Resumes for Sales People - Your In Sales So Sell Yourself

Very often when I sit down to review resumes for sales people, I am often very surprised at the number of basic mistakes that I notice with their sales resume. The problem with having these mistakes is they do not reflect well on the sales candidate.

These mistakes vary from silly things like poor spelling (which these days with word spell checks functionality being built into all word prcessor programs should never ever happen!) to more serious issues like poor targeting. When I say poor targeting I am referring to a situation where a sales candidate has just submitted a generic sales resume and not a 'bespoke' (for the vacancy) sales resume. In any case, what I want to look at here is when resumes for sales people have been prepared which do not sell the sales candidate.

If You Are in Sales - Then Sell Yourself

This statement actually applies to resumes for all disciplines, but is 'especially important' for resumes for sales people.

Just ask yourself, how likely is it that a potential employer will take the risk of employing or even take the time of interviewing a sales candidate for a sales job if they have not taken the initative or the time to properly promote them self - to 'sell' them self - with their sales resume?

You see a sales person's most important product is himself / herself. Therefore, it makes sense that being in sales, sales people spend time and effort selling themselves - especially when applying for jobs!

Of course, in presenting yourself, your 'pitch' will actually include dress, speech, attitude, behavior and manner and much more besides. But when it comes to applying for jobs - through the job application and resume channel - then it's vital to remember that the 1st point of contact with the recruiters or hiring manager, is not you but your sales resume - so make it count please.

You may well be a dazzling sales executive and 100% perfect for the job, but if your resume does not get noticed and does not convey the appropriate qualities, then you are going to get passed over. And since most sales people don't do it - a well-crafted sales resume really puts you light years ahead of the rest.

Resumes for sales people are not all equal. So take the opportunity, as a sales professional to make your sales resume really count. It must capture and sell your skills, accomplishments, experience and education in an eye-catching and exciting manner that truly addresses the sales vacancy, then you will be noticed and more importantly - then you will be granted those important sales interviews!