experiences and qualifications. It intends to make you more memorable via graphics, colors, and unique layouts.
Hybrid sales executive resume
This resume format combines elements of traditional and creative layouts, striking a balance between professionalism and individuality. It contains stylish aspects while maintaining standard sections found in a traditional resume.
In a nutshell, hybrid resume design offers a creative and visually appealing representation of your qualifications while emphasizing the most important information hiring managers look for.
Why is writing a sales executive resume important?
Your sales executive resume is a crucial tool in your job search journey as it provides a comprehensive overview of your skills, experience, and achievements to potential employers. To put it simply, a well-written resume gives you an edge over your competitors.
Through your resume, you can effectively highlight your sales proficiency by leveraging industry-specific terminology and your expertise in driving sales growth and expanding customer reach.
Additionally, your resume showcases your communication skills and ability to present information concisely, both essential features in a sales executive role. And with over half of job applicants neglecting to tailor their resumes to each position, it’s the perfect opportunity to display how well you align with the job description.
Simply speaking, a carefully crafted resume allows employers to instantly recognize the value you bring to the table, making it easier for them to assess your compatibility and move forward with your application.
How to write a sales executive resume
If you’re seeking a new opportunity as a sales executive, it’s imperative to create an engaging and professional resume. For maximum impact, the recommended format is the “reverse-chronological” resume.
As only 2% of sent resumes result in an interview, your resume format should be easy to read and emphasize your strengths in the best possible light. This ultimate guide will display the tools and guidance you need to succeed.
Once you’re done with your resume, don’t forget to upload it to TechSalesJobs! We’re the one-stop site for jobs in tech sales, with postings from industry leaders like Microsoft, Google, and Dell. Create a jobseeker account and start applying immediately!
1) Emphasize your contact information
As this is the first thing recruiters see, make sure your contact information is broadly displayed and easily accessible to recruiters. List your full name, mailing address, telephone number, and professional email address.
If you have a personal website, feel free to include its URL in your contact information, especially if it outlines your client portfolio (remember, anything that will help you stand out).
2) Write a professional summary
Your professional summary in a sales executive resume serves as an introduction to your skills, experience, and achievements. It should highlight your key strengths and career achievements that relate to the role you’re applying for.
It’s worth noting this section should be no more than three to four sentences long. Consider it a teaser for your entire resume. The aim is to grab the recruiter’s attention and give them a compelling reason to keep reading.
For example, you might include the following: “Experienced sales executive with a proven track record of exceeding sales quotas and building strong relationships with clients.” Elaborating on your strengths increases your odds of getting into tech sales.
3) Detail your employment history
This section should include a detailed description of your employment history, including the companies you worked for, your responsibilities, and the dates. To make your work experience stand out, focus on showcasing your accomplishments.
As this is a reverse-chronological layout, mention your most recent job at the top of the section. Additionally, expand on your achievements in each role, how you developed over time, and the results you achieved.
Also, remember to steer your experiences to the job you're applying for. Avoid generic terms as they have less chance of catching the recruiter's eye. Instead, include in-depth aspects such as:
- The products you have experience with
- The clients you sold to
- Your significant sales deals
- The number of staff you managed
- The sales budgets you handled
All these factors will help your new employer narrow down how well you’ll fit within the company and how valuable your contribution will be.
4) List your professional skills
As around 75% of companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan resumes for keywords, it’s wise to include commonly used keywords in your field, such as lead management, customer retention, customer relations, negotiation, cold calling, etc.
Besides technical skills, don’t forget to mention soft skills like excellent communication and attention to detail. While these may seem unimportant (in comparison to your work experience), statistics show that 93% of employers say “soft skills play a critical role in their decision-making process.”
To fully demonstrate your skills, use the STAR method. If you’re unfamiliar with this approach, STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. The technique helps to structure your response in a way that’s easier to understand.
5) List your education
In the education section of your resume, list your academic achievements, including the name and location of your school, any degrees you received, and your graduation dates. This section should be written in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent degree or certification and working backward.
It’s essential to only include information relevant to the position you’re applying for, so if your education directly relates to the role, highlight it in this section.
6) List your certifications and professional affiliations
Use this section to showcase any additional training, certifications, or professional memberships you have achieved. As with the above, only list those relevant to a sales executive position.
Sales executive resume template
Now that you’re ready to create your own sales executive resume, here’s a template to help you get started:
(Your name)
(Address)
(Phone number)
(Email address)
Professional summary:
(Three to four sentences that highlight your experience and skills)
Work experience:
(Name of company)
(Job title)
(Dates of employment)
(Brief summary of responsibilities and achievements)
Professional skills:
(Technical skills)
(Soft skills)
Education:
(Name of institution)
(Degree earned)
(Graduation date)
Certifications:
(Relevant certifications and professional affiliations)
Wrapping up
By following the above guide, you’ve taken the necessary steps to begin your job search. And by utilizing a reverse-chronological format and an effective content layout, you’ll have a better chance of moving up the ladder.
Once you’ve followed our TechSalesJobs.org resume template and created a winning resume, you’re ready to land your dream role. Dive into our job postings today and get ready for your interview.