Account Executive Resume Example & Writing Guide

Account executives must perform the balancing act of keeping long-term clients satisfied and making sure they are operating in the best interest of their company.

Building relationships with clients takes time. You need to lay the foundation and then build upon it. On the flip side, if you don’t make a good first impression, you are unlikely to get a second chance. The same is true of your job search. Putting in the work upfront to create an account executive resume that gets the attention of hiring managers will yield results in the long run.

Resume guide for an account executive resume

This account executive resume guide, along with Resume.io’s resume examples and resources for job seekers, are designed to give you a head start on the resume-building process. Let us help you target recruiters just as you do prospective clients by making an amazing first impression.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding account executive resume example, will cover the following topics:

• How to write an account executive resume
• Choosing the right account executive resume format
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your account executive experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the account executive market looks like, and what salary you can expect

How to write an account executive resume

Writing your account executive resume can seem like a daunting task, but this guide will help you take it step by step. The first task is knowing what to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

You’re a salesperson and the tone of your resume should reflect the style of communication you use to sell to customers: personable, yet professional. Avoid too much jargon and stick to a straightforward message. Focus on your unique selling proposition. 

Approach your future employer the way you approach a future client: Do your research. Try to find out as much as you can about the hiring process and the person who will be your boss. Tailor your resume to fit the needs of that individual, the department and the company as a whole. This sales pitch starts with your resume. To close the deal, stick to this winning formula:

• Highlight accomplishments rather than responsibilities. Everyone can list the tasks they were assigned. But what did you accomplish? What value did you bring? This applies to every section of your resume.
• Adapt each version of the resume you submit to a specific employer. Adjust the style and tone to that of the company in the same way you adjust your approach based on the customer you’re selling to.
• Convey a professional image with a resume template thats polished without being overly formal or stuffy.
• When submitting online, optimize your resume with appropriate keywords so it won’t be filtered out by ATS screening software.

Choosing the right resume format for account executives

Surprise is not the element you’re looking for here. Your goal of your resume format is to make it easy for hiring managers to find what they are looking for. If they have to hunt, they may just move on to the next candidate.

That means, unless you have a compelling reason, use standard headings and stick to reverse chronological order within your employment history section. If you are just starting out as an account manager or are making a lateral shift into the field, you may want to consider the resume formats we suggest as chronological alternatives or hybrids. The functional resume format applies only if you have specialized or niche expertise.

Include your contact information

When you place your business card in a customer’s hands you want to be sure that your contact information is clear and the card's style fits your unique brand. The header is your resume’s business card. 

The first goal is to make your contact information easily accessible. It should also be professionally presented. 

• Full name & title. List your first and last name. Use the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected]. Don’t use a quirky, unprofessional email address.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location. List only your city and state. Don’t list street address or zip code. It’s both outdated and unsafe. Note 'Willing to Relocate' here if applicable.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is active, relevant, and shows your sales network, include it here.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth: Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details: Marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.

Make use of a summary

You know the drill: you have two minutes to wow your prospective client before their eyes glaze over, and they start wondering what they are going to eat for lunch. For your resume summary (also known as a profile), you need 3-5 strong sentences that capture the essence of your sales success, communication skills, and personality.

In fact, this is the only spot in an otherwise formulaic document in which to show off who you are. You will have more opportunities in your cover letter, but there’s no guarantee that will be read before a recruiter scans your resume.

The resume summary is the place to bring out your greatest achievement and tout your success. Describe yourself with dynamic words and tell the hiring manager how you will make their life easier. Salespeople are not known to be shy, but this is definitely not the place to be demure. 

You can find an adaptable account executive resume example summary below:

Outline your account executive work experience

Your employment history section offers the details you hinted at in your summary. It’s here that you show off your growth and knowledge in your industry.

Within each previous and current position, use bullet points to demonstrate what you have done to add value to your company. Remember: Your future employer has a problem and is looking to hire someone to solve it. Explain just how you've done that in each of your jobs and show that you're already doing many of the tasks required in your new desired position.

Be specific and begin each bullet with dynamic verbs: sold, closed, negotiated, improved. Below are a few examples to get your creative mind working:

• Increased company profit through introduction of cross-selling processes, exceeding team quotas by 150%.
• Prospected, qualified, and closed 25 new client accounts, the highest amount on the team.
• Improved sales in XYZ region by 40%, exceeding personal quota by double and mentoring team members to grow their own pipelines.

Take a look at the account executive employment history resume sample below:

How to write an account executive resume with no experience

If you're lacking direct industry experience, it's essential to focus on transferable skills.

Focus on your educational background in sales, marketing, or customer service. Detail any courses, workshops, or training programs you've attended that align with the industry's demands.

Showcase transferable skills that are pivotal in sales roles. For instance, if you have experience as a server in a restaurant, highlight how this helped hone your customer service and communication abilities, which are vital in account executive roles.

Incorporating these elements in your resume will illustrate your potential, even with no direct experience on your resume. 

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great account executive

What’s the point of a skills section? It’s the executive-level brief of your attributes within your account exec resume. With a quick scan, your future employer can see exactly what you offer and what you think is important for getting the job done. 

You’re a communicator, and you need to make that known — but don’t neglect your business acumen or technical know-how. Try to find the right blend of soft skills and hard skills. 

The number one skill successful account executives need, according to MasterClass, is negotiation. That’s followed by interpersonal skills including both written and oral communication, project management, sales (of course), and analytical ability. Make sure these stand out on your resume, even beyond the skills section.

For example, throughout your work experience section and professional summary, you can highlight your:

• Leadership skills by describing your role on a sales team, noting the size of the team, its accomplishments, and any coaching or mentorship you provided
• Customer service skills by sharing customer retention metrics or sales growth
• Negotiation skills by mentioning any impressive upselling or challenging negotiations

Taking a look at the role's job description is a great place to start if you aren't sure which skills are the most important to include.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our account executive resume template:

Detail your education & relevant sales certifications

The education section of your resume is the most formatted section. Here you are simply listing your degrees. Most account executives hold at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, communications or a related field. Some may hold MBAs or more technical degrees. If you do hold an advanced degree, there’s no need to include your high school diploma. 

You may also include any certificates, seminars, or classes that relate to your career. For example, add any courses, workshops, or webinars that have helped you develop your sales skills, like a course in negotiation. If you've had any internships in the past that are related to sales (don't forget that roles like customer service, marketing, or recruiting are all quite relevant), include them if you feel it adds value. 

Plus, if you are a member of any professional development groups or associations, like the National Association of Sales Professionals, be sure to add it to your resume. This shows you have an interest in furthering your knowledge and building your sales network. 

Below is resume example text for formatting your education section.

Pick the right resume layout and design for an account executive resume

Presentation may not be everything, but it sure is a lot. You know that, so it should come as no surprise that the layout and design of your resume can be the deciding factor. Make your design stand out without getting too flashy. If you’re in a creative field, you can stretch a little farther with a personal flourish such as an extra dab of color, but remember: function over form.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Go easy on your reader’s eyes by leaving plenty of white space.
• Stay away from gimmicks and flash -- you want hiring managers to read the content, not be distracted by the layout.
• Resist the temptation to narrow the margins or lower the type size to fit in more of your amazing accomplishments. If it’s too hard to read, your carefully crafted bullet items won’t matter.
• Proofread or use an online resume builder with built-in spell check.

Consider using one of our expertly-designed resume templates to close the sale. Your best bet as an account to read executive is something professional or modern that is easy to read and pleasant to view. 

Account executive job market and outlook

The job market for account executives is a bit hard to parse. Just as salaries range widely depending on the market, so do career prospects. Good account executives are needed in any industry requiring sales, however, and that can make your job search a bit easier if you are willing to learn something new. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) aggregates data for account executives within the advertising, promotions and marketing managers category. The projected growth rate in that job market is 6 percent, which is faster than average. If you have technical expertise or another highly desired specialty, you can expect more opportunities.

What kind of salary can you expect?

Getting a good estimate for account executive salary can be tough. Where you work, what industry you work in, and your experience level all play into account exec earnings. 

For example, according to Indeed, the average salary for an account executive is $70,604. Because account executives are salespeople, their compensation packages are likely to include commissions, which Indeed states can add $20,000 to the total. The total adds up to over $90,000 per year. 

However, Salary.com lists the average account executive salary as $104,803, with a range of $89,383 to $122,553. 

Key takeaways for building an account executive resume

• Approach your job hunt the way you approach your prospective clients: Gather information, speak directly to their needs and present yourself professionally and personably
• Target your resume for each job, both to impress recruiters and hiring managers
• Use your skills section to reveal to employers what you think is most important for getting the job done
• Check out our account executive resume sample for more ideas on creating a great page layout.