First impressions in any job interview are very crucial, so in the case of a career as a sales representative. This first impression is formed by the sales representative resume the candidate sends to the employer. Thus, it becomes essential to design and create a resume that is persuasive, professional, and accurate. This resume is important on two levels.
Firstly, it conveys the candidate’s professional experience and background. And secondly, it helps the employer form an impression about the potential skill sets and abilities of the candidate. Thus, for a successful career as a sales representative, the very first step lies in designing a perfectly layered resume. This article will list the important components that the resume should have in order for it to get selected.
Best Way to Format a Sales Representative Resume
It is very important to tailor one’s resume so as to bag the position of a sales representative. The best way to achieve this is by following the given steps:
1. Follow the Best Format
The very first step is to choose the most appropriate resume format. These include:
- Reverse-Chronological Format: Reverse-chronological format is one format that can be taken into consideration. This format is most suitable for applicants who have prior experience. This is because this format helps in laying focus on and prioritizing the candidate’s prior work experiences.
- Functional Resume Format: Another format that can be taken into consideration is the functional resume format. This format should be adopted by recent graduates or graduates who want to change their career stream. This format of resume is skill-based; that is, it lays emphasis on the skills and abilities of the candidate.
- Hybrid Resume: The third format to be considered is the combination/hybrid resume. This is a blend of the other two formats mentioned above. Thus, with this hybrid resume format, the candidates will be able to highlight both their work experiences and skill sets.
2. Utilize Accurate Resume Layout and Structure
It is highly advised that the layout of the resume should be simple to read and understand.
- Layout: One should use a font size of 10-12pt, and the read fonts should be either Cambria, Times New Roman, Arial, or Cambria. These factors help in easing the readability of the resume.
- Structure: Aside from the layout, it is also important to follow a constructive layout. The resume should have different sections in order. The header should be placed first. A professional summary or objective follows next. Work experience and education sections should be placed after the summary. Skill is an important part of the resume that should be added after education and work experience. Achievements, publications, honors, interests, and more should be added in the end.
- Header: While talking about the structure, one should not forget the important part played by the header section. The header sections open doors to the personal information of the candidate. It should include the full name, job title, phone number, professional email address, location, and link to the LinkedIn profile.
Which Skills Should be Added to the Sales Representative Resume
Skills play a very vital role in attracting and impressing the employer. The important skills that one should add to the resume for the Sales Representative position are:
1. Sales Software Proficiency: If the candidate already has work experience in using sales software programs, then it should definitely be added to the list of skills on the resume. It helps in portraying that the candidate is capable of learning new programs quickly.
2. Product Knowledge: Before applying for the sales representative position. Every candidate should be aware of the product and services that the company offers. Understanding every factor of the product is the sign of a professional salesperson. Knowledge of the product will also prove that the candidate is familiar with its benefits and is capable of fighting and solving any challenge that falls in the way.
3. Active Listening and Verbal Communication: Another important quality of sales persons is their active listening skills. Listening is important to learn and understand how to approach a customer. Attentively listening to a customer helps them feel important and valued.
Alongside this, professional salespersons are also known for their excellent verbal communication skills. This is because the career of a sales representative is built on making and closing deals through conversations.
