Car sales CV example

A good sales pitch is clear, persuasive, and impossible to ignore – your CV should be no different. This guide will take you step by step through writing a CV that properly showcases your impressive sales achievements. By the time you’re done, your CV will be showroom ready.

A well-structured CV ensures that employers can quickly assess your experience and ability to close deals. A cluttered CV structure will only distract from those things, so make it as easy as possible on recruiters and organise things logically.

Here’s the layout you should follow:

• Name and contact details – Start with your name and contact 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, and what makes you a standout candidate, citing your customer service skills and ability to hit targets.
• Core skills – Outline your primary competencies, including negotiation and product knowledge, to give recruiters a snapshot of your strengths.
• Work experience – Walk through your professional experience, beginning with your latest position and moving backwards.
• Education – Outline your education and certifications, focusing on those most relevant to the role.
• Additional info – This section is optional, but it’s a good place for hobbies that complement your professional profile.

An untidy showroom isn’t going to close any deals, and your CV format is the same. Like any sales pitch, you should make things clear and to the point: don’t let visual mistakes overshadow your genuine fit for the role.

Here’s some useful tips on formatting:

• Bullet points – Employ short, punchy bullet points to make responsibilities and achievements easy to read.
• Divide sections – Structure your CV with distinct sections that make it easy to scan.
• Use a clear and readable font – Choose a professional, readable font that keeps the focus on your content.
• No more than 2 pages – Plenty of length to show your expertise without overwhelming the reader.

Your CV profile (personal statement for newer candidates) is your personal sales pitch – a quick but compelling introduction to your car sales expertise. Your profile needs to quickly establish your sales expertise and customer focus, going over all the things recruiters expect to see from a stellar candidate.

Here’s what to include:

• Sales experience – Highlight your industry experience, whether in new cars, used vehicles, or fleet sales.
• Target achievements – Showcase how you’ve exceeded quotas and closed high-value deals.
• Customer service skills – Demonstrate your ability to build rapport and maintain long-term client relationships.
• Product knowledge – If you specialise in certain brands or types of vehicles, mention it.
• Lead generation and follow-up – Highlight your ability to turn enquiries into purchases.

When hiring managers open up your CV, they’re automatically scanning for certain skills that you’ll need to do well in the role. Car sales require a mix of interpersonal, negotiation, and technical skills, so make sure to bullet point those. 

Tailor this section to highlight the abilities that best match the job description. If the role is focused on showroom sales, emphasise face-to-face customer interaction. If it involves online sales, highlight digital marketing and CRM proficiency.

Hiring managers want to see results – just like customers, they won’t be impressed by vague claims. Your work experience section should highlight your ability to generate leads, close deals, and keep customers coming back.

List roles in reverse order, ensuring each entry is structured with bullet points. If you’re newer to the field, focus on transferable skills from retail, hospitality, or customer service roles.

• Outline – Introduce the dealership, your role, and the type of vehicles you sold.
• Responsibilities – List key tasks, such as customer consultations, upselling finance packages, and handling trade-ins. Use action words like “negotiated”, “closed”, and “converted”.
• Achievements – Highlight measurable outcomes, such as hitting sales targets, increasing revenue, or improving customer retention.

Education tends to take a back seat to proven experience in this field, but they’re still important to mention.

Briefly go over the most recent and relevant qualifications you’ve earned, from degrees in business, marketing, or sales, to industry-specific training courses, such as manufacturer certifications or finance and insurance (F&I) training.