As a sales professional, your CV is one of the most important marketing tools that you possess. It is a document that can make or break your chances of landing the perfect sales job. While it is tempting to include every detail about your career, the truth is that a CV is not an encyclopaedia of your professional history. Instead, it is a marketing document designed to showcase your achievements, skills and experience in a way that resonates with potential employers. In this blog post, we will discuss how to write your CV in a modern way that reflects your strengths as a sales professional.
The Importance of a Modern CV
In today’s fast-paced, competitive job market, it is crucial to have a modern CV that stands out from the crowd. Employers receive hundreds of CVs for each sales role they advertise, so it’s important to make sure that your CV catches their attention. A modern CV not only presents your professional history in a clear and concise way, but it also showcases your unique selling points, achievements and skills.
Structuring Your CV
One of the key elements of a modern CV is the layout. The structure of your CV should be inviting and easy to read. Use bullet points (but not at the expense of providing context), bold text and subheadings to highlight the key elements of your CV. Make sure that the most important information is at the top, as employers may only spend a few seconds scanning your CV before making a decision about whether to interview you. Consistency is also a key factor. If half of your CV is in Times New Roman and the rest is in Arial, or if your dates don’t make sense or if you’re career history stops at 3 years ago without any explanation, then an employer is likely to conclude that you have poor attention to detail.
Career History
The most important part of your CV is your career history. This should be listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role first. Make sure that you provide enough context about your employers’ businesses, the products they sell and who their customers are. This will help potential employers understand the type of sales environments that you have worked in and the skills that you have developed.
Be Specific
When listing your achievements, it is important to be specific. Rather than just saying that you exceeded your sales targets, provide specific examples of how you did this. For example, you could say that you increased sales revenue by 20% in the first quarter by introducing a new product line. This type of specific, quantifiable information helps employers to understand the impact that you have had in your previous roles. Don’t be tempted to use superlatives or hyperbole in describing yourself or your achievements. These put people off and its better to list facts that will allow the reader to draw their own conclusion about how good you are at what you do.
Soft Skills
In addition to your sales achievements, it is also important to highlight your soft skills on your CV. Sales is a people-oriented profession, and employers want to know that you have excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills. You could provide examples of how you have built strong relationships with clients or colleagues, or how you have successfully negotiated a deal.
Education and Training
While your career history is the most important part of your CV, it is also important to include information about your education and training. This could include any relevant qualifications, such as a degree in marketing or a sales certification, as well as any training courses or workshops that you have attended.
Personal Interests
Finally, it is worth including a section on your personal interests. This can help to humanize you and give potential employers an insight into your personality. However, it is important to be selective about the information that you include. Stick to hobbies and interests that are relevant to the sales profession, such as networking events or attending industry conferences.
In conclusion, a modern CV is a marketing tool that showcases your achievements, skills and experience in a clear and concise way. By structuring your CV effectively and providing specific examples of your achievements, you can increase your chances of landing your dream sales job. Don’t be afraid to highlight your soft skills and include information about your education and training. And finally, remember to include a section on your personal interests, but be selective about the information that you include. By following these tips, you can create a modern CV that reflects your strengths as a sales professional.
…and Finally
Don’t pay someone else to write your CV. Nobody knows you and your story better than you do. Decide how you want to tell it and write it yourself.
