How to Write Great Sales Resumes: What You Need to Know to Stand Out From the Crowd

Sales professionals have a significant advantage over other job seekers, in that they have a terrific opportunity to display their value on resumes through quantifiable results. Whereas most other professionals have difficulty expressing their achievements tangibly, sales professionals can use hard numbers to demonstrate how well they have performed in their jobs.

Statistics are very effective on sales resumes. Since there are so many ways that sales professionals are measured, they are able to pick and choose the numbers that work to their advantages. When creating your resume, choose only the metrics that work to your advantage. If you did not hit your sales goal but you were able to increase your market share, highlight only the latter statistic.

Here are a few key performance measurements you can use to show off your accomplishments:

* Percentage-to-plan: Out of all categories, this is often the clearest indication of superior performance. If you have consistently exceeded your quotas, provide the specific data on your resume. Phase the achievement as a percentage (e.g., "Achieved 121% of sales plan."), and use data for entire years whenever possible. If the length of employment is brief or if you are writing the resume well into a year, you can use quarters or half-years.

* Ranking: Your standing among your peers is a great way to illustrate your worth. You can list your ranking by team, office, level, district, region, nation, or other geographic grouping. You can also include ranking by product, service, or division if those numbers work to your advantage. If you excel in one specific category, then focus on that statistic when you list your ranking. Categories can include sales volume, units sold, units-per-transaction, and percentage-to-plan. Take a close look at your performance numbers and see where you rank among the top.

* Growth: Your percentage of growth is a good performance indicator, especially when the growth is consistent or when you compare the growth to a predecessor's numbers. If you can show a significant year-over-year increase in volume, market share, or goal attainment, you can make a powerful point on your resume. This statistic is helpful in cases where there has been impressive growth, but the sales goal is unattainable or has been elevated due to your excellent performance the year before.

Sales resumes without quantifiable results lack impact and often fall to the bottom of the stack. Simply listing your job responsibilities is an outdated approach and will not impress a prospective employer. Instead, show hiring managers how well you've performed your job by providing accurate statistics that portray you as the superstar you are. Don't sell yourself short!

Robert Mandelberg is the owner of http://greatsalesresumes.com/. For more than 20 years, he has helped thousands of clients reach their career goals. Rob is a published author, a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and a Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP). He is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches and the Career Directors Institute. He is also the founder of the Job-Search Summit, a career education program featuring national industry thought leaders.