Write the perfect sales CV

Write the perfect sales CV

A CV / curriculum vitae / resume is one of the most important documents you will ever compose on two sides of A4. A good CV can be the difference between getting an interview, or spending more time looking for that ideal job.

Your CV is in effect a brochure for a company – that company is YOU. Just as when a company may consider taking on an outside agency, or is looking for a service of some sort, often the brochure makes a big impact on their decision. Your CV, as your brochure, needs to be great. When your potential employer reads it, the document needs to sell you and your services to them. You CV needs to show that they can benefit from hiring you.

For best results and to ensure your CV is optimised, we recommend Newhampton CV to write your CV for you. They offer great value and a FREE PROFESSIONAL CV REVIEW to CDSR applicants, setting the industry standard by offering a truly bespoke CV at an affordable price. Once you have submitted your current CV, our web site will show you what they can do for you and why a professional Newhampton CV can make such a difference to an employer. A small investment in your CV can have a huge impact on your job search.

Your CV will not get you the job, but it will help to get you the interview to help you get the job. It is the first step, but like all the others, a vital one. Due to the importance it holds, it is worth spending time thinking about and then optimising your CV.

Exactly what will go into a CV will vary from person to person. For example, someone who has had a long and varied career will have more to list than someone who is just starting out.

Nonetheless, the following information will guide you to creating the interview-getting CV you deserve. Opinions vary on exactly what should be included in a CV. There are, however, some general conventions and underlying common-sense factors that should not be ignored.

The most important thing to do is focus your CV for the specific position or job-type you are after, giving your strongest selling point first.

Keep your CV short, punchy, brief and relevant. In effect, give the prospective employer a taster of what you are about. You do not need to go into detail, the employer will do so during the interview if they so wish.

A CV must promote your strengths and demonstrate all the benefits you can bring to an organisation. When job hunting, you are effectively a product/service – you are trying to sell yourself just as you would sell anything.

Always be honest and accurate with your information.

Write in a clear, professional manner with confidence. Use positive language and adopt a positive enthusiastic tone.

Try to keep your writing in an objective tone. Avoid writing in the third person (i.e John Johnson has proven himself achieving great results) and if possible avoid the padding of writing in the first person (i.e. I have proven myself by getting great results). Keep it as brief as possible (i.e. Achieved great results.) Further example: Rather than writing "In this role I had to make cold calls, develop client relations and manage a team of four" you should write "This role required cold calling, client relations development and managing a team of four."

Sections of a CV and layout

A CV will cover several areas:

Personal details
Profile
Education / Qualifications
Professional Qualifications
Training Courses
Employment History
Major Achievements
Other skills

The order in which these should be placed on the CV will vary according to your experience and the focus of the job. A fresh graduate should place their education and qualifications above their work experience, while anyone who has picked up a decent level of experience would put their work experience and major achievements above education.

Personal Details should always come first. It will include your Name, Address, Contact details and Date of Birth. DO NOT include Age, as this will date the CV (for example, your birthday may pass before the CV is looked at). You do not need to include any other personal details such as gender, race, height, weight, family. These are, on the whole, irrelevant.

Profile generally is next on the CV. It is a short paragraph giving a brief introduction into who you are, what you do, what you have done and what you can offer. This is a chance to sell yourself, but do not oversell. Also, keep the profile factual, not subjective.

Major Achievements will give a succinct list of 3 to 4 major achievements. In the case of a sales professional it will probably be targets achieved, record months, successful examples of entrepreneurship etc. This is a great point to grab the employer’s attention and let them know that you’re a winner. It should be presented in a factual, objective manner.

Employment History is generally the third section on the majority of people’s CVs, but may be the forth for a sales professional. This will show you relevant experience and what you have achieved – in short, the main focus of what most employers want to know.

Your employment should be listed in a chronological order, with the most recent positions at the top. Attention should be given to your most recent roles – many employers do not care what you have done more than five years previous.

Each entry should include the job title/description, the period of employment and who/where with. The opportunity should be taken to highlight, in the more recent periods of employment, purpose, responsibilities and results relevant to the job you want.

All gaps should be accounted for, whether it is travelling, voluntary work, children, developing skills etc. Do not go into depth, do not offer excuses. If the employer wishes to know more, they will cover it in the interview.

Professional Qualifications and Membership of Professional Organisations will include a brief listing of the relevant professional training you have received and accomplished. It may also include what professional organisations you are a member of (such as REC). Obviously this section will not be on everyone’s CV.

Training Courses will, surprisingly enough, give a listing of the relevant training courses you have been on and when.

Education & Skills may come third on your CV if your work experience is limited. Otherwise it can be place lower down. As a sales professional, your potential employer will be more interested in what you have done since you left school. A simple listing of your subjects and grades is all that you need unless your course is relevant to the job, then you can specify how, or unless you have enough material to merely include the number of O-Levels/GCSEs/A-Levels/Degrees you have. Skill listings should indicate your level of experience and aptitude with of the relevant skills such as software packages and foreign languages.

What not to include

Photos (take up valuable space on the document in which to sell yourself).

Any sort of failure. Reasons for failure of exams, marriage, business etc. should be left out – anything negative should not be included, and the inclusions of excuses present you as just that – someone who makes excuses.

Fancy patterns or borders – they detract from the information of the CV. They stop CV’s being clear and simple.