On average, a recruiter spends only 5 - 7 seconds on each resume. That's a pretty staggering statistic.
And it should make you think twice about your resume content, formatting, and design. Especially because the sales industry can be an incredibly competitive place.
So, how do you wow a recruiter and secure an interview? With a well-written outside sales resume.
If it doesn't show your lead to sale conversion rate or how much revenue you brought it, it'll get tossed in the trash.
In this guide, we'll cover:
- 8 outside sales resume examples and what makes them good or bad
- Top resume sections for an outside sales resume
- What recruiters want to see in a resume
- How to format your resume for best readability
- How to write your experience section so you stand out
- The most common mistakes sales professionals make on their resumes
Let's get started. Here are outside sale resume examples that are sure to wow recruiters.
Take a look at these related sales resume examples
- Sales resume examples
- Inside Sales resume examples
- Medical Sales resume examples
- Sales Associate resume examples
- Sales Consultant resume examples
- Sales Representative resume examples
How to write an outside sales rep resume
A resume is how you sell yourself. So as a sales professional, your resume needs to be top-notch. After all, if you can't sell yourself, how can you be expected to sell a product or service?
The resume layout should be easy-to-read. So much so that a recruiter has all the info they need just from skimming. Remember: they spend only 5-7 seconds on each resume.
The best way to achieve this is by including the proper resume sections. And don't underestimate the importance of white space between sections.
White space helps a resume look crisp and clean rather than jumbled and overcrowded.
Top outside sales resume sections
- Header section with clickable contact information
- Career summary or objective section
- Experience section listed chronologically from most recent to least recent
- Skills section with industry-standard software and tools
- Education section
- Certification section (optional)
Simply including the correct sections isn't enough to land you an interview. There are specific things recruiters look for in a resume.
And if you don't include them, your chances drastically decrease.
What recruiters want to see in an outside sales representative resume
- How many accounts you've managed
- How you build and manage your sales pipeline
- What software you use to track sales
- Your lead to closure conversion rate
- Your average sale size
- Your client retention rate
- New versus existing client sales
- Your annual sales quota
- How much you generate in sales revenue
Now that you know what a recruiter is looking for, let's get started on the resume sections.
It's always best to begin with your header.
How to create a professional outside sales resume header
A resume header might seem pretty straight forward. Believe it or not, though, there is a right and a wrong way to do it.
Without a properly formatted header, your resume won't get a second look.
Your name should be the biggest thing in your header—and on your resume for that matter. Below it, you should include your title, phone number, and email.
Any contact information you include should be hyperlinked for ease of use.
Your header can also include a link to your personal website or LinkedIn page.
2 outside sales resume header examples
This header section doesn’t include the proper contact information. Without a phone number, the recruiter won’t take this candidate seriously.
Even the email isn’t professional looking. Rather than including the candidate’s first and last name, it looks like it was computer-generated. Not very professional.
This header is much more professional looking. It includes all the right contact information and makes it easy for the recruiter to reach out.
Once you've finished the header, move on to your summary or objective.
How to write an outside sales summary that will stand out
The summary section of your resume is essentially like an elevator speech.
It should quickly and effectively summarize you and your career achievements.
And whatever you do, don't be vague. If another sales professional could use your summary, it isn't specific enough. Focus on what makes you unique.
2 outside sales summary samples
This summary is way too vague. It hardly gives any information about the candidate.
This summary goes into much more detail. It describes this candidate's specific areas of expertise. And not only that, but it also talks about the candidate's achievements and the value they can bring to a company.
It's much more likely to stand out.
Now that you've nailed down your header and summary, let's move on to the experience section.
How to create a well-written outside sales experience section
The experience section of your resume is arguably the most important. It's also the section where people make the most mistakes.
How can you avoid being one of those people? With a few simple resume tips and tricks.
For starters, do not—and we repeat—do not—simply list your job responsibilities. Recruiters know very well what an outside sales representative does. That's why they're in charge of hiring one.
Instead, list your achievements at each position. Focus on the ways you made a difference—on the value you brought to the organization.
That's what recruiters want to know.
And don't underestimate the importance of proper formatting here. List your experience chronologically, beginning with the most recent to least recent.
2 outside sales experience section samples
02/2014 - 11/2019 
- •Build sales pipeline through cold-calling and lead generation
- •Maintain long-lasting relationships with new and returning clients
- •Manage leads and existing accounts to forecast sales revenue
- •Meet personal and team sales goals
This experience section is just a bulleted list of the candidate’s job description. It could apply to pretty much any outside sales rep.
A recruiter can't tell from this experience section whether or not the candidate is any good at their job.
02/2014 - 11/2019 - •Increased yearly sales by 7% through cold-calling and lead generation
- •Generated $800,000 in sales from new and returning clients, with a 92% client retention rate
- •Managed leads and existing accounts in the Salesforce CRM platform to accurately forecast sales revenue and identify new prospect opportunities
- •Exceeded personal yearly sales goal by 13%
This experience section focuses on the candidate's achievements rather than their day-to-day responsibilities.
Immediately, the recruiter can see that they're good at their job.
They also gain more insight into the level of experience the candidate has. They can see the size of the accounts they've managed and the software they've worked with.
And most importantly, this experience section has quantitative data that demonstrates the candidate's worth—a key component to landing an interview.
Okay, you've followed our tips and tricks and created an award-winning experience section. That's great! But now what?
Now, it's time to write out all your sales-related skills.
How to feature outside sales skills on your resume
Including a skills section on your resume is a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates. Here, you can illustrate exactly how knowledgeable and experienced you are.
We recommend making a list of all technical/hard and soft skills you have relating to outside sales. Once you have your list, compare them with the job requirements of the position you're applying to.
Circle all that overlap and add them to your resume.
How to feature technical skills
Typically, you’ll want to list your skills as bulleted items, using one to two words per line. Here are some additional technical skills for outside sales representatives to consider.
8 important technical skills for outside sales resumes
- Salesforce CRM
- Cold-calling
- Lead Management
- Business Development
- Account Management
- Sales Strategy
- Relationship Building
- Market Analysis
How to Feature Soft Skills
Soft skills refer to emotional intelligence that can be useful across all industries. Soft skills are best illustrated with real-life examples.
When list your soft skills with real-life examples, a recruiter can see how you put them to practice.
14 soft skills recruiters look for in outside sales resumes.
- Verbal Communication
- >Written Communication
- Negotiating
- Critical Thinking
- Problem-Solving
- Teamwork
- Time-management
- Professionalism
- Persuasiveness
- Perceptiveness
- Confidence
- Competitiveness
- Resourcefulness
- Adaptability
After you've narrowed down your top skills, move on to the education section of your resume.
What to include in the education section of your resume
The education section of your resume should include your school and area of study. If you graduated with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, you can also include this.
Don't get too caught up in this section. In sales, real-world experience always outweighs what you studied in school.
If you're new to the industry, you can include relevant coursework or class projects.
Another way to increase your credibility is through industry certifications.
Do I need a certification section on my resume?
The short answer is no. But although there are no industry-standard certifications, they can give you a leg up.
Here are some to consider.
Top outside sales certificates
- Certified Professional Sales Person
- Certified Sales Executive
- Sales Cloud Consultant
Takeaways: Top outside sales resume tips + tricks
The outside sales world might seem like a competitive place. But with the right resume, you'll be on your way to interviewing in no time.
Just remember:
- Your header should have clickable contact information
- Your summary should focus on your unique career achievements and experience
- Your experience section should focus on the value you brought to an organization. The more quantitative data, the better
- Avoid vagueness; your resume is how you sell yourself
- Your resume design should help you stand out; don't just use any old template
