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Tips on Sales Resumes

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Our free market society runs on effective sales. Salespeople are a very valuable part of any company's operations and every company is constantly on the lookout for persuasive sales staff. If you're a salesman looking for a new job, there are some tips to ensure you close the deal.
Make a First Impression

Sell yourself first by having a small portrait of yourself on your resume. We are an image-driven society yet few people take the opportunity to make their resumes distinct by the use of a picture. Make sure the photo you include is a professional image and not of you basking on a beach. Size the image so that your face is clearly discernible but not so large as to overshadow your resume details.

Announce Your Strengths

Make a bold statement at the beginning of your resume about your strengths, ability and background as a salesperson. More and more companies are looking for sales personnel with expertise in selling in their particular industry. If you've sold pharmaceuticals for most of your career, let that be known upfront in your statement. Take the time to ponder before you write this important self-disclosure statement, especially if you are a seasoned sales professional. Use this statement as opposed to the usual statement of an objective that most people include on their resumes. Make this statement no more than 10 to 15 words in length.
Count Your Successes

Demonstrate that you are a sales "rainmaker" by recounting your history of sales successes. Detail at length in quantifiable terms, your record of sales effectiveness either in dollars or units moved over a defined period of time. Compare those sales results with the same time period the preceding year or whatever the term duration to provide perspective for the reviewer of your resume. Use percentage increase to quantify the differences you have made. Recount your ability to handle sales on a regional or territory basis. Specify how important your sales area was to a company's overall sales revenue and if the territory had any challenges that you met successfully.
Awards and Honors

If you've been given awards or recognitions because of your sales performance, list those accomplishments and honors as they single you out as being able to not only make your personal sales goal, but to exceed it. By surpassing your goal, you are one of the few salesmen whose performance is considered exceptional. Make sure your next employer knows just how valuable you can be.