Your Sales CV Has 7 Seconds To Get That Interview

Will your resume achieve that sort of positive response? Counter any possible negatives the employer may see in your resume with solutions to gain the best chance to that interview. 

SalesJobs.ie have set out a guide to crafting the perfect resume.
 

Snappy!
Not too short, not too long. Typical Sales Resume is three pages long, can be two.

Write concisely avoiding long-winded phrases.  Begin each statement with an action verb, for example: “Initiated Sales training Course”. Use bullet points where appropriate especially in listing achievements.

Sell Yourself
A resume is no place to be modest. Sing your praises.

 
Target Your Resume
Make changes to your resume to suit the potential position, emphasising relevant skills, experience and achievements according to the position’s requirements.

 
Deal with any objections before they are raised.  This is a classic sales technique. View your resume with a critical eye and if you spot any gaps or potential problems make sure you counter them before they even occur to your potential employer.

 
Accuracy
No typos - use a spellchecker. Ensure margins are in line and fonts are consistent. Read the resume over several times and get a friend to read it too. Remember, the employer will take this as an example of your ability to type and set out letters.

 
Ensure the physical presentation of your resume is impressive and pay attention to paper and print quality if posting. Stick to using only one or two types of font.

 
Format
Here’s what we believe the perfect layout to look like:

Personal Details
Present at the start of the resume and immediately visible they should include a postal address, a residential address, a phone number and an email address. It`s a good idea to provide a mobile phone number too.

 
The employer will be interested in the distance you have to travel to work from home. If you think that it may be an issue provide the solution in your resume. You could say that you are planning to move closer to the job location. Don’t forget to mention you have a full driver’s licence and clean history- if you have!
 

Summary Statement

Following personal details, a summary or objective section is an essential part of a top-notch resume. This is where you can present a powerful summary of your professional status, overall experience and skills set.  Tailored to position you correctly for the advertised role you may also cover your career objectives very briefly if these are compatible with the role. Don’t use vague, clichéd language.

 
Skills
Everyone should include this section: PC skills, software sales tools, prospecting databases, etc.

 
Relevant Experience
Begin with your most recent position going back in time, demonstrating how your career has progressed.

 
For each position list the start date and the end date, job title using bullet points to list your responsibilities and achievements.

 
If you made your company €100,000, mention this amount as an achievement. Try to use hard facts whenever possible. Achievements always popular with prospective employers include:
 

Saving your company money

Making your company money

Improving systems or processes

Taking on extra responsibilities

Increasing customer satisfaction

Exceeding targets

Solving problems

Be aware that employers are usually very interested in your length of stay at a particular company. Candidates who can demonstrate they have grown within a company are usually preferred to candidates who have progressed in their careers by hopping from company to company.

 
Professional Qualifications and Memberships
If you have any professional qualifications or you are a member of a professional association include in this section, otherwise simply leave it out.

 
Education
List all relevant education; detail only the most recent and relevant. It is probably not necessary to mention that woodwork qualification you got when you were 16.

Hobbies and Interests
Employers are interested in this section to obtain an insight into your character. It`s a bit like the old adage “look at what people do, not what they say”.   If you are interested in rugby, listen to jazz, read biographies, this may indicate a balanced individual. On the other hand, if your interests include pubs, nightclubbing and partying it may indicate a person who will turn up for work each day with a hangover.

 
Once again, target your statements if possible. For example, if you are applying for a job selling property, mention that you enjoyed building your own home/enjoy DIY/keen property investor, etc.

Referees Section
Include a list of your referees and their contact phone numbers. This demonstrates that you have nothing to hide rather than writing “referees are available upon request”. Ensure referees are made aware of potential contact.  It would be beneficial if the referee acted as Principal or responsible Sales Manager and not just a work colleague at previous employment.

 
Covering letter
 Always send a covering letter, which should be a concise document of no more than one page. Reference the position you are applying for and include a brief paragraph indicating your strong interest and suitability.

You should ideally follow this opening paragraph with a brief bullet point list illustrating the relevance of your skills, qualifications and experience to each of the key requirements listed in the role advertisement.

 
A brief closing sentence should express your interest in an interview and give your contact telephone number.

Now all you have to do is create it! If you would like a template Word resume document, email us at info@salesjobs.ie and we will be happy to send you one.