Sales Manager Resume Examples & Templates for 2024

Sales managers are the alchemists of business, turning leads into gold. But when it comes to your resume, you need a touch of magic to make it sparkle. 

Our guide is like a Philosopher’s Stone, here to grant your wish, turning your sales manager resume into a dazzling display that'll have recruiters spellbound. Time to conjure up some career success!

This guide will show you:

• A sample resume for sales manager jobs better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a sales manager resume in our builder and land more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to write skills for sales manager resumes.
• How to prepare sales manager job description resume to get any job you want.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

Looking for related jobs in sales? See one of our dedicated guides:

• Retail Resume Sample
• Sales Resume Sample
• Sales Representative Resume Sample
• Retail Manager Resume Sample
• Merchandiser Resume Sample
• Retail Sales Associate Resume Sample
• Salesforce Resume Sample
• Ecommerce Resume Sample
• Sales Assistant Resume Sample
• Best Examples of Resumes for Any Job

Here's how to write a sales manager resume:

1

Sales Manager Resume Example

Pick a Good Sales Manager Resume Template

Here’s the thing: we make judgments based on first impressions. Research suggests it only takes 1/10 of a second to form one. This is why choosing the best template for your sales manager resume is so vital. A recruiter’s brief glance may decide about your future.

So make sure your sales manager resume:

• Looks elegant and professional
• Is easily navigable and legible
• Puts white space to good use
• Uses ATS- and reader friendly fonts.

How? First off, go for the reverse-chronological resume format. It puts your experience and key achievements in the limelight. Also, it’s the best-established resume format and all recruiters feel comfortable reading it.

If you want to be absolutely certain your formatting stays intact on the hiring manager’s end, export your sales manager resume to PDF.

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Pro Tip: Match your resume to the company culture. Our resume builder offers a range of styles: from creative to elegant to minimal.

Looking for advice on resume length? Not sure if a one-page resume is better than a two-page resume? Get the ideal resume length with our guide: How Long Should a Resume Be? Ideal Resume Length

2

Write a Sales Manager Resume Objective or Summary

If your resume looks good enough—you’ll win 6 seconds of the recruiter’s attention. This is how much (or little) time they’ll spend scanning your sales manager resume.

The trick is to make your resume riveting. How? By topping it with the choicest opening section. One that will make the other candidates look like they’re applying for a job at a lemonade stand. Before we move on, let’s take a look at the differences between a resume summary and objective.

A sales manager resume summary is a brief rundown of your relevant experience and key achievements. It’s perfect for experienced candidates for sales manager positions.

Take a look at these two automobile sales manager resume summaries:

Sales Manager Resume Summary Statement

Here’s a quick breakdown of why the good example leaves the bad one far behind:

1. It starts with your strong character trait.
2. Shows who you are and specifies your experience.
3. Addresses the company by name.
4. Shows what you can offer by mentioning your biggest achievement(s).

And:

5. Offers numbers wherever possible.

A sales manager resume objective focuses on your skills and shows why you’re a perfect fit for the position. It works best for candidates who want to switch careers, step up the career ladder, or get a place at an entry-level sales management training program for freshers.

Whatever your motivation, one thing remains the same: Your sales manager resume objective just can't suck. Here are examples of right and wrong sales manager resume objectives:

Objective for Sales Manager Resume

The good example focuses on the specific skills the recruiter is after. The ones that show your potential for success in the role of a sales manager.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, our easy resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

3

Make the Most of Every Sales Manager Resume Job Description

Listen: the hiring manager is not looking for a salesman you surely are. They’re looking for a leader you have to become. So—let your sales manager resume job description show you’re ready to lead and inspire your team.

How to Prepare a Sales Manager Job Description for a Resume

• Follow the reverse-chronology resume format and put your latest position up top. Let the previous one follow it, and so on.
• Add your job title, company name, and dates.
• Try not to list more than 6 bullet points for each position.
• Describe your responsibilities in terms of achievements. Responsibilities + numbers = achievements.
• Put numbers where you can. Numbers speak louder than words.
• Tailor your resume to the job. Show what you’ve done that’s relevant to this particular position.

Now, let’s take a look at a sales manager job description from a job ad. All the key skills are underlined:

Sales Manager Responsibilities:

• Analyze sales statistics to define sales potential.
• Ensure customer satisfaction and resolve customer issues.
• Manage day-to-day performance of sales team.
• Motivate, train, and coach sales staff while applying feedback.
• Build consistent lead generation with the marketing team.
• Monitor performance metrics of sales team and report data.

Remember—your sales manager resume must be more than a laundry list of all the stuff you’ve ever done. Show the hiring manager you’re great at doing what they need you to do. Here’s what a tailored sales manager resume job description could look like:

Sales Manager Job Description for a Resume

The difference? In the good example, the keywords from the job ad fit into the natural flow of each bullet point. The bad example is nothing more than a copy-pasted job description from the job offer. Ouch.

Even if it manages to fool the ATS, the hiring manager is going to feed their shredder with it. Generic resumes are every shredder’s favorite. Now, if you want to move into your first sales manager role, you need to follow the same rules. To cut a long story short:

• Customize your experience section to the job description
• Focus on the skills the hiring manager is after

Here’s what your sales manager job description could read like:

Assistant Sales Manager Job Description—Resume Example

This sales manager job description proves that this sales rep is ready to inspire their team to succeed.

Remember—you might want to make some parts of your job description stand out more. Use bold to highlight what you’re most proud of. You can also underline, add links, and much more. With our resume builder formatting is easy and intuitive.

If you’re still hungry for more information on how to make a job-winning experience section on your sales manager resume, read our guide: Work Experience on a Resume: Job Description Samples and Tips

4. Put the Right Sales Manager Skills on Your Resume

It’s really simple: you’ll get the job if your skills are up to par. So—you must make sure everything that makes you stand out from the crowd gets proper exposure on your sales manager resume.

What skills to include on a perfect sales manager resume?

In short, the relevant ones. Take a good look at the job offer you’re replying to, and pick out the skills the company is looking for. Got them? Chances are most of them are already in your job description. Yay!

But you can still sprinkle your sales manager resume objective or summary with some more skills. And put the ones you take most pride in a separate key skills section. Remember, though.

Relevance is key. It’s not about any skills, it’s about the ones that make you a great manager. If you’re looking for inspiration, here’s a list of some typical key skills for a sales manager resume.

Examples of Sales Manager Skills for Your Resume

• Analytical skills
• Budgeting
• Building relationships
• Coaching
• Communication skills
• Customer service skills
• Delegation
• Leadership skills
• Managing processes
• Market knowledge
• Meeting sales goals
• Motivation
• Negotiation
• Problem-solving
• Reporting
• CRM: Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Sugar Sell, HubSpot Sales
• Sales planning
• Selling to customer needs
• Staffing
• Strategy
• Technical skills
• Time-management skills
• Vision

Pro Tip: Don’t go overboard with how many skills you list. Choose up to 7-9 of your top sales manager skills. This way you’ll avoid the so-called Presenter’s Paradox.

To save space and make your skills section stand out, try moving it to the sidebar on your resume. The good news?

Looking for more inspiration on the best skills for managers? Here’s a guide you may find interesting: Top 10 Management Skills: List & Great Advice (Not Just for Managers)

5. Create an Education Section for Your Sales Manager Resume

Here’s the thing. You’re applying for a managerial position, you can’t be green behind the ears. You can omit the entire education section entirely, right? Wrong.

Don’t skip any section. Ever. As a seasoned pro, you’re free to limit your sales manager resume education section to the necessary minimum, though.

List your:

• Degree
• Major/minor
• School name
• Graduation date

Add only your highest degree of education on your resume. There’s no need to dive any deeper.

Senior Sales Manager Resume Sample—Education Section

Need more information on how to list education on your resume? Head straight to our guide: Education Resume Section: Examples for Different Scenarios

6. Add Other Sections for the Best Sales Manager Resume

At this point, we can easily say your sales manager resume has everything a good resume needs. It’s done. Or is it?

Remember—on average, you must beat 250+ candidates. So, let them be the average. For you, it’s time to add value. How?

By including extra sections, such as:

• Awards
• Courses
• Certifications
• Conferences
• Volunteering
• Industry blog
• Language skills
• Interests and activities

Prove your worth to the hiring manager, show you’re a perfect cultural fit ready to drive change!

Not sure what extra sections to add to your sales manager resume? Take a look at our guide: What to Include on a Job-Winning Resume

7. Write a Sales Manager Resume Cover Letter

Yes, it’s true: Only half of hiring managers care about cover letters, according to our HR statistics report. But—less than half of candidates send them.

So ask yourself this question—would you rather get the job and overdeliver along the way, or get rejected because you underdelivered Well, let’s take it a step further. Would you rather inspire a team of overachievers, or struggle with a bunch of sluggards?

See how it works? A well-written cover letter not only can double your chances but also shows you care. This is what’s being tested with the “cover letters optional” blurb in the job ad.

A great cover letter that matches the style of your sales manager resume will give you an edge over the other candidates. Plus, you get the extra change to underline your awesome sales manager skills.

All in all, 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:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Don’t know how to go about writing a cover letter? Here’s a guide that will help you out: Cover Letter Writing in 8 Simple Steps [Proven Template]

Key Takeaway

Here’s a brief summary of the most important points about making a sales manager resume:

• Choose an elegant sales manager resume template.
• Start with a compelling sales manager resume objective or summary. Show off your skills and key achievements.
• Create a relevant sales manager job description for your resume. Focus on your achievements, not responsibilities.
• Include additional sections for extra value.
• Tailor your resume to a particular job offer. Call the company you’re applying to by name in the opening statement.

Are you writing a sales manager resume for the first time? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned pro eager to help the rookies out? We’d love to hear from you, leave your comment below!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/how-many-seconds-to-a-first-impression
• https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1523422313488753