Use These Sales Manager Resume Tips & Templates to Get the Job

Ready for a career pivot to a sales manager position?

You've spent hours searching job boards, identified the ideal job, and now it's time to apply. Then the panic sets in …

You begin to question everything: How do I begin writing my sales manager resume? Do my skills even apply to this role? What does the employer want to know?

Not to fear! Here are some sales manager resume tips and templates to calm your nerves and help you get the job of your dreams.

Sales Manager Resume Tips

After reading your resume, a potential employer should understand the impact you had in your previous roles and how well those experiences and skills will translate to the new role you're applying to.

I spoke with Pratik 'Tiki' Biswal, Director of Sales at HubSpot, and he provided some resume writing tips. He recommends highlighting:

• Coaching experience or your passion for coaching.
• Projects you worked on to elevate the entire division (especially ones that are outside the scope of your normal job).
• How you helped others progress their career.
• How you led from the seat you're in: explain how you mastered your sales job and took on leadership opportunities.

Next, we'll discuss how to organize all of your career highlights into a resume format that's clear and concise.

Featured Resource: 12 Free Resume Templates

Best Resume Format for Sales Manager

Sales Manager Resume Objective

The resume objective, also known as an executive or professional summary, is the first thing that a recruiter or hiring manager will read on your resume. This is where you'll provide a brief, one to two-sentence summary of your experience which should demonstrate to the employer that you're qualified for the position.

When applying for sales manager roles, here are some elements you’ll want to include in your objective section:

• A summary of your experience, including years of experience in sales, relevant skills, and high-level qualifications.
• How you will add value to the organization you’re applying to work for.
• Your career goals related to obtaining the position.

For example, if you are a seasoned sales rep who is ready to take on a position in management your objective could say:

"High-performing sales professional who sold $200K in B2B software products using data-driven sales strategies. Seeking a sales manager position to use my coaching, analytical, and relationship-building skills to motivate and develop a winning sales team at XYZ Company."

Now that you have a well-written objective, let’s complete the rest of your resume. Here are the key elements of a resume that a recruiter or hiring manager will be looking for.

1. Contact Information

How will a recruiter get in touch with you? Include your name, phone number, and email address at the top of your resume so they can reach out.

While you do not need to put your full physical address on your resume, you may want to include your city and state if you want the recruiter to know you are a local candidate.

2. Work Experience

This is where you highlight the specific jobs that helped you gain your sales and managerial experience. List your most recent jobs first and include action words to emphasize your impact in each role:

• Achieved
• Established
• Coached
• Influenced
• Expanded
• Improved
• Collaborated
• Trained

Bold any keywords, numbers, or statistics that highlight your impact so they stand out from the rest of the text. Many resume templates and builders allow you to add links as well. Add a link to your LinkedIn profile, a piece of content you wrote, or a project you worked on to provide additional context.

Include keywords that were used in the job description for the role you're applying to. If you upload your resume to a website, the keywords make it more likely to appear in search engines. And applicant tracking systems (ATS) will scan your resume for keywords to help recruiters see if you'd be a good fit.

3. Education

Include your education experience and academic achievements. If there are any specific leadership roles you took on during that time (e.g., team captain of a sports team or president of a club), add them to your resume. And don't forget to list any sales training or managerial courses you participated in.

4. Skills and Qualifications

There should be keywords from the job description used throughout your resume. This section of the resume should highlight specific skills and qualifications the employer is looking for.

Add any certificates you earned and any skills that match the qualifications from the job description. Here are a few common sales manager skills and qualifications that sales professionals will list on their resumes:

• Coaching skills
• Ability to observe, evaluate, and give meaningful feedback
• Strong analytical skills
• Strategic planning abilities
• Strong communication skills
• Collaboration and motivation skills
• Delegation skills
• Ability to remain calm under pressure

Looking to build up your skill stack? HubSpot Academy’s Sales Management Training can help you learn the skills it takes to be successful. Now that you have a better idea of what to include in your resume, let's explore some examples.

Sales Manager Resume Examples

If you're ready to see what a great resume looks like, check out these sales manager resume examples next.

1. Sales Manager Resume Example

This example is relevant to all sales managers, regardless of industry. Whether you’re in industrial sales, retail sales, or both, the professional summary allows you to synthesize your skills and identify how you’ll use them to succeed in your new position.

Image Source

2. Regional Sales Manager Resume Example

Regional sales managers lead different teams across their regions, from sales development representatives to account managers. The skills section in this example highlights the skills you’ve developed from managing cross-functional teams in your previous positions.

Image Source

3. Technical Sales Manager Resume Example

Technical sales managers have specialized skills that set them apart from the rest of the sales org, such as engineering experience and the ability to explain complex technical concepts in an easy-to-understand way. The core qualifications section in this example helps highlight the unique technical skills that set you apart from the competition.

Image Source

4. B2B Sales Manager Resume Example

Business-to-business (B2B) selling skills can vary by sector, such as those required for healthcare services or financial technology. The list of skills in this example helps you get specific with your industry-related qualifications.

Image Source

5. Senior Sales Manager Resume Example

Senior sales managers are expected to have spent years in their respective fields. The emphasis on work history in this example allows you to highlight your experience, knowledge, and skills.

Image Source

6. National Sales Manager Resume Example

National sales managers will benefit from using the skills summary in this example. It allows you to emphasize your expertise in managing a national sales team.

Image Source

7. Channel Sales Manager Resume Example

Channel sales managers focus on maintaining relationships with existing clients and keeping them satisfied. The accomplishments section allows you to provide quantitative statistics detailing your client retention rates.

Image Source

8. Outside Sales Manager Resume Example

Outside sales managers are unique in that they manage sales representatives who meet prospects in the field and are therefore more autonomous than other inside sales reps. You can use the accomplishments section of this resume example to detail the successes your teams have achieved under your remote-management style.

Image Source

9. Sales Development Manager Resume Example

The highlights section of this resume example is a great fit for sales development managers who want to list statistics that prove their successes in identifying growth opportunities and reaching new markets.

Image Source

10. Sales Operations Manager Resume Example

Although sales operations managers aren’t necessarily involved in the act of selling, the success of the greater sales team does hinge on their efforts. The skills section in this example can be used to emphasize how you have successfully supported the teams you work with.

Image Source

Sales Manager Resume Templates

Need some extra help and inspiration? Use these sales manager resume templates and examples to help you get started.

1. Sales Manager Resume Template from Resume Companion

This simple, sales manager template includes all the key elements you should have in your resume and allows you to customize each section.

Image Source

2. Sales Manager Resume Template from Resume Genius

Not only is this resume visually appealing, but it also includes a sidebar on the left of the page that highlights your key skills and achievements. It can be downloaded for Microsoft Word.

Image Source

3. Sales Manager Resume Template from Zety

This sales manager resume template is well-organized and can be customized to your liking. If this style isn't right for you, choose a different resume design that suits your needs.

Image Source

4. Sales Manager Resume Template from resume.io

This straightforward template is well-formatted and easy to use for a quick resume update. Simply add your personal and job-specific information, and you’re good to go.

Image Source

Get Started Writing Your Sales Management Resume

With a well-written resume, you'll be prepared to apply to any and all sales manager opportunities that might come your way. Master our tips above and with a little help from a ready-made template, you’ll have a professional resume that stands out from the crowd

This article was originally published in November, 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.