Field Sales Professional Resume Example & Writing Guide

If you’re a pro at making the perfect pitch, a career as a field sales professional might be for you. As well as possessing killer persuasion skills, field sales professionals are experts at making relationships, identifying strategic business opportunities and, well… making sales. So how do you close the deal on your dream job?

A strong field sales professional resume can make or break your very first sale - selling yourself as the ideal candidate! That’s right, your first goal is to convince the hiring staff that you’re the person their team is missing. That’s where Resume.io can help. Our library includes resume examples for 250+ professions.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding resume sample will cover the following topics:

• What does a field sales professional do?
• How to write a field sales resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a field sales professional resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

What does a field sales professional do?

Field sales professionals are company representatives who manage the sales of products or services. They develop business leads with the aim of attracting clients and increasing sales. Field sales professionals must remain up-to-date regarding their company's product or service so that they can develop effective sales strategies.

Since field sales professionals are typically required to travel within their assigned territory and handle all sales processes there, your job could involve some travel. You should work to better understand consumer needs and desires, as well as to provide feedback to company management. The best salespeople will aim to educate prospective customers and eventually turn them into long-time customers.

How to write a field sales professional resume

The very first step in writing your field sales professional resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume 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

Once you’ve included these key building blocks, you can alter the content of each section to gain the hiring manager’s interest. Just like your conversations with prospect customers, your persuasion skills will shine when you demonstrate why you’re the perfect fit for this role in particular.

Choosing the best resume format for a field sales professional

A winning field sales professional resume example will draw attention to your most relevant experiences and skills for the job efficiently. That’s why the best resume format for a field sales professional is reverse chronological.

With the reverse chronological format, hiring staff will be able to see your most recent positions and other important information clearly within moments of looking at your resume. As a sales professional, you know that first impressions count! It takes five to seven seconds for the hiring manager to form one when they look at your resume example.

However, if you are just breaking into the job market then it’s possible you won’t have much work experience to bulk out your employment history section. If that sounds like you, think about using a functional resume format where you can focus your resume on your skills and education.

Resume summary example

Your resume summary is the spot where you can add some personality into your field sales professional resume. You only have three to five sentences to do it, so highlight your most relevant accomplishments and attributes here. Do you specialize in a particular industry? If it’s relevant to the job role you’re applying for, this is the place to mention it.

The summary is also a great spot to use any keywords from the job listing that are relevant to you. Keep in mind that a resume scanner will check your resume first using an algorithm. If your resume doesn’t respond to the keywords programmed into the resume scanner, it could risk being filtered out before the human hiring staff even sees it.

Use strong action verbs in your writing to inject some charisma and bring out those persuasive sales skills. While this punchy way with words isn’t necessarily a priority for the resume scanner, the humans who read your resume will certainly appreciate it. Check out our resume summary sample content below to see these tips brought to life.

Employment history sample

The employment history section should be the longest part of your resume. Just like you might list the functions of a product in your sales pitch, your resume should make it crystal clear why your profile is the perfect fit for the field sales professional position.

You can do this by creating a subheading for each of your previous roles. The subheading should clearly mention the job title, employer, location and dates worked. Underneath the subheading is where you can work your magic through the art of persuasion.

Insert three to five bullet points which concisely detail your key responsibilities and achievements. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills and expertise as a field sales professional. Numbers and stats can be a great way to do this: instead of “improved sales in the region”, try “increased product sales by 15% in a six month period”. See how that already sounds more convincing? Check out our resume example content below for more ideas.

CV skills example

No field sales professional CV is complete without a list of skills that you bring to the table. Your employment history should set the scene for this. However here you can concisely list the most relevant skills for the job that you bring to the table. This space is an opportunity to include any missing keywords you’ve identified and make it past that resume scanner.

Aim to include a mix of hard skills - those are technical skills like software you know how to use - and soft skills, such as communication and persuasion skills. Both are equally important for a top field sales professional.

Field sales professional resume education example

It’s important not to overlook the education section in your field sales professional resume. While there isn’t a specific course or qualification that is required for most field sales professionals, your education might help the hiring manager to understand the career trajectory you’re aiming for. List all of your degrees and certifications here in reverse chronological order.

Create a subheading for each point, similar to the ones in your employment history section. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor degree, you may leave out your high school education. Any honors or distinctions should be noted, as they prove your ability to go above and beyond! See example content below.

Resume layout and design

The layout and design of your field sales professional resume is a vital finishing touch. It may be the last thing you do once you have your content written, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. Choose a sleek and clear design so that your resume effectively communicates the precise and charismatic field sales professional that you are.

Make sure each category is evenly spaced and easy to read. This attention to detail will be sure to win over the hiring staff. If you want to save time and avoid mistakes that waste your time, check out our adaptable resume templates.

Full text adaptable resume example

Key takeaways for a procurement manager resume

• Build a convincing resume by adjusting your content for the specific job you’re applying to.
• Sell your experience by curating persuasive examples of your value as a field sales professional.
• Include keywords throughout your resume that will make sure your resume gets past the algorithmic resume scanner.
• Choose a winning design by using our adaptable field sales professional resume sample.