According to US labor statistics, sales manager positions generally pay between $55,000 and $195,000. Due to these high annual salaries, this field is seriously competitive.
Let's start with examples of sales managers' resumes that you can use as inspiration when writing your resume. You can also use our resume builder to create a standout resume and boost your chances of getting an interview.
All resume examples, writing tips, and guides are meticulously reviewed and approved by certified resume experts from the Resume Example team to ensure accuracy, quality, and industry relevance.
Sales Manager Resume Examples
Sales manager resume examples are tailored for various career stages and industries, and they include additional tips on how to improve your resume.
Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Sales Managers responsible for leading sales teams, developing strategies, and driving revenue growth. Positions typically involve setting sales goals, analyzing market trends, and building client relationships.
Job Description
Sales Managers oversee the sales process, manage teams, and implement strategies to boost sales performance. They collaborate with marketing teams, monitor industry trends, and optimize sales techniques to enhance profitability.
Key Notes
Emphasize leadership skills, sales achievements, and industry expertise. Highlight experience in team management, strategic planning, and customer relationship management (CRM).
Additional Tips
- Sales Metrics: Include quantifiable results such as revenue growth, client acquisition, and sales conversion rates.
- Leadership & Strategy: Highlight experience in mentoring teams and implementing successful sales strategies.
- Industry Knowledge: Tailor the resume to specific industries such as retail, SaaS, or automotive sales.
- Professional Formatting: Use clear headings and bullet points for easy readability.
Regional Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Regional Sales Managers responsible for overseeing sales operations within a specific geographic area. Positions typically involve managing sales teams, developing regional strategies, and driving revenue growth.
Job Description
Regional Sales Managers lead sales teams across multiple locations, analyze market trends, and implement sales strategies to maximize revenue. They collaborate with executives and marketing teams to optimize sales performance and expand market presence.
Key Notes
Emphasize leadership, sales performance, and strategic planning skills. Highlight experience in territory management, revenue forecasting, and cross-functional collaboration.
Additional Tips
- Sales Achievements: Include metrics like revenue growth, team performance, and regional expansion success.
- Leadership & Strategy: Highlight experience in managing multiple teams and executing large-scale sales strategies.
- Industry Relevance: Tailor the resume to fit industries such as retail, manufacturing, or SaaS sales.
- Professional Formatting: Use clear headings and bullet points for easy readability.
Sales Account Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Sales Account Managers responsible for managing client relationships, increasing revenue, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Positions typically involve maintaining existing accounts, identifying growth opportunities, and negotiating contracts.
Job Description
Sales Account Managers oversee client portfolios, develop sales strategies, and drive business growth. They work closely with sales teams to meet targets, foster long-term relationships, and enhance customer retention.
Key Notes
Emphasize account management skills, sales achievements, and relationship-building expertise. Highlight experience in client retention, revenue generation, and CRM software proficiency.
Additional Tips
- Client Management: Showcase success in maintaining and growing client relationships.
- Sales Achievements: Include metrics demonstrating revenue growth, account retention, and deal closures.
- Industry-Specific Expertise: Tailor the resume to industries such as SaaS, finance, or healthcare.
- Professional Formatting: Use clear headings and bullet points for easy readability.
Car Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Car Sales Managers responsible for overseeing dealership sales, managing sales teams, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Positions typically involve setting sales targets, training sales staff, and optimizing dealership performance.
Job Description
Car Sales Managers lead sales operations at automotive dealerships, develop marketing strategies, and ensure revenue growth. They collaborate with manufacturers, analyze market trends, and implement customer engagement initiatives to boost sales.
Key Notes
Emphasize leadership skills, automotive sales experience, and customer service expertise. Highlight knowledge of dealership operations, finance options, and sales techniques.
Additional Tips
- Sales Metrics: Showcase revenue increases, customer retention rates, and dealership performance improvements.
- Customer Focus: Highlight exceptional customer service and relationship-building skills.
- Industry Knowledge: Tailor the resume for new or used car sales, luxury brands, or fleet management.
- Professional Formatting: Use clear headings and bullet points for easy readability.
Retail Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Retail Sales Managers responsible for overseeing store operations, managing sales teams, and driving revenue growth. Positions typically involve developing sales strategies, ensuring customer satisfaction, and optimizing retail performance.
Job Description
Retail Sales Managers lead sales teams, monitor inventory, and implement strategies to increase sales. They ensure exceptional customer service, analyze sales data, and optimize store operations to enhance profitability.
Key Notes
Emphasize leadership skills, sales achievements, and retail management expertise. Highlight experience in team supervision, customer engagement, and sales strategy implementation.
Additional Tips
- Sales Impact: Include quantifiable results such as revenue growth, customer retention, and team performance improvements.
- Operational Efficiency: Highlight experience in streamlining store operations and inventory management.
- Leadership & Training: Showcase experience in mentoring sales teams and improving customer service standards.
- Professional Formatting: Use clear headings and bullet points for easy readability.
Sales Operations Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Sales Operations Managers responsible for streamlining sales processes, improving efficiency, and supporting sales teams with data-driven insights. Positions typically involve CRM management, sales analytics, and process optimization.
Job Description
Sales Operations Managers oversee sales data analysis, optimize workflows, and ensure the smooth execution of sales strategies. They work closely with sales teams to enhance performance and efficiency through automation and strategic planning.
Key Notes
Emphasize analytical skills, process improvement experience, and proficiency in CRM tools. Highlight expertise in sales forecasting, KPI tracking, and sales enablement strategies.
Additional Tips
- Process Efficiency: Highlight improvements in workflow automation and sales productivity.
- Data-Driven Insights: Showcase experience in sales forecasting, data analytics, and performance tracking.
- CRM Expertise: Emphasize proficiency in CRM tools and sales technology implementations.
- Professional Formatting: Use structured sections and bullet points for readability.
Territory Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Territory Sales Managers responsible for overseeing sales operations in a designated geographic region. Positions typically involve developing sales strategies, managing client relationships, and driving revenue growth within the assigned territory.
Job Description
Territory Sales Managers monitor sales performance, expand customer bases, and collaborate with teams to achieve business goals. They analyze market trends, identify sales opportunities, and implement strategies to maximize regional growth.
Key Notes
Emphasize regional sales expertise, client acquisition strategies, and leadership experience. Highlight skills in territory planning, account management, and business development.
Additional Tips
- Regional Growth Impact: Showcase successful strategies that expanded the market and increased revenue.
- Relationship Building: Emphasize key partnerships and long-term client management experience.
- Metrics-Driven: Include quantifiable sales figures to demonstrate results.
- Professional Formatting: Use clear headings and bullet points for easy readability.
Hotel Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Hotel Sales Managers responsible for driving revenue growth, managing client relationships, and developing sales strategies in the hospitality industry. Positions typically involve coordinating with hotel staff, negotiating contracts, and identifying new business opportunities.
Job Description
Hotel Sales Managers oversee sales activities, build relationships with corporate clients, and implement strategies to increase bookings. They analyze market trends, develop promotional campaigns, and collaborate with hotel operations to enhance guest experiences and maximize revenue.
Key Notes
Emphasize sales experience, relationship-building skills, and knowledge of the hospitality industry. Highlight expertise in revenue management, contract negotiations, and customer service excellence.
Additional Tips
- Industry-Specific Keywords: Incorporate relevant hospitality and sales-related terms to enhance resume visibility.
- Showcase Achievements: Use quantifiable metrics to demonstrate sales growth and revenue impact.
- Professional Presentation: Keep formatting clean and organized with clear sections and bullet points for easy readability.
Catering Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Catering Sales Managers responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing catering events while driving sales and maintaining client relationships. Positions typically involve business development, contract negotiations, and delivering exceptional service.
Job Description
Catering Sales Managers oversee catering sales operations, develop new business opportunities, and manage client relations. They collaborate with event planners, chefs, and service teams to ensure seamless execution and customer satisfaction.
Key Notes
Emphasize sales skills, event planning expertise, and customer service abilities. Highlight experience in hospitality management, negotiations, and revenue growth strategies.
Additional Tips
- Sales Performance: Showcase how you contributed to revenue growth and client acquisitions.
- Client Relationships: Highlight your ability to manage and retain high-value clients.
- Event Success Metrics: Include quantitative data on event execution, customer satisfaction, or business expansion.
- Professional Presentation: Use clear formatting, bullet points, and concise descriptions to enhance readability.
Senior Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Senior Sales Managers responsible for leading sales teams, developing revenue strategies, and building strong client relationships. Positions typically involve sales planning, business growth initiatives, and achieving performance targets.
Job Description
Senior Sales Managers oversee sales operations, drive revenue growth, and implement strategic sales plans. They manage teams, set goals, and collaborate with marketing and product teams to optimize sales efforts.
Key Notes
Emphasize leadership, sales strategy development, and revenue generation. Highlight experience in managing teams, negotiating contracts, and executing growth initiatives.
Additional Tips
- Leadership & Impact: Highlight experience managing teams and driving performance improvements.
- Revenue & Growth Metrics: Quantify achievements in revenue generation and sales expansion.
- Sales Strategy: Showcase strategic planning and execution that led to business success.
- Professional Formatting: Use structured headings, concise descriptions, and bullet points for clarity.
Event Sales Manager Resume
This resume is for individuals pursuing roles as Event Sales Managers responsible for selling and coordinating events, managing client relationships, and driving revenue through strategic sales initiatives. Positions typically involve venue negotiations, marketing efforts, and ensuring flawless event execution.
Job Description
Event Sales Managers oversee event sales, generate new business opportunities, and manage client relationships. They work closely with event planners, vendors, and operations teams to ensure successful event execution and customer satisfaction.
Key Notes
Emphasize sales expertise, event planning skills, and relationship management. Highlight experience in contract negotiations, revenue growth, and marketing strategies.
Additional Tips
- Sales Achievements: Showcase revenue growth and successful event sales strategies.
- Client Engagement: Highlight your ability to build and maintain long-term client relationships.
- Event Success Metrics: Include quantitative data on event bookings, budget savings, or customer satisfaction.
- Professional Formatting: Use bullet points and clear headings for easy readability.
How to Write a Sales Manager Resume
Working your way up to a sales manager position will require lots of hard work, so it is essential that your resume clearly demonstrates your achievements and includes everything that a prospective employer may want to know.
- Start with a powerful summary highlighting your years of experience, leadership skills, and sales achievements.
- Highlight measurable achievements - showcase metrics like sales targets achieved, revenue growth percentages, or market share expansions.
- The document should be completely personalized to the job you are applying for and should never be generalized!
- Showcase leadership and team management skills
- List key sales skills
- Optimize with keywords - analyze the job description and incorporate relevant keywords to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- Include relevant certifications such as Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP) or Sandler Sales Certification to showcase your qualifications.
- Emphasize customer relationship management
- Use action-oriented language - start bullet points with strong action verbs like "Implemented," "Directed," "Increased," "Negotiated," or "Achieved" to create a stronger impact.
- Highlight technological proficiency - mention tools and technologies you’ve mastered, like CRM platforms, sales analytics software, or pipeline management systems.
- Tailor the resume objective for the career stage - if you're an entry-level applicant, focus on transferable skills and enthusiasm for sales leadership. For experienced professionals, focus on strategic accomplishments and leadership.
- Write an Impactful Cover Letter that explains why you're the perfect fit for the role and how your experience aligns with the company's sales goals.
- Include a career progression timeline - if applicable, show how you’ve advanced within your roles to demonstrate growth and dedication.
- Keep It Concise and Relevant - focus on the most impactful information and avoid irrelevant details to keep the resume concise (1–2 pages).
- Proofread and edit thoroughly - ensure the document is error-free. Grammatical mistakes can undermine professionalism.
The Layout of the Sales Manager Resume
Before you begin writing, it's important to consider how you will layout your resume.
We highly recommend that you use the reverse chronological layout. It's a classic resume structure that ensures that your most recent and relevant information is included first, leaving less relevant information until the end. This will ensure hiring managers first see your most important sales experience and qualifications.
The structure of the Sales Manager Resume
While you may be tempted to write your sales manager resume freestyle, there is a proper format that you should follow. The document should be word-processed and ideally not exceed one page. All significant information sections (such as your work experience or education) should be separated with their headings.
Don't slack off regarding the layout and structure of your resumes! This is important as it will help your resume stand out professionally.
The Header
The best way to begin your sales manager resume is with a firm header. This will be the first thing a hiring manager will see, so ensure it is short, snappy, and to the point.
The heading should include your basic contact information, links to your professional social media (such as LinkedIn), and any other essential information your employer should know.
Header Examples
CORRECT
Samuel R. Meador
Sales Manager
987-654-321
samuel.r.meador@gmail.com
White Plains, Connecticut
linkedin.com/samuelmeador
INCORRECTSamuel Ronald Meador
General manager for all things related to sales
987-654-321 or (555) 123-4567
samuelronaldmeador@hotmail.com
House No. 4976, Cook Hill Road, White Plains, Connecticut, Zip Code: 10601
facebook.com/sammymeador
instagram.com/sammysupersales
Choosing your Sales Manager Title
You will want to ensure that your sales manager resume title is high-quality—it's another one of the first things people reading it will see! This is your opportunity to explain precisely what you do and why you excel as a sales manager through a resume summary statement, so keep it relevant and concise!
Resume Summary for Sales Managers
CORRECT
INCORRECTThis section should aim to explain exactly what you do within the relevant industry, so don’t forget to outline your expertise! You should briefly outline your sales manager skills and experience in the field, but don’t start rambling too much - it’s called a resume summary for a reason!
Work Experience
Most sales manager jobs will require professional experience in the sales sector, especially if it is a regional or national role! You will want to inform your potential employer of all the experiences you have gained so far, and the work experience section of your resume is precisely where you should do this.
Don't forget to use the reverse-chronological structure in your work experience section! Start with your most recent and relevant job in the field and work your way backward in time. The last thing you want is for your employer to think your first part-time job at a restaurant was your most recent experience!
When writing about your professional work experience, there is a particular format. You should always include the employer you worked for, your responsibilities at the position, and the start and end dates of your employment. When writing about the specific skills and responsibilities you handled, you should list them as three to five bullet points.
Examples of professional experience for Entry Level Sales Manager
Sales Manager
Johnson’s Hand Dryers
Hours worked: 40 hours per week, 2014 - 2020
- Verified that all records were current and compliant with regulations before approving inventory purchases and sales contracts.
- Planned and implemented in-store events such as contests and sales-cycle pep talks to promote merchandise and improve customer participation and increase sales.
- Over the course of six years, increased the company's annual sales by 22% through implementing sales strategies.
Examples of work experience for Senior Sales Manager
National Sales Manager
Korg Synthesizers
Duties begin/end date: 2003 - 2018
- Analyzed market trends to identify new market opportunities and analysed competitor products and services.
- Responsible for hiring and motivating a 15-member sales team which resulted in producing sales of more than $1,750,000 per year.
- Increased sales goals by 27% by implementing a new sales strategy to engage and attract new customers and improve revenues by increasing sales.
Education
Sales manager jobs require extensive knowledge of the sales sector, which usually requires an excellent educational track record. This should preferably include a university degree in sales or marketing, but you should also list any educational qualifications and sales training.
Should you start with education or work experience?
Generally, it is best to start by writing about your professional experience first - this will be much more interesting to prospective employers than your college education! However, if you are trying to get your foot in the door and do not yet have experience as a sales professional, you should instead begin with your educational history before moving on to relevant experiences and qualifications.
How to properly list your education in a sales manager resume?
Every listing in your education section should follow a basic format. This must include details regarding the educational institution, the name of the course/major, the years you studied, and the GPA/grade you achieved. However, if your GPA was not very good, leave this out unless they specifically ask for it!
Example of the education section
University of Washington, Seattle
Washington
Sales and Marketing
Years Attended Degree: 2011-2014
GPA: 3.9
Skills to Put in the Sales Manager Resume
Finding a career as a sales manager will require more than just an educational background and work experience—you will need to demonstrate that you have the skills for the job. The skills section of your resume is incredibly important, as it is a great opportunity to show off what you can do and optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems.
You will need to have an excellent awareness of the sales industry and knowledge of marketing and finance, in addition to any other technical skills specified in the job description, such as selling or leadership skills.
Skills for entry-level sales managers
- Exceptional multi-tasker
- Business administration
- Computer Proficient
- Energetic involvement with sales team members
- Resolution-oriented
- Lead generation and closing skills
- Rapport and relationship building
- Dealing with customer complaints
Skills for qualified senior sales managers
- Operations management
- Strong lead development skills through actionable advice
- International markets understanding
- Ability to adapt to company policies
- Sales strategies and goals
- Relations with existing customers
- Resolved customer issues
- Sales forecasting
- Compliance requirements
Whilst all these skills will generally be practical for a sales managerial position, this list is certainly not exhaustive or specific to the job you will be applying for!
Additional Headings
As mentioned, your sales manager's resume must be personalized to the job. For this reason, it is sometimes necessary to include additional headings to provide information relevant to the specific job that you are applying for.
For example, a job description may ask you to provide information about successful projects and data to prove it—this would certainly deserve its own ‘job-winning experience’ section to separate it from the rest of the resume!
Computer skills and certifications
Being a sales manager will require a lot of skills in organizing sales data, analyzing charts, making forecasts, and communicating online. This will require computer knowledge in this day and age, so you will want to include a section outlining any computer experience and qualifications related to the sales sector.
Interests
It is not necessary to write a separate section outlining your personal interests—it could even be inconvenient or detrimental to the success of your job application. This is because it will distract the hiring manager from what is important and could even flag up the ATS system for filtering!
Languages
Any U.S.-based sales manager position will require you to speak fluent English - how else will you make those sales otherwise? Some jobs may even require that you speak another language!
You must provide proof of your fluency whenever you are required to speak an additional language. With this in mind, IELTS and TOEFL (with at least a 30-point score) are acceptable for English.
Write a Cover Letter With Your Sales Manager Resume
Finally, we want to tell you how important it is to write an excellent cover letter for your sales manager resume! This is your opportunity to explain why this is your dream job, the passions you will bring, and what will make you a positive asset to the company.
This document should be around one page long and word-processed—remember to read it over a few times to ensure it reads smoothly!
