Outside Sales Representative Resume Example + Guide + Tips
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If you’re looking for a job as an outside sales maintenance representative, you must nail the resume. After all, when you write a resume, it’s almost like you are a salesperson for yourself; it’s your first chance to show your employer your skills in the sales field. Our guide to crafting an effective resume for an outside sales representative will help you highlight your expert persuasive communication skills to land your next interview.
Start by editing this outside sales representative sample resume, or explore our library of resume templates to find the best outside sales representative resume for you.
Outside sales representative resume sample (text version)
Sharon Reed
Tupelo, MS 38801
555-555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Accomplished outside sales representative recognized for customer service achievements and offering 11 years of experience in solar and technology industries. A seasoned leader with outstanding communication skills, leveraging positive rapport-building and service-oriented acumen to garner, grow and sustain loyal customer relationships. Proficient in campaign and operational CRM software use and lead optimization.
Education
University Of Mississippi Tupelo, MS
Bachelor of Science Marketing
Certifications
- CSP – Certified Sales Professional
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Danish
Professional Working
Skills
- Consultative sales approach
- Reports generation
- Prospecting techniques
- Strategic negotiations
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Self-starter
- Detail oriented
- Exact Software
Work History
February 2017 – Current
Standard Solar Power
Outside Sales Representative
- Generate more than 10 weekly leads and pursue appointment opportunities to convert prospects into new customers.
- Conduct site visits to assess needs, demonstrate products and recommend strategic solutions for customer requirements.
- After-sale, follow up with a customer to identify and resolve service, account, or technical issues to maintain customer satisfaction.
March 2014 – February 2017
Reynolds and Reynolds
Outside Sales Representative
- Consistently increased sales by 20-40% by developing key customer relationships.
- Supported marketing management initiatives to optimize business development.
- Expanded sales by conducting comprehensive market research on competitors’ products and locations.
January 2012 – March 2014
Sales Recruiters Network
Sales Representative
- Received Customer Service award in 2013 for delivering exemplary service while driving strategic business initiatives.
- Fostered customer relationships to expand the customer base and enhance loyalty and retention.
- Pursued over 25 new accounts in a quarter through lead generation, cold calling and advertising referrals.
5 essentials of a top resume for an outside sales representative
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume; otherwise, hiring managers won’t know how to contact you for an interview. Display your contact information like so: Your full name, then your city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website (if you have them) last.
Personal statement
A personal statement is also known as a professional summary. This is where you introduce yourself and highlight your top qualifications for the job in three to five sentences. An outside sales representative resume summary must include a professional summary with appropriate skills and one or two notable accomplishments, and it should touch on how long you’ve been in the sales industry.
Emphasize any relevant experience you have with cold calling prospective clients, logging information in sales software systems or negotiating sales and closing deals. If you are just starting your career, use an outside sales representative resume objective instead.
Skills
It’s important to let potential employers know what skills you bring to the table. Create a separate section for your job-relevant skills and display them with bullet points to make them easy to read. In the sales industry, you should emphasize your ability to build relationships and meet goals.
Recruiters want to see applicants who will do well in a fast-paced environment, and your resume can make that clear. Detailing accomplishments and important skills throughout your document can help make you stand out. Our outside sales representative resume sample includes technical, hard and soft skills.
Work history
Your resume must include an employment history section, whether or not you have professional experience as an outside sales representative. In reverse-chronological order, list current and previous employers and provide business names, locations and the dates you worked for each. Include at least three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list.
For example, you could say, “Closed over 30 accounts for the company through email, phone and direct selling techniques.” If you’re applying for your first job as an outside sales representative, it’s acceptable to highlight relevant extracurricular activities, coursework, presentations, volunteer experience and community service.
Education
Hiring managers want to see your education credentials, so an outside sales representative resume must include an education section. Add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school and display the names of the schools and the years that you graduated in reverse-chronological order using bullet points.
Outside sales representatives typically have a Bachelor’s degree in economics, business or communications. If you did not attend college, list your high school information and any classes you’ve taken since graduating that fostered your knowledge of customer engagement.
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Action words for a standout outside sales representative resume
Action words strengthen resumes because they convey confidence and demonstrate exactly what you accomplished in previous roles. Use them with numbers to make a more substantial impact.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for an outside sales representative resume:
- Motivate
- Train
- Generate
- Handle
- Manage
- Review
- Operate
- Communicate
- Collaborate
- Assess
- Facilitate
- Prepare
- Maintain
Want more inspiration? We have 800+ resume examples to help you create the perfect resume for an outside sales representative job.
Top skills for an outside sales representative resume
Review outside sales representative job descriptions for resume content ideas and match the required skills to the traits that reflect your professional experience.
Some outside sales representative skills for a resume include:
- Strategic account development
- Sale proposal creation
- Sales closing
- Revenue and profit maximization
- Avaya software
- Team leadership
- Energetic and driven
- CyberMatrix software
- Persuasive negotiator
- EStara Softphone
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Reasoning
- Leadership
- Time management
- Collaboration
Need the perfect outside sales representative resume now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to craft a professional resume in minutes! You can make edits as you go, download your finished resume and save it in multiple file formats. It’s so easy!
Certifications for an outside sales representative resume
Having a certificate for an outside sales representative job is not required, but having at least one certificate on your resume will show hiring managers that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform specific tasks required for the job.
The following certifications can boost your resume:
- Certified Sales Professional (CSP)
- International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Sales Representative (CSR)
- Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS)
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Outside sales representative resume FAQ
1. What does an outside sales representative resume look like?
There is no standard outside sales representative resume template; you can use any of our templates and customize them for your desired job.
A good resume for an outside sales representative will look much like the sample outside sales representative resume on this page and will contain the job seeker’s contact information, skills, employment history, education and certifications, if applicable.
An outside sales representative resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display.
2. What to put under skills on a resume for an outside sales representative?
A resume for an outside sales representative should only include skills that are relevant to the job and fit the job applicant’s true skill set. Review outside sales representative resume examples for ideas on how to display your skills on your outside sales representative resume.
3. What are some tips for creating an excellent resume for an outside sales representative job?
Not all resumes are created equal. Here are our top tips for crafting a perfect outside sales representative resume:
- Add separate sections for extra training, certifications, licenses and awards.
- Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, it should be one page long; if you have more than 10 years of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages.
- Use keywords from the job description in your outside sales representative resume work experience section to pass ATS screening.
- Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
4. How should I format my outside sales representative resume?
The resume format you use for your resume should emphasize your skills, accomplishments, and experiences. You’ll also want to use a resume template that complements the environment of the company you want to work at.
For example, if you desire a job with a creative company, you may want to use a template that incorporates pops of color into the design. Most outside sales representative resumes, however, should use a simple template with a black-and-white color design to ensure the document focuses on the content.
5. Should I include references on my outside sales representative resume?
As you’ll notice in all of our resume samples, the writer does not mention his references. Typically, this type of information does not belong on a resume. If hiring managers want a list of references, they will ask for one in the job description or during the interview.
There are a few circumstances that warrant the inclusion of this list on your resume. First, if the employer asks for it to be on your resume. Second, if you have an impressive professional contact that will help you stand out from the competition.
Do’s and don’ts for building an outside sales representative resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your outside sales representative abilities and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your outside sales representative resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target outside sales representative job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your outside sales representative resume.
- Format your outside sales representative resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your outside sales representative experience and skills.
- Boast about your outside sales representative experience and skills.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to being an outside sales representative.
- Forget to proofread!
Top 4 tips for acing an outside sales representative interview
Learn about the institution.
It’s vital to take the time to learn about the institution or company’s history, goals, values and personnel before the job interview. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition.
Plus, a glimpse of the company culture early on will help you know what to expect and can boost your confidence. It will also indicate important skills to put on a resume for an outside sales representative position.
Practice at home.
Practice really does make perfect. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- What Do You See Yourself Doing in 10 Years?
- What’s Your Proudest Accomplishment?
- Why Did You Choose This Career?
Possible behavioral questions include:
- Why Should We Hire You Over Other Candidates
- Tell me About a Time When You Were Forced to Think on your Feet
- Tell Me About a Time When You Had To Cope With a Stressful Situation
Write down two or three possible answers as you review potential questions, then review them with a friend or a family member in a mock interview so you can get comfortable with the questions and memorize your answers.
Ask questions.
You should always have at least three questions ready to ask every job interview you encounter; those who do tend to get hired more often than those who don’t because they show motivation, keen interest and thoughtfulness.
Some questions you might ask for an outside sales representative job are:
- What is a typical day on the job like?
- What are your expectations for the first 90 days?
- What does a successful outside sales representative look like to you?
Gather references.
You’ll need professional references quickly if the hiring manager offers you the job after the interview. Having them ready will save you stress and time, so prepare a list of two former colleagues and a former manager who are willing to speak to your abilities to perform the job of an outside sales representative and who you know will give you a stellar review.
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Sources
- U.S. News & World Report. Article. Sales Representative Overview
- Learn.org. Business Career Profiles. Article. Sales Representative: Career Definition, Employment Outlook, and Education Requirements
- Society for Human Resources Management. Job Descriptions. Outside Sales Representative
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Outside Sales Representative Resume Example
Elizabeth is a content writer for My Perfect Resume. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.