General Sales Manager Resume Examples & Templates
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General sales managers are responsible for managing a sales team, overseeing sales activities and ensuring that the team meets or exceeds sales targets. They are experienced in managing teams, evaluating performance and maintaining client relationships.
To land a job as a general sales manager, you’ll need a compelling resume that showcases your skills and qualifications. Take a look at our professionally made general sales manager resume examples and expert writing tips to craft a standout resume in minutes.
Start by editing the general sales manager resume samples from this page, or browse our selection of good resume templates to find one that catches your eye.
General sales manager resume example (text version)
Arthur Russell
Ellsworth, ND 54011
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Serviced-focused general manager dedicated to delivering positive customer experiences to promote loyalty and repeat business. Orchestrates optimal resource utilization to handle expected operational needs. Sales leader with sound judgment, good planning abilities and interpersonal communication strengths. Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).
Work History
February 2015 – Current
Applebee’s
General Manager
- Assess staffing needs and conduct performance reviews for employees twice a year
- Stay up-to-date on new menu items to ensure every dish is consistently prepared and served according to the restaurant’s recipes, portioning, cooking and serving standards
- Set, monitor and achieve branch objectives in sales, service, quality, appearance
- Train staff on tenets of sanitation and cleanliness
November 2011 – February 2015
Bob’s Bar & Grill
General Manager
- Count and monitor cash and other receipts through strict cash handling and reconciliation procedures
- Create a welcoming environment for guests and ensure they are treated to friendly and courteous service
- Delivered business strategy and developed systems and procedures to improve operational quality and team efficiency
August 2009 – June 2011
Bob’s Bar & Grill
Assistant General Manager
- Developed innovative sales proposals to promote product quality and showcase market comparisons.
- Controlled spending on overhead and equipment by devising and executing cost-management procedures.
- Maintained secure cash drawers, promptly resolving discrepancies for accuracy.
Skills
- Risk analysis and management
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Management information systems
- Supply chain management
- Work flow planning
- Cost reduction strategies
Education
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
BBA Restaurant And Food Services Management
5 essentials of a standout general sales manager resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your general sales manager resume. Include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website, if applicable. Reference our guide on how to write a resume for more advice on creating your contact details section.
Professional summary
Your professional summary is where you introduce yourself to the hiring manager and highlight your top qualifications in three to five sentences.
Your general sales manager resume summary should showcase relevant skills, include one or two notable professional accomplishments and touch on how long you’ve been in the industry.
Here is an example general sales manager resume summary:
“Highly motivated and results-driven general sales manager with over 10 years of experience leading sales teams to exceed revenue targets. Skilled in developing and executing sales strategies that increase market share and drive business growth. Adept at building and maintaining strong relationships with clients to ensure customer satisfaction and repeat business. Proven track record of analyzing sales data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.”
For an entry-level general sales manager resume, we recommend including a general sales manager resume objective instead of a professional summary. For additional guidance, take a look at our guide on how to make a resume with no experience.
Skills
List your top general sales manager resume skills using bullet points to let hiring managers know what you bring to the table. An impressive resume will showcase a mixture of hard skills and soft skills.
Here are a few examples of general sales manager skills for your resume:
- Sales experience: General sales managers should have several years of experience in sales, preferably in a leadership role.
- Management experience: Strong management skills are essential for this role. Candidates should have experience managing teams, setting goals and evaluating performance.
- Communication skills: Excellent communication skills are essential for general sales managers. They should be able to communicate effectively with clients, team members and other stakeholders.
Remember to note your interpersonal skills, which help you communicate effectively with your colleagues. You can also take a look at general sales manager job descriptions for resume skills that are relevant to your target role.
Work history
Your resume needs a clear work history section that starts with your present or most recent job and lists your remaining work experience in reverse-chronological order. Remember to mention the job title, employer’s name, company location and the duration of your employment.
Use bullet points to showcase your accomplishments and quantifiable achievements for each role. Here are a few examples of work history bullet points to include on a general sales manager resume:
- Led a team of sales professionals to exceed sales targets by 25% in the first quarter of the year.
- Developed and implemented a new sales strategy that increased revenue by 30% within six months.
- Trained and coached sales team members, resulting in a 20% increase in individual sales performance.
- Built and maintained strong relationships with key clients, resulting in a 40% increase in repeat business.
- Analyzed sales data and market trends to identify new opportunities for growth, resulting in the launch of a new product line that generated $1 million in revenue in the first year.
Read our guide on including work experience on your resume and reference our general sales manager sample resumes for additional tips from career experts.
Education
List your educational background starting with the most recent degree and working backward. Include the name of the schools and the year of graduation. If you did not attend college, provide information about your high school and any relevant courses you have taken since graduating.
The education requirements for a general sales manager can vary depending on the employer and industry. Generally, a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or a related field is preferred for this role. However, some employers may consider candidates with a high school diploma or equivalent if they have significant sales experience.
While a degree is preferred, candidates with relevant experience and skills may still be considered for a general sales manager position. Professional certifications or training programs in sales management may also be beneficial for candidates looking to enhance their qualifications.
See why MyPerfectResume is a 5-star resume builder
Action verbs for a standout general sales manager resume
If you take a look at our sample general sales manager resumes, you’ll notice that the work experience bullet points use strong action verbs to make an impact. Here are some examples of action words you can use for your general sales manager resume:
- Manage
- Communicate
- Analyze
- Assist
- Coordinate
- Review
- Develop
- Prepare
- Negotiate
- Evaluate
- Create
- Train
- Maintain
- Collaborate
- Conduct
- Organize
- Facilitate
- Resolve
- Examine
Use the resume examples for general sales managers from this page or make a resume from scratch using our Resume Builder.
Top skills for your general sales manager resume
Make sure the resume skills you include are relevant to the job description and what the employer is looking for in a candidate.
Here are some examples of general sales manager skills for your resume:
- Management
- Strategy development
- Communication
- Organization
- Customer relationship management
- Analysis
- Collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Leadership
- Time management
- Multitasking
- Negotiation
- Product knowledge
- Adaptability
- Accuracy
- Flexibility
General sales manager resume skills should feature a mix of soft skills and technical skills to demonstrate your balanced experiences and qualifications. Explore our library of 800+ resume examples for more inspiration.
Certifications to include on a general sales manager resume
Create a separate section on your resume for certifications and licenses and list them using bullet points. Here are some widely recognized certifications for general sales managers:
- Certified Sales Executive (CSE)
- Certified Professional Salesperson (CPS)
- Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP)
- Certified Sales Operations Professional (CSOP)
Review our general sales manager resume templates for additional guidance listing certifications on your resume.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
General sales manager resume FAQ
How do you make an ATS-friendly general sales manager resume?
We recommend using our free ATS resume checker to scan your resume for common errors that might prevent your resume from passing ATS.
Additionally, you can follow these tips to make an ATS-friendly general sales manager resume:
- Use relevant keywords: Use relevant keywords from the job description, such as “written and verbal communication,” “analytical skills” and “budgeting.”
- Use simple formatting: Use simple formatting and avoid graphics, tables and columns.
- Use bullet points: Use bullet points to break up your resume into easy-to-read sections. This will help the ATS scan your resume more easily.
- Use standard fonts: Use standard fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman. This will help the ATS read your resume more accurately.
- Avoid abbreviations: Avoid using abbreviations or acronyms that the ATS may not recognize. Instead, spell out the full name of the skill or certification.
- Spell out numbers: Spell out numbers instead of using symbols or abbreviations. This will help the ATS read your resume more accurately.
By following these tips, you can create an ATS-friendly general sales manager resume that will increase your chances of getting past the initial screening process and landing an interview.
How do you make a resume for a general sales manager position?
Using an AI resume builder such as MyPerfectResume can help you make a general sales manager resume in a matter of minutes. Here are some examples of general sales manager key duties to mention in your resume:
- Developing and implementing sales strategies: You will be responsible for developing and implementing effective sales strategies that align with the company’s goals and objectives. This will involve conducting market research, identifying target audiences and creating a sales plan.
- Managing the sales team: You will be responsible for managing the sales team and ensuring that they are meeting their sales targets. This will involve providing coaching and training to team members, setting performance goals and conducting performance evaluations.
- Monitoring sales performance: You will be responsible for monitoring sales performance and making data-driven decisions to improve sales results. This will involve tracking sales metrics, analyzing sales data and identifying areas for improvement.
Reference our general sales manager resume samples for additional ideas on how to add your job responsibilities to your resume.
What is the best format for a general sales manager’s resume?
The resume format you use for your general sales manager depends on your years of professional experience and the areas that you want to showcase.
The chronological format is the most commonly used format because it highlights years of experience. The combination format is great for midlevel job seekers who want to showcase a blend of work experience and job-relevant skills.
First time general sales managers could use the functional format, which focuses on relevant skills such as customer service, communication and problem-solving.
Whichever format you choose, make sure to touch on job-relevant skills such as maintaining relationships with clients, developing customer retention strategies and coaching sales team members.
Do’s and don’ts for your general sales manager resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your experience.
- Use strong action verbs to describe your work experiences, such as “managed,” “predicted” and “analyzed.”
- Tailor your resume to the general sales manager job you’re applying for.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your general sales manager resume. For example, “managing the sales budget” and “tracking expenses.”
- Format your general sales manager resume with clear sections and appropriate fonts so that it is easy for ATS software to parse and hiring managers to read.
- Don’t lie about your experience and skills as a general sales manager.
- Don’t make vague claims about your skills. Instead, provide specific examples of your ability to build relationships with clients and manage budgets and expenses.
- Don’t include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Don’t include irrelevant skills and work experience. Focus on relevant skills instead such as sales forecasting and people management.
- Don’t forget to proofread. A general sales manager is expected to have high attention to detail — your resume should reflect that.
Top 4 tips for interviews for a general sales manager job
Learn about the company.
When applying for a general sales manager role, it’s important to learn about the organization to demonstrate your interest in the position and to tailor your resume to the company’s needs. Here are a few areas to consider researching:
- Sales strategy: Understanding the company’s sales strategy is important to ensure that you’re aligned with their goals and objectives. You can learn about the sales strategy by researching the company’s sales approach, target markets and sales channels.
- Products or services: Understanding the products or services that the company offers is important to ensure that you have the knowledge and expertise to sell them effectively. You can learn about the products or services by researching the company’s website, social media channels and industry publications.
- Competitors: Understanding the company’s competitors is important to ensure that you understand the competitive landscape and can develop effective sales strategies. You can learn about the competitors by researching industry publications, attending industry events and conducting competitive analysis.
- Sales team structure: Understanding the company’s sales team structure is important to ensure that you understand your role and responsibilities as a general sales manager. You can learn about the sales team structure by reviewing the job description, speaking with current employees and researching the company’s organizational chart.
Practice your answers.
It is important to prepare for your job interview by practicing commonly asked questions. Here are a few behavioral questions to prepare for:
- Provide an example of how you deal with change
- Give me an example of how you juggle multiple priorities
- Describe a time in which you took initiative
During your interview, you will be asked a variety of questions to assess your knowledge, skills and experience as a general sales manager. Here are some common questions that you might encounter:
- How do you motivate your sales team to achieve their targets?
- What is your experience with developing and implementing sales strategies?
- How do you analyze sales data to make informed decisions?
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
Prepare for the interview process by brainstorming informed questions that you can ask. This will help you showcase your interest in the company’s mission and values.
Here are a few questions you can ask the interviewer to demonstrate your interest:
- What are the biggest challenges facing the sales team, and how does the company address them?
- How does the company stay competitive in the market, and what is the general sales manager’s role in maintaining a competitive advantage?
- What is the sales team structure and how does the general sales manager work with other departments?
- What are the company’s most important sales goals and how does the general sales manager contribute to achieving them?
Gather references.
Gather your professional references to share with the hiring manager if requested. Make a list of two or three former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your abilities and performance as a general sales manager.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your sales career
How we reviewed this article
Since 2012, we have helped more than 11 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Sales Managers
- MyFutureCareer. Article. Sales Managers General Information
- U.S. News & World Report. Article. Sales Manager Overview
Kellie is a career advice writer. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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