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A strong sales manager CV focuses on your key skills and professional experience. It displays a strong track record of success, illustrated by examples like ‘generating £50k of annual revenue’, or ‘managing a 5-strong sales force’. Particular sales techniques and skills will be referenced, alongside any relevant training and qualifications you hold.
We’ve brought together all the resources you need to craft a stellar CV, including advice on how to write a CV and craft a summary for your sales manager CV. That’s paired with professional CV examples, templates, and formatting tips to create the perfect CV to impress recruiters.
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Sales manager CV templates
Sales manager CV – top tips and techniques
Sell yourself to recruiters with the help of these top tips for writing a sales manager CV for UK jobs.
Keep it professional
The best CV for a sales manager will look professional, as well as clear. Choosing the right CV template is of vital importance, as it will provide a framework for presenting your career history to employers. A sales manager CV template for UK jobs will hold recruiters’ attention from start to finish, showcasing your personal statement, work history, academic achievements, and skills. You should also double check the spelling and grammar before sending off to recruiters and be sure to include your contact details.
Utilise the job description
When writing a CV, the sales manager job description will give you a clear set of guidelines for details you should include. Recruiters will use the job description to specify the candidate they’re looking for, including in terms of qualifications and work experience. Keep an eye out for any criteria you meet or exceed, then include these details in your CV to illustrate exactly why you’re made for the role.
Be specific about skills
Don’t be modest – your CV needs to show how you meet the core sales manager skills and abilities. Whether that’s your skill in managing a team or your ability to solve problems, showcasing your CV skills proves to employers that you have what it takes to excel in all aspects of the job.
Structure your CV
To get the most out of your CV, it needs to be clear for recruiters. As well as correcting grammar and spelling, you need to use the right CV format. The best sales manager CV format is reverse chronological, which starts with your most recent job, then works backwards. That means recruiters don’t have to search your CV for the most relevant information – because it’s immediately in sight.
Cash in your achievements
Recruiters want to see that you have the experience needed to fulfill the role, so you should include specific examples of your achievements in the workplace. Before writing your CV, take a look at some CV examples. A regional sales manager CV sample will include examples of the type of work experience and academic qualifications needed for this role. You should also show that you’re motivated and an asset to your team by including specific details of your career goals in your sales manager CV objective.
Sales manager – CV skills
The skills of a modern sales manager are diverse, including both hard skills and soft, transferable skills. Here are the core CV skills you’ll need to demonstrate in this role:
Essential sales manager skills for your CV
- B2B sales
- Consumer marketing
- Sales proposal writing
- Sales planning
- Strategic account development
- Social selling
Soft skills for a sales manager
- Communication
- Problem solving
- Goal-oriented
- Organisational skills
- Team management
- Collaborative working
Sales manager CV top FAQs
What is a sales manager?
Sales managers lead a team of sales representatives, setting sales targets, creating reports, and delegating tasks. The key sales manager responsibilities for your CV include:
- Setting sales quotas
- Creating sales strategies
- Managing and appraising the sales team
- Recruiting and training staff
- Delegating work within the team
- Analysing sales data
- Creating reports for company directors
- Building relationships with existing clients
- Obtaining new sales opportunities
- Managing customer complaints
When writing your CV and cover letter, you should include specific examples from your career to establish your experience meeting these key responsibilities.
What qualifications do you need to be a sales manager?
There are generally no specific qualifications required to be a sales manager. What you do need is:
- Extensive career experience in sales
- Management skills
- Strong leadership abilities
- Good interpersonal skills
- Problem solving skills
- Time management skills.
However, having a diploma or degree in sales and marketing management or business management could help you to stand out from other candidates. You should also consider whether you wish to specialise in a particular area, for example, in exports. An export sales manager CV would especially benefit from a degree in international trade or international marketing. CV examples can give candidates a clear reference to the kinds of qualifications employers might be looking for, so taking a look at a sales manager CV sample could be useful.
What experience do you need to be a sales manager?
In terms of sales manager work experience, you will need several years of experience specifically in sales, ideally in roles as a sales assistant or sales executive. In these roles, you’ll need to have built a strong track record of achieving and exceeding sales targets. While people-management experience will be helpful, many sales managers have learned these skills on the job.
How to become an area sales manager?
To become an area sales manager, you’ll need proven experience in sales, and ideally, you’ll also have some management experience. While there are no set qualifications for this role, it would be beneficial to have at least an NVQ in sales or marketing. A regional sales manager CV, however, will usually benefit from a management degree.
How much does a sales manager earn?
The average sales manager salary in the UK is around £38,000 per year. Entry-level positions start out with approximately £30,000 per year, with the most senior roles bringing in between £50k to £60k per year. Meanwhile, the average regional sales manager salary lands between £38k and £45k. Experienced candidates in this role can expect to reach salaries between £50k and £65k per year.
Creating your sales manager CV personal statement
Your sales manager CV profile is one of the most important parts of your CV, because it’s the first thing that recruiters will read. Also known as a personal statement, it should be kept short and sweet, limited to 3-4 sentences.
Above all else, your sales manager CV summary should sell you as a candidate, highlighting the skills or experience that set you apart so recruiters want to read on.
Related CVs Sales CV Examples
Sell yourself with a sales manager CV for UK jobs
Once you’ve read all of our CV advice, you’re ready to get started on your sales manager CV. The first step is to choose a CV template to structure and style your CV, then use our online CV builder to add in professional pre-written content tailored to your job – from your personal statement to your academic history. Then simply review, add a few finishing touches, and send over to recruiters!
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