Word for sales representative

For Sales Representative novices and veterans alike who are pursuing a new job, the value of a well-crafted cover letter cannot be overemphasized. Even if there is no application requirement to submit a cover letter along with your resume, opting not to include one makes no sense for those who are serious about their next career move. 

In fact, you could be doing yourself a disservice by overlooking the resume’s inherent limitations. As Hays global recruiting agency advises job seekers, cover letters can make all the difference in compensating for what resumes tend to lack in the way of personality and context. “So use the cover letter as your opportunity to add depth and dimension to the sort of candidate that you are.”

Yes, your resume is designed to function as a stand-alone document in outlining essential job qualifications and background. But the potential to influence recruiters is greatly diminished without a cover letter, which has a distinctively different but complementary purpose: to introduce yourself in a manner that is at once more directly informal and readily engaging. 

Sales Representatives who have mastered the art and science of positive first impressions can well appreciate that cover letters are like an extended handshake in writing … a throwback to the days when job hunters would walk into an office with no appointment and ask if the employer was hiring before leaving their resume at the front desk.

This guide, incorporating a Sales Representative cover letter example, looks at the following aspects of writing a winning cover letter:

• The best format for a cover letter and components it should include
• How to maximize the impact of each cover letter part: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
• Writing psychology to reveal the person inside the professional (backed up by cover letter samples of actual writing).

Best format for a Sales Representative cover letter

What’s the difference between a winning sales presentation and an outstanding Sales Representative cover letter? The short answer is a well-chosen format that includes all the necessary components plus the writing style to maximize the effect of each section.

Consistently apply this cover letter format containing these components in the same order:

• Cover letter header
• Cover letter greeting
• Letter introduction
• Cover letter middle paragraphs (body)
• Cover letter ending (conclusion / call to action + sign-off).

There is no magic formula for cover letter writing, any more than your best sales presentation is cooked up from a secret recipe. But there is a proven, simple cover letter writing approach that starts with keeping it simple and keeping it short: 300 to 400 words, never exceeding a single page and with ample white space for ease of reading.

According to hubspot.com, an effective sales presentation tells a compelling story, highlights your value proposition, aligns with your audience’s needs and desires and ends with a strong call-to-action. 

Below is a cover letter example that you can use as basic inspiration for your own application document. Alternatively, you can take the cover letter sample writing if it’s particularly applicable to your own experience (just remember to make it unique, there’s nothing worse than a copy-pasted cover letter).

As you can see, this cover letter example bridges the gap between a human connection and a professional track-record. While the cover letter sample writing may not be applicable to your own personal story, you can take the methods used here to enrich your own application letter.

Cover letter header

Just as a sales presentation incorporates visually appealing design elements to create a distinctive identity and consistent look, your cover letter header provides another opportunity to stand out and stay readily accessible. An eye-catching advantage can win your cover letter more than a passing glance in the crowd of many others. 

But the header’s importance is practical as well as esthetic. As the place where your name, occupation and contact information appears clearly and prominently, it ensures anyone in the hiring manager’s office, department, or organization can readily identify where your job application came from and how to reach you easily. It’s not unusual for printed copies of a cover letter to go missing on someone’s desk, or even for an electronic file to end up in the wrong online or downloads folder, thus giving the header a useful ID label purpose. 

If you are stuck for ideas or time, check out the dozens of cover letter samples
and cover letter templates
available at resume.io. Click on the most appealing cover letter example, type in your replacement text, and that’s it. Your cover letter design and formatting step is done. It’s just as easy to come up with a matching cover letter and resume pair this way.

Whatever document style you go with this time, you will naturally want to change it up next time. Again, you can’t go wrong with a customizable template from resume.io.

Aim of the cover letter header: Stand out in the crowd of job applicants by attracting the right brand of visual attention. Convey that you are a polished Sales Representative with regard for detail and accessibility in delivering the whole integrated package.

Cover letter greeting

Nothing could be simpler than to properly address a cover letter greeting, except for the kind of slips that can happen by taking that simplicity for granted. We are guessing that won’t happen to you, being a Sales Representative, especially if you start off with “Dear …” 

As you can see from the cover letter sample presented at the start of the article, “Dear …” is usually the most failsafe and widely accepted business letter salutation. It’s courteous and respectful, without sounding too stuffy, and almost always appropriate. Alternatives such as “Greetings,” “Hello” or “Hi” may be fine in some circumstances but use discretion regarding the company, culture or familiarity with the person being addressed.

What comes next — “Dear <who>”? 

A job applicant’s cover letter should always be addressed to a specific person if the recipient’s name can be determined. However, unless it’s someone you know personally or well enough to address on a first-name basis, the correct form of greeting is “Dear Mr. Black” or “Dear Ms. Blanco.”

If you are unsure or have no idea who your cover letter should be addressed to, make every reasonable effort to find out. First check the job listing to see if any contact information is provided for the hiring manager (or other cover letter recipient). Failing that, check the company’s website and other online sources such as LinkedIn or industry-related sites.

As a last resort, these workarounds are preferable to the generic cover letter examples of  “To Whom It May Concern.” Even if you can’t come up with anyone’s name, a greeting along these lines at least indicates your cover letter is targeting a specific employer and/or position: “Dear Company Name Hiring Manager,” “Dear Department Name Recruitment Officer” or “Dear Job Title Hiring Team.” 

Aim of the cover letter greeting / salutation: Addressing the hiring manager (or other recipient) by name is professionally appropriate while also creating a personal connection with the employer.

Cover letter introduction

You probably learned from some top-notch trainers and read all the right books on rapport-triggering sales openers. Maybe you could write a book or two yourself on how to gain sustained attention from customers within minutes of an introductory greeting that is equal parts personable and professional. But you only have a few carefully worded opening lines in a cover letter to catch and hold the hiring manager’s interest for longer than the few seconds spent skimming on average. 

Aim of the cover letter introduction: Grab the recruiter’s attention by focusing your strongest  selling suit on what the job and the employer require.

Cover letter middle part (body)

Pull substance from your resume but never in such a way that replicates or rehashes the content. Your cover letter is the place to add meaningful context and interpretation. Obviously, your sales track record holds the center-stage spotlight from various angles. Financial profits and market share growth are easy to quantify in dollar amounts. But flesh in this section of your cover letter with anecdotes for added color and shade. Showcase your special talents and interests. Let your personality shine through — especially your passion for the products or services you believe in wholeheartedly and the people you interact with on all sides of the selling process.

Aim of the cover letter body: Illustrate how this employer would benefit from your contributions as a seasoned sales representative with an outstanding track record.

How to close a Sales Rep cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

Perhaps the tightest parallel between a sales presentation and a Sales Representative cover letter lies in the closing. The purpose in each case is to provide an ending that actually aims to secure, rather than conclude, the relationship. The tone of both is persuasive, confident and upbeat, with the door left open for further interaction and follow-up.

However, that does not mean the fate of your job application should be left up in the air by a cover letter conclusion that is too open-ended. If the hiring manager is still reading at this point, your cover letter has already scored some big wins towards the desired outcome: an interview. So what happens now? How do you want the recruiter to feel, think and respond as you wrap up the closing?

Let’s go back and see how we closed our cover letter sample:

What every cover letter requires in the final paragraph, just like every effective sales pitch, is a call to action. Before signing off, you need to gently but firmly nudge the employer in the direction of inviting you for an interview. And that’s it! You can now sign off with a simple closing salutation like “Sincerely,” above your name.  “Best regards” or even “Best,” are fine also. 

Aim of the cover letter closing: End on an enthusiastic note that implies you anticipate the hiring manager will be in touch soon.

Writing and selling psychology

This guide has drawn comparisons between a winning sales presentation and an effective cover letter. In both instances, the perspective and needs of the target audience  — customer and employer, respectively — should take precedence. 

Listening skills are the key to making that connection, Timothy Tolan, Tolan Group CEO and managing partner, told a Business News Daily interviewer, “Great salespeople sell solutions to problems, and they do that by understanding and listening to the customer.»

In the same article, Mark Stevens, CEO of Almost Science, spoke about subtlety as a selling trait: «Great salespeople never look like they are selling anything. They are educating, instilling faith and confidence. They are quietly and invisibly demonstrating why customers should believe in them and, in turn, buy from them.» 

Infusing personality into a sales pitch or cover letter can enhance their effectiveness as communication tools.

Renowned personal and professional development leader Brian Tracy contends,“Your personality is more important than your product knowledge and your selling skills. So focus on continuous improvement, and become a well-read professional.”

Key takeaways

1. Sales presentations and Sales Representative cover letters have common ground, notably the persuasive goals, target audience angle and opportunity to let elements of personality shine through.
2. The need to establish an immediate direct connection with the hiring manager in your cover letter by addressing the employer’s needs is crucial.
3. Taking the employer’s perspective gives job applicants an edge over candidates whose approach is relatively impersonal and generic.
4. Like an effective sales closing, every cover letter should conclude with a call to action encouraging the recruiter to respond with an interview invitation.
5. Use our sales cover letter examples
   .

This resume guide has a high conversion rate. It will turn job seekers like yourself into hired sales reps.

How? 

You’ll show them you have the job experience, closing skills, and sales background they’re looking for with a great sales representative resume.

No worries— 

Read on and you’ll see a professional sales representative resume example you can adjust and make yours. Plus, you’ll learn an easy formula for writing a resume for sales rep jobs that will land you 10x more interviews than any other sales representative resume you’ve written in the past.

This guide will show you:

• A sales representative resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a resume for a sales representative that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of what skills to put on a resume for sales representative.
• How to describe your sales representative experience on a 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.

Sample sales representative resume—See more resume samples here.

Sales Representative Resume Template

1

Use the Right Format for Your Sales Representative Resume

The BANT framework helps determine how likely a lead is to become a customer.

Our formatting guidelines below will help determine how likely you are to become an employee.

Before you go ahead with writing a sales representative resume, format it correctly to make it neat and orderly and a breeze for sales managers to read.

Here’s how to format a sales representative resume:

• Layout: go reverse-chronological in dated resume sections.
• Subheadings: bold subtitles make it easier for hiring managers to parse.
• Fonts: use fonts for a resume which are easy for sales managers to read.
• Font size: use an 11pt or 12pt font size for regular text, and 2–4pts larger for headings.
• Margins: leave a 1” margin on all sides of your sales executive resume template.
• Line spacing: go with single-line spacing in the body text of your resume.
• Sections: adequate white space makes it easy on the eyes of the reader. 
• Filetype: save the file as a PDF, to ensure it renders correctly on any screen.

Now, here’s what a sales representative resume should include:

• Header: add the right contact information details in the heading area.
• Introduction: write a short intro paragraph that compels them to read more.
• Work experience: a bullet-point history of your past sales experience and job duties.
• Education: a short description of your college background and accomplishments.
• Skills: a list of the most sales-related abilities you bring to the table.
• Extra sections: sales certifications, industry awards, foreign languages, etc.

One trick we’re going to show you here— 

We won’t start at the top. 

Instead, we’ll begin with your work history section and finish it off with your heading paragraph. This way, you’ll have a better idea of the most effective things to include by the time you come back around.

Read more about formatting a resume: How to Choose the Best Resume Layout

Sales jobs are being added each and every day, meaning you’ve got more and more competition. Just have a look at the employment outlook for different  positions for the decade between 2018 and 2028:

• Insurance sales representatives will increase by 48,300 jobs (10%).
• Real estate sales reps will increase by 32,400 jobs (7%).
• Financial services sales representatives will increase by 18,500 jobs (4%).
• Wholesale and manufacturing sales reps will increase by 35,400 jobs (2%).

As you can see, you’re facing off against plenty of other applicants.

To make sure you stand above the crowd, your past employment resume section should be organized and written correctly.

Here the gist for doing it right:

• List positions in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent on top.
• Include your professional title, the company’s name and location, and the span of time you were employed there.
• Give them around 4–6 bullet point entries describing your past work responsibilities.
• Make it a targeted resume by listing only past duties which relate to sales jobs.
• Always quantify achievements whenever possible so they get a solid picture of just how well you have and will perform.
• Use action verbs to begin each bullet point for max impact.

Now— 

Let’s look at two experienced sales professional resume examples to see those rules in action:

Sales Representative Job Description for a Resume Example

See the differences?

While the second sales representative resume example falls short, the first one meets all its targets—it’s detailed, personalized, and uses numbers to seal that deal. 

They’ll immediately see you’re a candidate with a high lifetime value!

Now— 

What about when writing an entry-level sales representative resume? 

Don’t worry. 

Even if you’ve only a little job experience with another job title, all you have to do is list the most sales-relevant job duties and achievements you had.

Here are another two sales representative resume samples for your reference:

Beginner Sales Representative Resume—Work History Example

See the difference?

The first candidate used their past experience and proved it’s relevant to the new position they’re applying for.

Continue reading up on how to describe work experience: Tips for Creating an Awesome Experience Section on a Resume

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.

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

3

Enter Your Education (It’s Not That Straightforward!)

Depending on the particular sales job or company you’re applying to, they might require a bachelor degree, high school diploma, or nothing at all.

No matter what academic level they’re looking for— 

Format the education section the same way.

Do you have years of sales representative experience?

List just the basics: 

• degree or certificate name 
• school name and location
• date of completion.

Here’s how that looks:

Sales Representative Resume Sample—Education

But— 

What if you are writing an entry-level sales representative resume with no experience? 

Be more detailed, adding extras such as relevant classes, awards, GPA, Latin honors, and specializations, like this:

Entry-Level Sales Representative Resume Example—Education

Leave your high school diploma off resume if you’ve completed a university degree.

If your education is more impressive than your work history, say on a junior pharmaceutical sales resume, put it above your job education section for maximum visibility.

Read further on adding your academic experience: How to Add Education on a Resume

A sales representative resume must show the manager or account executive that you are the best applicant to close deals on their behalf.

How do you show them?

By identifying the sales rep skills and abilities they’re looking for and adding it to your resume.

Here’s what to do:

• Make a master list of all the skills you have related to sales jobs in general.
• Identify skills-related resume keywords in the sales job description by scanning the job responsibilities section.
• In the sales representative skills resume section, include 5–10 of the most relevant talents which are both on your list and requested in the sales rep job description.
• Include both hard skills and soft skills in your sales representative skills section.

Now— 

Let’s look at some general skills:

30+ Skills to Put on a Resume for a Sales Representative

• Product Knowledge
• Rapport Building
• Interpersonal Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Lead Qualification
• Social Media
• Communication Skills
• Relationship Building
• Presentation Skills & Demoing
• Active Listening
• Organizational Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Lead Prospecting 
• Problem Solving Skills
• Customer Needs Analysis
• Referral Marketing
• Collaborative Skills
• Objection Handling
• Contract Negotiation
• Self Motivation
• Client Nurturing
• Optimizing Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
• Increasing Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
• Reducing Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
• Adaptable
• Closing Sales & Signing Contracts
• CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce CRM, Hubspot CRM, Zoho CRM, Freshsales)
• Client Relationship Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Goal-Oriented
• Research & Analysis
• Law & Policy Knowledge 
• Decision Making Skills
• Project Management Skills

Next— 

Take a look at these example salesperson resume skills sections:

Sales Rep Resume Example—Skills

Sample Resume Skills for a Sales Representative With No Experience

That’s how you create a sales representative resume skills section. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll definitely be their most qualified lead!

Read more about including your talents on a resume: 99 Skills to Put on Resumes

When they survey all the resumes they receive, do you know which one will have the highest Net Promoter Score?

The one with additional, relevant sales rep resume sections.

Extra sales representative resume sections round you out as a candidate and allow you to show them how uniquely qualified you are.

Here are a few great options to consider for any inside or outside sales resume:

Sales Representative Resume Examples—Extra Sections

1. Resume Certificates & Licenses

IT certificates you’ve earned look amazing on any resume. Here are great certification options to bolster any programming resume:

• Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) from the National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
• Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP) from the American Association of
• Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP)
• Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP) from the Sales Management Association (SMA)

1. Volunteering Work on Resumes

Are you struggling with writing entry-level sales representative resumes? If you have any unpaid work, you not only add valuable experience to your resume, but you also look like a hero. 

1. Language Proficiency on Resumes

Are you fluent in French, proficient in Portuguese, or articulate in Armenian? Showing off your proficiency in a second language could open up new markets for them and interview room doors for you.

1. Hobbies on Resumes

If you have interests and passions related to sales, marketing, or client relationships, add those onto your industrial or medical sales rep resume for added oomph. Skip the “long walks on the beach” and save that for your diary.

1. Industry Memberships

Do you have a membership in a sales organization or other trade body? Adding a small section to the bottom of your sales representative resume shows your dedication. Here are just a few examples:

• The Sales Association (SA)
• The National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
• American Association of Inside Sales Professions (AA-ISP)

There are many other sections you may consider for resumes for sales rep positions: What to Include on a Resume: 20+ Top Examples

When cold calling, a catchy opening line makes the difference between a possible lead and a missed opportunity.

It’s the same on a sales rep resume.

The sales rep resume opens with a heading statement, known as either a summary or objective. 

If you catch their interest here, they’ll read on and call you for a sales job interview.

Have years of expertise generating leads and closing deals?

The resume career summary is for you.

A resume summary is a short paragraph highlighting your experience, skills, and accomplishments from past sales jobs. It promotes you further by including a numbered achievement or two which you’re most proud of to verify your sales talent.

Here are two example summaries:

Sales Representative Resume Summary Sample

If your sales representative resume summary resembled the second example, you’ll have a high churn rate.

The right example resume for sales reps, on the other hand, does everything we need—it’s short, relevant, and uses numbered achievements.

You can just about relegate this resume into the “Closed-Won” column! 

But— 

Don’t have experience on a sales team? 

The resume career objective is for you.

A resume objective is ideal for a resume with little or no experience in sales rep jobs.

Rather than show your illustrious past, give them the future. Explain your career goals and how you plan on sticking around as a sales representative. Also use a numbered win here to address any of the employer’s pain points.

Here are two sales rep resume objective examples:

Resume Sales Representative Objective Sample

Always show rather than tell on a resume for sales positions, meaning give them numbers to prove your worth to them. 

Read up more on writing a heading statement: How to Write a Resume Profile

There’s one timeless sales acronym to remember when sending a resume— 

ABC = Always Bestow Cover (letters).

Most hiring managers prefer a sales rep cover letter with your resume, so application letters are quite important if you want to be considered.

We’ve got the general guidelines here on writing a cover letter for sales representative jobs.

How to write a sales representative cover letter:

• Format the application letter using the right fonts, spacing, and margin.
• Write an introduction on a cover letter which intrigues them to read further.
• As you talk up your sales work experience and marketing skills, give numbered achievements.
• Create a cover letter closing with a powerful call to action.

Easy.

But, to get a better understanding and increase your chances of getting the interview call, check our articles on how to create a cover letter and what to discuss in a cover letter.

Read on: Sales Rep Cover Letter: Example and Guide

Plus, 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:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Across all industries, good sales reps are in high demand, and with your perfected, tailored resume for sales rep jobs, you’re going to be in high demand, as well.

Let’s sum it all up— 

• Structure your sales rep resume right by using bold headings, a legible font, and plenty of white space. 
• Save the heading statement on outside or inside sales resumes for the end.
• Document your work experience with detailed bullet points, numbered achievements, and action verbs.
• Highlight your education with extra details when writing an industrial, medical, or car salesman resume with less or no experience.
• Create a list of skills using the most relevant abilities as found in the sales representative job description.
• Add extra sales rep resume sections such as languages, certifications, or awards, to stand out from the other job applicants.
• Go back to the top and craft a compelling sales job resume objective or summary.
• Always include a sales cover letter attached to your email before sending it off.

Now, we’d love to hear from you:  

• Need help writing pharmaceutical sales resumes or medical sales resumes? 
• Struggling for the best abilities to add on a sales skills list for resumes?
• Have any stories to share about past sales job interviews or places of work?

Let’s talk about it in the comments below, and thanks for reading