Sales Resume Examples, Skills and Keywords

Salespeople are a critical part of keeping businesses profitable. They answer customer questions about products, suggest solutions to customer problems, and bring in sales for their employers. A great salesperson needs to have excellent interpersonal skills and knowledge about their products. However, the various types of sales positions have unique responsibilities beyond just selling things.

If you’re considering a career in sales, it helps if you understand what’s expected of different sales roles. You need to target your resume to the demands of a specific job, not just the field in general. Submitting a resume that shows you’ve done your research is a great way to introduce yourself to potential employers.

In many ways, applying for a job is just a matter of selling your skills. You may be qualified for several sales roles, but your resume should target one at a time. If you were trying to sell a product to a businessman, you’d focus on different details than if you were selling to a young family. You should adjust your focus the same way when you’re applying to other jobs.

The best way to learn how to sell is to study the techniques of other salespeople. You can learn how to write an excellent resume for the three most popular sales positions by reading these sales resume examples.

Sometimes, all it takes to make or break a sale is using the right words. The same goes for your resume. Employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter out candidates who don’t include the right sales resume keywords in their applications. Mentioning the right keywords and sales skills in your resume can help you get an interview so you can sell yourself in person.

There’s always demand for excellent sales staff. While entry-level sales positions may not have the highest base salary, they often offer commission. More importantly, once you gain experience in the field, you quickly become eligible for higher salaries.

Entry-level sales positions rarely have strict education requirements. In most cases, you can begin your career in sales with a high school diploma. However, certain degrees and certifications can help you advance more quickly or demand a higher salary.

For example, many salespeople have associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in:

• Marketing
• Communications‌
• Business
• Psychology

These degrees give you a better understanding of how people operate and how to convince them to make a purchase. They also give you better written and verbal communication skills, which are crucial to modern sales flows.

You can also get sales certifications that may make you a more attractive candidate. For example, companies specializing in consultative selling may look for Certified Professional Sales Consultant (CPSC) certificates.

Finally, if you want to work in regulated fields like real estate or insurance, you’ll need industry-specific licenses. The specific license you need will depend on your state. Many employers are willing to fund the licensure process if you have a strong track record in sales.