Sales Manager Resume Examples [+ Job Description & Skills]

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Selling is a mystical minefield. While sales executives look outwards, mainly responsible for maintaining clients’ partnership and setting up the company’s long-term strategies, sales managers and directors look inward, responsible for training and managing sales staff and team on a daily basis (They are, however, in charge of different geographic regions). Nevertheless, their duties are similar. Both the sales manager and sales director’s mission is to edify their mighty industry-rules and decorum for the fledglings: to guide and lead until they grow up their full wings. 

A compelling sales manager resume can help one make a great impression, connections, friends, or foes —— and even secure the sales manager position through showing your own trustworthiness. This is the time to unveil the magic of writing a strong sales manager resume.

Here are some crucial steps one should get the hang of it before sending that sales manager resume.

The table below bullet-pointed the differences between the two. Just keep in mind, depending on the country you live in, the two-term may come across as the same thing, or drastically diverse requirement. 

The right resume format suitable for your sales profile and experiences is the key. Commonly, candidates will choose their sales manager resume format from the major 4 types: functional, chronological, targeted, and hybrid (click here to understand more about “The 4 Prominent Type for Sales Director Resume Formats”.

Referencing is the recipe for originality and victory to the game (despite how absurd it may sound). Sales manager resume samples will become your great friend. We shall all “stand on the shoulders of giants” —— study and transform from good sales manager resume examples, and make them your own (in an authentic way)!

Tailoring your sales manager resume makes all the difference. Despite the seemingly similar title and the overlapping skills and duties, from the recruiter’s perspective, there is still a difference between a car sales manager and an insurance sales manager: so should their resume.

A sales manager cover letter is a formal greeting (mostly through email nowadays) that not only introduces yourself, but also tells the recruiters how and why they should see the best in you.

Proofread. Proofread. Proofread. A spelling mistake on a sales director’s resume will be such a big joke. A senior leader without meticulous attention to detail? That is probably the last impression a candidate would want their recruiter to hold.

This is a short paraphrase of what you should put in a sales manager’s resume.

1. Resume Profile / Personal Information

One could be wondering what personal information should 100% INCLUDE and AVOID? Too little seems unprofessional and impolite, but too many personal details seem unbearing too.

2. Resume Title / Headline

A resume headline is a short (10-word max) title that highlights one’s strong point and experiences. Treat a headline like the titles of an article or writings. They are the eye-catchers, customized and capitalized. Abbreviations and keywords associated with the industry and role are recommended. 

3. Sales Manager Resume Summary Statement & Objective

A mere title within 50 word counts is far from enough: this is where a sales manager summary, which asserts one’s notable achievements and skills, and career objectives for a sales manager (as its name suggests, focus on goals and visions) should come into play.

Although this section should only encompass 2-3 sentences, it is integral for one to treat it seriously. Keep in mind most companies prefer a summary, which presents practical experiences, better than vague career objectives.

Here is an example of a professional summary for a sales manager:

4. Skills for a Sales Manager Resume 

A sales director’s resume reveals a great deal of information about the person who wrote it.

What skills do you own?

What skills do a sales manager have on their resume?

This is one of the most challenging questions candidates mull over. One can’t just blabber and fraud a list of fancy abilities — you will surely get noticed by the recruiters, in a bad way.

5. Sales Manager Working Experiences on a Resume

Past working experience can serve as a check on whether the candidate is authentically presenting their abilities, whether it ranges from soft skills like team building or hard skills such as SQL programming.

6. Education Information for a Sales Manager Resume

What recruiters care the most about is how a candidate can bring a bright spark from their previous experiences — whether from the past employment or even from their academic history. This is where the education section comes into play.

The basic information that should be on the education profile summary for a sales manager (a potential one) includes:

• Degree &  Major  & School   
• Honors & Awards  
• Year of Graduation 
• Minor, Certification, GPA, Extracurricular activities (optional info!) 

It is not necessary to include one's high school information unless it's your highest education degree obtained.

7. Additional Information to Put on a Sales Director Resume

The gulf between you and other candidates arises from differences in your experiences — the ability to frame yourself in the best light possible for the position. 

It is recommended for a candidate to obtain the basic certifications/experiences one should have as a sales, such as CISP from AA-ISP organization, Hubspot’s courses and licenses, or third language proficiency. 

Signs of taking leadership roles in the team can also help. Show your initiative, potential, and absolute determination.

Before sending your sales director resume out (or even start writing it!), one has the opportunity to rehash all mistakes, fears, and courage on that piece of paper (maybe 2). Some tips will help along the way.

Cover letter, so-called the job application letter for sales managers, is probably the first information recruiters (or anyone whom you are reaching out to) receive. Hence, it will largely decide whether or not your sales managers resume will be opened.

One may ponder, but writing a cover letter for a sales manager with no experience is not so different from those who have. Replace those regarding professional employment history with your extracurricular activities, apply the same tips, then thou shall be fine.

However, do keep in mind recruiters prefer candidates with prior experiences for senior roles. Make sure you have met their requirements and the guts as well as skills to handle the job before you send out that sales manager cover letter.

--- Originally written by Julia Chu ---