You already know how to sell: by building relationships, understanding customer needs, and delivering results. Your resume should be no different—it’s your pitch to land the role. But instead of pitching a product, you're selling your value.
Let’s break down how to write a sales resume that hits quota: interviews. Learn everything about writing a resume that sells you as the perfect candidate. Use my top salespeople resume examples and templates to create one that will help you close that deal in no time!
Top Article Insights:
- Sales resume example & template to copy & paste.
- Resume examples for sales associates, sales representatives, sales managers, and more!
- Step-by-step guide on how to write a sales resume.
Sales Resume Example
Sales Resume Template to Copy & Paste (Text Version)
Jamal Turner
Sales Executive
jamal.turner@email.com
312-555-8831
linkedin.com/in/jamal-turner
Summary
Performance-oriented sales executive with over 8 years of experience in B2B sales, CRM strategy, and revenue growth. Known for exceeding quotas by up to 175% and closing high-value accounts. Eager to bring my relationship-building skills and closing ability to GrowthForce Inc. to drive revenue expansion.
Experience
Senior Sales Executive
GrowthForce Inc., Chicago, IL
April 2021–Present
- Closed $4.2M in new business within two years, surpassing sales targets by 150%.
- Built and nurtured a pipeline of 300+ B2B leads using Salesforce and HubSpot CRM.
- Coached junior reps and improved onboarding process, reducing ramp time by 30%
Key Achievement:
- Closed the company's largest deal to date: $1.1M over 18 months.
Sales Representative
TechBridge Solutions, Chicago, IL
July 2017–March 2021
- Maintained 120% average quota attainment for 3 consecutive years.
- Designed account-based selling strategies, improving win rate by 40%.
- Introduced a new client referral program that led to 18% more qualified leads.
Key Achievement:
- Named “Top Closer of the Year” in 2020 and 2019.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of Illinois at Chicago
Graduated: May 2017
- Sales Club Vice President
- GPA: 4.1
Skills
- B2B & B2C Sales
- CRM Tools (Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Negotiation & Closing
- Prospecting & Lead Generation
- Territory Management
- Pipeline Development
- Client Retention Strategies
- Presentation & Demo Skills
- Communication
- Persuasion
Certifications
- Certified Inside Sales Professional, AA-ISP, 2023
- HubSpot Sales Software Certification, 2022
- SPIN Selling Certification, 2021
Awards
- Top Closer of the Year, TechBridge Solutions, 2019 & 2020
- President’s Club, GrowthForce Inc., 2022
Volunteer Work
- Sales Coach, Local Community Business Bootcamp
- Fundraising Committee Member, United Way Chicago
Memberships
- National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
- American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP)
Sales Associate Resume Example
What Makes This Example Stand Out? (Expert Tips)
Nanica is a clean and minimalist resume template, perfect for experienced professionals with a long list of accomplishments. Its streamlined design keeps your career highlights front and center while ensuring everything stays readable and to the point. Ideal for making impact without the clutter.
Find out more: Sales Associate Resume Templates
Sales Representative Resume Example
What Makes This Example Stand Out? (Expert Tips)
Cubic is one of our most dynamic resume templates. The standout feature? Skill bars that visually showcase your strengths at a glance—an eye-catching detail recruiters love. It’s a smart blend of modern design and structured layout that reflects your individuality.
Find out more about: Sales Representative Resume Template
Sales Manager Resume Example
What Makes This Example Stand Out? (Expert Tips)
Influx is an elegant resume template that grabs attention from the start. The bold header neatly displays all your key contact information, helping you leave a strong impression. If you want to be remembered, Influx makes sure you are.
Find out more about: Sales Manager Resume Templates
Retail Sales Associate Resume Example
What Makes This Example Stand Out? (Expert Tips)
Cascade brings together clean lines and smart organization in a modern, two-column format. Its visual flow leads the reader smoothly through your career story. The skill indicators add a unique touch, letting your strengths speak volumes.
Find out more about: Retail Sales Associate Resume Templates
Car Salesman Resume Example
What Makes This Example Stand Out? (Expert Tips)
Initials template is all about branding your candidacy with flair. The bold header highlights your name, but the initials-in-a-circle detail really sets it apart—it’s like your personal logo. Unforgettable, stylish, and professional all in one.
Find out more about: Car Salesman Resume Examples
Looking for a more specific sales or retail position? Check these out:
- Pharmaceutical Sales Resume Example
- Retail Resume Example
- Retail Manager Resume Example
- Relationship Manager Resume Example
Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
How to Write a Sales Resume?
Time to learn the craft of creating a job-winning document, just like these sales resume examples above.

1. Format Your Sales Resume for Clarity and Impact
A well-formatted resume is like a perfect pitch: clear, persuasive, and impossible to ignore. You want to show professionalism at a glance and make it easy for recruiters to see your value. Your layout should reflect how you sell: clean, confident, and to the point. Every detail helps you close the deal on that first impression.
Here’s the ideal sales resume layout:
- Resume Header (with contact info + LinkedIn profile URL)
- Summary or Career Objective
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional Sections (certifications, awards, tools, etc.)
And here’s how to format a resume for sales:
- Use a clean, professional font (11–12 pt).
- Set margins on your resume to one inch and line spacing to 1.5.
- Keep your resume one page long unless you’re a seasoned sales leader.
- Name your resume like this: FirstName-LastName-Sales-Resume.pdf
- Save it as a PDF file to preserve formatting.
Pro Tip: Use bold or italics selectively to draw attention to results, not fluff. Just like in a sales deck, clarity sells.
2. Show Off Your Sales Experience (& the Numbers Behind It)
Sales is about results, so your experience section should reflect just that. Skip the generic duties and lead with numbers that show how you hit (or beat) your targets. Use metrics to prove your impact: revenue growth, deal size, conversion rates, and more. Show them you don’t just talk the talk—you close.
How to write your experience section:
- Start with your most recent role and go backward. This is a reverse chronological resume format, and it’s the recruiter’s top buy.
- For each role, include:
- Job title
- Company
- Dates of employment
- 4–6 bullet points highlighting achievements
- Begin each bullet with an action verb to boost the readability of your resume.
- Quantify your wins wherever possible. Remember, it’s the numbers that matter most.
Here’s an example of how to do it right:
Senior Sales Executive
GrowthForce Inc., Chicago, IL
April 2021–Present
- Closed $4.2M in new business within two years, surpassing sales targets by 150%.
- Built and nurtured pipeline of 300+ B2B leads using Salesforce and HubSpot CRM.
- Coached junior reps and improved onboarding process, reducing ramp time by 30%
Key Achievement:
- Closed the company's largest deal to date: $1.1M over 18 months.
Pro Tip: Align bullets with the job description. If the role emphasizes outbound, showcase prospecting. If it’s enterprise sales, highlight deal size and sales cycle.
3. Make the Education Section Short but Strategic
Sales roles don’t always require a specific degree, but your education still counts. Especially if you majored in business, communication, or marketing. Even if you didn’t, highlight anything that shows leadership or persuasion skills.
How to build a substantial education resume section:
- Things to include:
- Your Degree
- Minors and Majors
- School Location
- Graduation Date
- Things to consider:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of Illinois at Chicago
Graduated: May 2017
- Sales Club Vice President
- GPA: 4.1
Pro Tip: Still learning? Include that on your resume as well, along with your expected graduation date.
4. Highlight Sales Skills That Employers Want
Your sales skills are your chance to show recruiters you're not just a talker—you have the tools and techniques to perform. But you must show a potent mix of interpersonal finesse, product knowledge, and data fluency. This is where you list your soft skills and your ability to work with CRMs, analytics tools, and pipelines, AKA your hard skills.
Here are the top hard and soft sales skills for a resume:

Learn more about selecting and highlighting your abilities. Visit our guide: How to Put Skills on a Resume in 2025
5. Add Extra Sections That Close the Deal
Want to have an application that truly stands out? Add bonus sections to your sales resume. Allow them to paint your full picture as a sales pro. These details can be your winning points, especially in competitive markets.
Certifications
- Certified Inside Sales Professional, AA-ISP, 2023
- HubSpot Sales Software Certification, 2022
- SPIN Selling Certification, 2021
Awards
- Top Closer of the Year, TechBridge Solutions, 2019 & 2020
- President’s Club, GrowthForce Inc., 2022
Volunteer Work
- Sales Coach, Local Community Business Bootcamp
- Fundraising Committee Member, United Way Chicago
Memberships
- National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
- American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP)
Pro Tip: If you’ve done freelance sales, consulting, or built a sales playbook—flex it here. Real results matter more than job titles.
6. Start Strong With a Sales Resume Summary or Objective
This short section should sell your value in two to three sharp lines. Think of it as your personal elevator pitch. Highlight your sales success, relevant experience, and what you bring. A well-written resume profile is how you convince your potential employer to read your entire resume.
- Use a resume summary if you have 2+ years of experience.
- Use a career objective if you’re newer to sales or shifting careers.
Performance-oriented sales executive with over 8 years of experience in B2B sales, CRM strategy, and revenue growth. Known for exceeding quotas by up to 175% and closing high-value accounts. Eager to bring my relationship-building skills and closing ability to GrowthForce Inc. to drive revenue expansion.
Pro Tip: Mention the company name in your summary/objective. Personalization shows intention, and sales is all about relationships.
7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Sales Resume
Salespeople know the power of storytelling, and your cover letter is the place to show it. Use it to connect your background to the company’s mission and show how your skills align with their goals. Mention a recent success or insight that proves you're ready to contribute. Done right, it becomes your warm lead.
Here’s how to write a perfect cover letter:
- Start with a cover letter heading, including yours and your recipient’s contact details.
- Add the date of writing.
- Open with a professional cover letter salutation.
- Begin your cover letter by mentioning your job title and why you are interested in this particular job.
- Focus on what you can bring to the company, and not on what you expect to gain from joining them.
- List some of your skills and achievements from your resume.
- End your cover letter by offering a precise time and date for an interview. As a successful salesperson, you must be bold.
- Finish your cover letter with a professional sign-off.
Example opening paragraph:
Dear Mr. Hayes,
After consistently exceeding sales quotas and closing deals worth $100K+ at NexaTech, I’m excited about the opportunity to bring that momentum to GrowthStack’s sales team. Your recent expansion into the healthcare vertical caught my attention, and I believe my industry knowledge and consultative selling style would make a fast impact.
Find out more: How to Write a Sales Cover Letter in 2025
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Expert Curated Video Content
In this video, Caio, our Certified Professional Resume Writer, gives you tips on how to write a great resume in 5 minutes.
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