Sales CV examples + guide

A Sales CV is all about proving to an employer that you can generate leads, close deals, and grow business relationships for tem. It’s your first pitch to recruiters, so it needs to highlight your achievements and experience in a way that grabs their attention.

This guide will help you organise your sales expertise, tailor your application to the role, and leave recruiters eager to call you for an interview.

Your CV needs to be as clear and persuasive as your best sales pitch – if it’s not selling you, then no one’s buying. Recruiters want to see your skills, experience, and results at a glance, so a well-structured CV is essential.

Here’s how to structure your Sales CV:

• Name and contact details – Start with your name and personal information—make it simple for recruiters to reach you. Including a photo is a personal choice.
• Profile – Use this section to summarise your experience, strengths, ambition, and what makes you a standout candidate.
• Core skills – Provide a quick overview of your top skills, like negotiation, lead generation, and CRM software proficiency, that show why you’re a great fit.
• Work experience – Outline your career progression in reverse order, emphasising your contributions and successes.
• Education – Provide details on your academic background, including certifications or specialised training.
• Additional info – Use this optional space for relevant hobbies and interests or personal pursuits that could boost your application and appeal to a recruiter.

Your CV’s format should be as polished as your best sales presentation – avoid any clutter, and certainly avoid any typos. Even the most impressive achievements can be overshadowed by poor formatting and avoidable mistakes.

Here’s how to format your Sales CV:

• Bullet points – Break information into snappy, impactful points that are easy to skim through.
• Divide sections – Bold headings and consistent spacing make your CV easy on the eye and even easier to navigate
• Use a clean font – Stick with a professional, easily readable font to keep your CV looking sharp.
• Keep it the right length – No more than 2 pages, ensuring your highlights are front and centre while avoiding unnecessary detail that will test a recruiter’s patience.

Your CV profile is the sales hook of your application, giving recruiters a quick insight into your skills and accomplishments. For a salesperson, this is where you prove you can deliver results and really convey to the recruiter the tangible benefits of hiring you.

Here are some tips to make your profile sparkle like the commission cheque you’ll soon be earning:

• Where you’ve worked – Note clearly which specific industries or markets you’ve sold to, such as B2B, retail, or tech.
• Your top qualifications – Highlight your key certifications or training programs in sales or marketing.
• Key skills – Tell the recruiter your important skills like prospecting, negotiation, and relationship building.
• Sales targets met – Reference your record of hitting or exceeding quotas.
• Clients you’ve worked with – Mention high-profile clients or specific sectors to demonstrate your expertise.

Your core skills section is like a product feature list – it shows off your most valuable abilities at a glance.

For sales roles, focus on skills that highlight your ability to connect with clients, drive revenue, and manage accounts effectively. Tailor this section to the job description for maximum impact.

Your work experience section is where you showcase your sales expertise and the results you’ve achieved in previous roles. Highlight your contributions to revenue growth, client acquisition, and target achievement.

Write your job history in reverse chronological order, with more recent and relevant stuff at the top. If you’re newer to the field, focus on internships, volunteer roles, or even your time as the unofficial school fundraiser champion.

• Outline – Provide an overview of the company, your role, and the products or services you sold.
• Responsibilities – Highlight tasks like lead generation, client retention, or team collaboration. Use action verbs like “secured,” “achieved,” or “led.”
• Achievements – Showcase measurable outcomes, such as revenue growth, increased client retention, or exceeding sales quotas. Always include figures where possible to strengthen your impact.

Your education section is like the training manual of your CV – it’s not the main feature, but it supports the whole operation. It should highlight the academic background or training that proves your fit for a job in sales. 

Include degrees, certifications, or professional development courses. List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent and relevant.