However, before getting a job in this industry, you need a sales associate resume that sets you apart from your competitors. There are many opportunities, especially in retail, and you should take advantage of the busy seasons to apply for the jobs.
It’s not uncommon for a candidate to be good at convincing a customer to make a purchase but find it very difficult to convince the hiring manager to give you the job. There are a lot of job seekers who find it challenging to write a resume that gets them the position they want. If you’re one of them, we are here to help.
This article will give tips to help you create an outstanding sales associate resume. Some of the topics we’ll cover include:
- The best way to add your professional experiences.
- The correct resume format and layout for your sales associate resume.
- Some of the most critical skills every sales associate should have.
- A sales associate resume sample to guide you as you write your resume.
Sales Associate Resume Example
Retail Sales Associate
563-093-224
andrewwalton@gmail.com
Hopewell, VA
linkedin.com/in/andrewwalton
Professional Summary
Enthusiastic retail sales associate with eight years of experience in the sales industry. Detailed knowledge of the fashion and cosmetic industries and a passionate drive to achieve sales targets. Proven ability to manage inventory, teams, and projects and successfully strengthen brand loyalty by boosting sales by 20%.
Work experience
Blue Seven
Retail Sales Manager
March 2016-June 2018
- Met or surpassed company sales goals by increasing revenue by 35% over a year and adding five new accounts to the personal sales portfolio.
- Increased team performance by 30% by restructuring work procedures, improving processing, and providing training to employees.
- Continuously offered exceptional customer service, which improved brand awareness and the company’s reputation.
Retail Rebel
Retail Sales Associate
June 2018-December 2020
- Resolved customer complaints and answered their questions regarding our products in person and by phone in a fast-paced environment.
- Accomplished monthly sales goals and increased sales by assisting customers and meeting with store managers frequently to determine product needs.
- Determined marketing customer needs and created ads that promoted their goods and services.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration
University of Virginia
2017
Skills
- Lead Development
- Interpersonal skills
- Inventory management
- Problem-solving skills
- Time management
- Excellent customer service
- Multi-Task Management
- Excellent communication skills
Additional information
Certified Sales Associate(CSA)
Additional Information on Salary and the Job Market for Sales Associates
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the industries with the highest levels of employment in Sales and Related Occupations include:
- General Merchandise Stores
- Food and Beverage Stores
- Building Material and Supplies Dealers
- Gasoline Stations
- Clothing Stores
The average salary for a sales associate is $100,000. The typical range is between $25,000 and $174,000, depending on the position, level of education, experience, and skills.
How to Write a Superb Resume for a Sales Associate
Sales associates can work in various fields, so using one resume for different applications is not an option. Your resume should be tailored to match the recruiter’s job requirements.
A resume should always be brief and only have the required qualifications. All the details you add to your resume should be relevant to your desired job. Hiring managers recommend a one-page resume because they only have a few seconds to go through each resume.
Check out our resume examples if you’re not sure where to start. They have some tips that are easy to follow and apply when creating your resume. The job description also gives you an idea of what the hiring manager is looking for. Always take some time to read through it and incorporate the keywords and action verbs that will help your resume get past the ATS systems.
The resume format, layout, and structure must also be correct. Let’s get more details on this.
Resume Format
There are three resume formats recommended for your resume. They are as follows:
- Reverse-chronological order – This format is suitable for candidates with experience in sales. It highlights your work experience, which most hiring managers want to see.
- Functional resume format – If you recently finished school or are just getting into sales, this format is perfect for you because it focuses on your skills. Highlight the skills you gained in school or a previous career relevant to the position.
- Combination/hybrid resume – As the name suggests, this format combines the best features of the two other formats mentioned above. This format is perfect for you if you have the perfect blend of skills and experience.
The layout should be simple. Fonts that are easy to read through are recommended, and a font size of 10-12pt. These fonts include Arial, Verdana, Times New Roman, Georgia, Cambria, and Calibri.
The structure of your sales associate resume should have the following sections:
- The header section
- Professional summary/resume objective
- Work experience
- Education section
- Skills section
- An additional section (Languages, computer skills and certifications,awards/honors, and interests)
Start Your Resume with A Header.
A header contains your personal details and contact information that the hiring manager will use to reach you. These details must be accurate, so always proofread your resume to ensure that there are no errors before sending it to the recruiter. Here are the details you’ll add to this section.
- Your full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- Location
- A link to your portfolio.
Correct example
Sales Associate
272-097-119
ilonadavis@gmail.com
Hartsville, SC
linkedin.com/in/ilonadavis
Incorrect example
Sales Associate
272-097-119
ilonadavis@gmail.com
1858 Kessla Way
House number 15
Hartsville, SC
Date of birth 02/15/2000
linkedin.com/in/ilonadavis
Detail Your Work Experience As A Sales Associate
Every employer wants to know if you have what it takes to do a superb job. This section allows you to do that by highlighting your professional experiences.
If you’re applying for a job in the retail industry, focus on the relevant experience you have in that field. If you’re starting your career and don’t have much experience, you can add volunteer work highlighting the skills you gained that will be useful in the new position. This also applies to candidates who are changing careers and don’t have relevant sales experience.
As you add your previous jobs, start with the name of the company, the job title, and the period you worked at each place. Under each workplace, add three to five duties to show the recruiter what you can do and incorporate the relevant keywords and action verbs. This is vital as it helps to ensure that the applicant tracking systems do not filter out your resume.
It’s also essential to quantify your achievements with figures and facts . This sets you apart from the other applicants as the hiring manager sees the value you could bring to the company.
Example for an entry-level sales associate
Sales Associate
August 2018-May 2020
- Collaborated with sales team members in other retail stores to update delivery processes to meet customers’ delivery dates, increasing customer satisfaction by 10%.
- Performed various duties like processing sales at the cash register and assisted the sales team to organize inventory.
- Provided outstanding customer service and achieved 15% repeat purchases.
Example for experienced sales associates
Retail manager
January 2014-March 2017
- Provided the company with greater profitability by analyzing sales performance and customer requests and implementing changes to operations.
- Maintained an organized sales floor to make it easier for customers to find the perfect product they were looking for.
- Worked with retail sales associates to solve problems effectively and provide customers with excellent customer service, which resulted in a 30% increase in return customers.
Highlight Your Educational Background
Most sales associate jobs require a high school diploma and may choose to train the employees on the job. However, each job is different, so you must check the job description to determine what the recruiter is looking for.
Start with your most recent qualification , so if you have a college degree, you should start with it. If you have a Master’s, you can leave the high school diploma out of the resume. The structure of your education section should have the name of the degree/diploma, the name of the school, and the year/expected graduation date.Correct example
Oakland High School
2017
Boost Your Resume with The Right Sales Skills
Your skills play a significant role in determining whether you land a job interview or not. Hiring managers get many resumes and filter them out using ATS systems. You might miss out on an opportunity if you don’t have the relevant skills.
Separate your skills into hard and soft skills. Hard skills are teachable skills that you learn at school or on the job. These may take some time but are necessary to perform specific duties. Soft skills are interpersonal attributes that don’t require learning. These help you interact well with customers who visit the store and your colleagues.
When you’re listing your skills, make them easy to spot by using bullet points. Check out our resume templates which will give you room to add up to ten skills to your resume.
Hard skills
- Inventory management
- Product development
- Account Management
- Cash register operation
- Market research and analysis
- Business Development
- Product knowledge
- Brand management
- Inventory control
Soft skills
- Critical thinking
- Exceptional customer service skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Decision-making skills
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Multi-tasking skills
- Interpersonal skills
Resume Summary For Your Resume
A professional summary comes second after the header. It highlights your top accomplishments, skills, and experience in your sales career. This section is short but is vital and could determine whether the recruiter reads your resume or not. Mention an achievement, and if possible, quantify it with a figure or fact to show the results you could achieve if given the position.
Correct example
Incorrect example
Sales Associate Resume Objective
If you recently completed school or are starting in sales, you’ll use a resume/professional objective to introduce your resume. It gives the hiring manager an idea of your professional goals and what you’re looking to achieve in your career. As you highlight your professional goals, show the recruiter how they align with the organization’s goals and express your interest in getting the sales associate position. It should be short but engaging to keep the recruiter reading.
Correct example
Include Additional Sections on Your Resume
All job seekers should have an additional section on their resume. This is where you add your extra skills and qualifications to ensure that the recruiter doesn’t miss them.
Let’s look at some of these skills you can add to this section.
Computer Skills and Certifications
As a sales associate, you must have some basic computer skills, as you may be required to operate CRM software or cash registers. These skills may be easy to miss in the general skills section, so it’s always better to add them here.
Certifications are essential for sales associates whether you’re starting out or looking to advance in your career. They give you additional knowledge and training and set you apart from the other applicants with the minimum requirements. Some of the certifications that will help you stand out as a sales associate include:
- Certified Sales Leadership Professional(CSLP)
- Certified Sales Associate(CSA)
- Certified Sales Professional(CSP)
Interests
The interests section depends on the company culture. Research the company/store you want to work at and align your interests to their culture . This may help with showing the recruiter that you fit right in.
Languages
Sales associates interact with many people, and if you’re bilingual, you have a good chance of being selected. It’s advisable to have your language skills in this section and to use the official language reference as follows:
- DELF for French (with a score of 60% and above)
- Germany’s Goethe-Zertifikat (70%) or higher is required.
- IELTS for English
Tips To Improve Your Sales Associate Resume
- Check the job description and use the right keywords and action verbs to ensure your resume gets past the ATS systems.
- Prioritize the relevant experience that shows the recruiter that you’ve previously worked in a sales associate position.
- Summarize your qualifications in one page because most recruiters don’t have time to read through long resumes.
- A resume template can help you structure your resume appropriately.
- Your resume should not have mistakes, so ensure you proofread it before sending it to the recruiter.
Key Takeaways
- The resume summary should highlight your top accomplishments, experience, and relevant skills.
- The details in the header section must be correct to make it easy for the recruiter to contact you.
- Detail your professional experiences in the work experience section, starting with your most recent one.
- Your academic background is essential and is a significant part of your resume.
- Use the skills section to list the unique qualities that make you the best candidate.
- List your extra qualifications in the additional section.
Improve your Chances With a Cover Letter
Every resume must be accompanied by a cover letter except when the recruiter states that they don’t need one. This document allows you to showcase your writing skills and personality as you give more details about your qualifications. Keep it short and summarize everything on one page. Check out our cover letter examples and guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries require sales associates?
- Real estate
- Financial services
- Insurance
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceuticals
- Software companies
Which top companies are hiring sales associates?
- Walmart
- The Home Depot
- Macy’s
- Lowe’s Home Improvement
- Target
- Nordstrom
- Best Buy
- Kohl’s
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