Experience

• There are many entry-level sales jobs out there that require little more than a high school diploma, but many of the more desirable or lucrative sales jobs require either higher levels of education or at least several years of experience. Your resume should detail all of your selling experience with particular emphasis on the type of sales with which you were involved---even if the actual job only had a limited sales scope. For example, if you worked as a customer service rep at an investments firm, emphasize the sales and lead generation aspects of the job, not the tedious account maintenance that was also part of it. Also, when it comes to your education, don't just list your major and your grade-point average, but also highlight relevant professional sales or marketing classes you successfully completed. (See Additional Resources for some examples of how to set up your CV.)
  
  

Goals

• Experience is great, but a recruiter wants to see sales successes. Use your sales CV to highlight sales-related goals you had during your previous experiences and how you met or exceeded them. For example, if your goal was to bring in $1 million dollars worth of new business deposits every week, and you brought in 25 percent more than required for the year, highlight it. If there was a sales competition at your company, and you placed in the top three spots, list out the details. By using your resume to highlight your success in meeting or beating goals, recruiters will immediately know that not only can you sell, but you can sell more than what is expected of you.
  
  

Networks

• Sales is all about networking and relationships. Some companies provide their sales force with leads while others expect their salespeople to generate all the leads themselves. If you use your resume to show the recruiter you already have a well-developed network of personal and professional contacts and that you are well-connected in the community, the recruiter will be more inclined to call you to set up an interview. Just like listing your experience, use your judgment when listing the organizations you belong to or participate in. You want the organizations you list on your resume to give you a professional and legal image. Although you might actively campaign for the legalization of marijuana or belong to the Michigan Militia, it would be wise to leave organizations like those off of your resume.