Resumes are all about convincing recruiters that you are the best candidate. In a way, it is like a personal advertisement about you, which is why most people feel that sales resumes are the easiest to write. However, this is not necessarily true. The most common problem in sales resumes is, not surprisingly, the amount of fluff. Some examples of fluff found in sales resume include:

Always exceeding the set goals

A strangely balanced sales executive

Has been an overachiever in all previous jobs

Performed cold calls everyday

As a sales professional, you would know there are many rapidly growing companies with vacancies. Unfortunately, these companies are hardly hiring fast enough because they are not getting enough qualified resumes. Given below are some tips you can use to transform your resume into a stellar one.

Make the resume specific

If you really have been exceeding your sales goals, you should proudly put it on your resume, but make sure that you specify by how much you exceed the goals. Avoid using vague phrases like ‘consistently exceeded the team’s quota’. Such statements do not give the recruiter any idea about what the applicant has done.

List the types/size of accounts and annual quotas

Sometimes, company names and job titles are not enough for recruiters to know about the applicant. They will be able to identify the skills of the applicant better if they know what his or her quotas were, and the size and types of accounts sold.

Avoid fluffy titles

Some companies might provide titles like ‘national account manager’, but the manager would still be handling all types of accounts. Avoid such fluffy titles because it comes off as arrogant on the resume. If your company had given this title, then you should add a brief description of your target market, quota, etc.

A progressive resume is best

Most recruiters love to see resumes that show some progress. For example, the resume can show professionals moving up in their career, taking more responsibility, and performing better over time. Many professionals fail to show this growth properly in their resume, thereby reducing their chances of selection.  You can look at sites like careerbuilder, and monster.com for resume advice specific to sals professionals.

Explain your previous employers and awards

Unless you worked with very popular brands like Apple and IBM, you should add a brief description of your previous employers. Just keep the description within two lines. The same principle applies for awards. Recruiters have no idea about the ‘President’s Award’ in your previous job because they do not know the practices in that company. Simply mentioning the award can confuse them, which is why it is best to explain the award. Do not forget to add the qualifications for the award. Given below is an example of how you can phrase your award:

• Awarded the President’s Award for the year 2007 for having been ranked among the top five percent of the sales force in the company on a national level

Do not use ‘Salesman of the Month’

Avoid using this particular term unless you received it for several months a year. Being noticed once or twice is nice, but it does not really demonstrate superb salesmanship.