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15 Sales Associate Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

Sales associates help customers find and purchase the products and services they need. when crafting your sales associate resume, make sure to include relevant skills that hiring managers are looking for. in this article, we’ve compiled five resume templates with the most important qualities to have in 2023. (google docs and pdfs attached)..

Sales associates are the face of a company and an indispensable part of a company’s sales process. As a sales associate, you are at the front lines, and you could be selling anything from clothing to car parts. You are a fantastic relationship builder and can strike up an easy conversation with almost any customer they meet. You can read people’s body language well and have a strong sense of empathy for the confusing parts of making certain purchases. You’re always able to keep a positive attitude and are patient even with frustrated customers. With in-person retailers slowly opening back up in 2023, the demand for this position will undoubtedly increase, and there are abundant opportunities for those looking to work as a sales associate. Sound like something you’re interested in? Continue reading below to see what a great sales associate resume should look like in 2023.

Sales Associate Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• Sales Associate
• Sales Associate / Retail Salesperson
• Entry-Level Sales Associate
• Senior Sales Associate
• Sales/Customer Assistant
• Inside Sales Representative
• Fragrance Sales Associate
• Clothing Store Sales Associate
• Luxury Sales Associate
• Wireless Sales Associate
• Car Sales Rep

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Sales Associate Resumes

Sales Associate Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Bullet Points on Sales Associate Resumes
• Related Sales Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 15: Sales Associate Resume Example

As a Sales Associate, you'll play a crucial role in driving a company's revenue by communicating with customers, showcasing products, and closing sales. With the rise of e-commerce and the importance of personalized customer experiences, your skills in building relationships and providing excellent customer service are sought after by employers. A well-crafted resume is essential to showcase your abilities and stand out among the competition in this sales-driven industry. By strategically highlighting your achievements and tailoring your resume to the specific requirements of the position, you can grab the attention of hiring managers and land that dream job. Consider the following recommendations to create a high-impact Sales Associate resume.

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Tips to help you write your Sales Associate resume in 2024

   highlight relevant sales experience.

Show off your sales prowess by quantifying your achievements, specifying the deals you've closed or sales targets you've surpassed. Include relevant figures, like the percentage of target achieved or the number of new clients you’ve brought on board, to demonstrate your success.

   Showcase your customer service skills

Strong customer service skills are crucial for a Sales Associate, as they contribute to creating a positive shopping experience and building customer loyalty. Emphasize your ability to listen to and engage with clients, resolving their concerns promptly, and going above and beyond to meet their needs.

Skills you can include on your Sales Associate resume

Template 2 of 15: sales associate resume example.

Sales associates that have a few years of experience in the industry should focus on highlighting the skills they’ve developed throughout their career. Make sure to demonstrate such capabilities as working efficiently with point of sale systems or managing smooth customer relations. Follow this template to highlight your abilities as you put together your sales associate resume.

   Quantify your impact and past accomplishments

Hiring managers will often assess your resume based on your demonstrated ability to sell. Include accomplishments such as a top rank in sales, or the percentage increase you contributed to in customer satisfaction. When listing out your accomplishments, use strong action verbs that show your direct contributions and make sure to include important details such as location and impact, (e.g. were you ranked within your district, region, the nation; by what percentage did you increase customer satisfaction?)

   Emphasize your career experience

Roles in sales can be demanding and high-pressure, and not everyone has the personality to succeed in such a position. The years you’ve spent as a sales associate are invaluable to companies who are looking to hire new employees, since they can trust that you have the knowhow and experience in the field to solve unexpected customer problems. In reverse chronological order, include all relevant experience in your work section to showcase your career trajectory.

Template 3 of 15: Sales Associate / Retail Salesperson Resume Example

As a Sales Associate or Retail Salesperson, you're not just a cashier. You're a frontline ambassador for the company, the face shoppers see when they walk in. In many ways, your ability to charm customers and provide excellent service determines a store's success. Therefore, showcasing your people skills and sales abilities on your resume is critical. With the retail industry becoming more tech-savvy, highlighting experience with point-of-sale systems and e-commerce platforms will set you apart. Your resume should communicate how you can demonstrate product knowledge, drive sales, and provide outstanding customer service.

Tips to help you write your Sales Associate / Retail Salesperson resume in 2024

   showcase your sales achievements.

Numbers speak louder than words. Saying you're great at selling isn't enough, you need to prove it. If you've consistently met or exceeded sales goals, put it on your resume. Mention the percentage increase in sales you've achieved or the increase in customer loyalty members you've signed up.

   Detail your experience with retail tech

Being tech-savvy isn't exclusive to IT roles; it's increasingly important in retail too. If you've used point-of-sale systems, inventory management software, or any e-commerce platforms, make sure to mention these. Your comfort with technology indicates you can adapt to new retail tools and processes quickly.

Skills you can include on your Sales Associate / Retail Salesperson resume

Template 4 of 15: sales associate / retail salesperson resume example.

As a sales associate or retail salesperson, your role is all about connecting with customers and providing exceptional service while also driving sales. In recent years, the retail industry has become more competitive, placing a higher emphasis on customer experience and personalized service. When hiring for this role, companies are looking for candidates who can demonstrate their ability to engage with customers and contribute to the store's overall success. A well-crafted resume is essential for showcasing your skills and experience in these areas, making you stand out from other applicants. In the ever-changing world of retail, it's crucial for sales associates to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. Your resume should highlight your adaptability and willingness to learn, as well as your ability to build lasting relationships with customers. Demonstrating these skills on your resume will show potential employers that you're a valuable addition to their team.

   Highlight customer service experience

On your resume, emphasize any customer service experience you have, whether in retail or other industries. Showcase specific examples of how you provided exceptional service, resolved customer issues, or went above and beyond to meet client needs, making you an excellent fit for a sales associate role.

   Demonstrate sales achievements

Include concrete examples of your sales achievements, such as meeting or exceeding sales targets, maintaining a high average transaction value, or generating repeat business from customers. Providing quantifiable results gives potential employers a clear picture of your ability to contribute positively to their sales goals.

Template 5 of 15: Sales Associate / Retail Salesperson Resume Example

A retail sales associate, typically a sales associate working specifically in a brick-and-mortar store, must have excellent interpersonal skills and the emotional intelligence to interact with a variety of different customers daily. When crafting your retail sales associate resume, make sure to emphasize the relevant skills and experience you have developed in your past retail roles.

   Tailored retail work experience

Retail sales involves extensive face-to-face interaction with customers on a daily basis, and hiring managers are looking for candidates who can effectively handle the unique challenges that come up in this environment. Make sure to include as much relevant experience you have for the role -- even outside of just retail. For example, if you worked as a receptionist, you were often working face-to-face with an office’s clients. If you think outside the box like this, you can probably come up with more relevant experiences than you realize!

   Relevant skills in retail and sales

Focus on including retail-oriented skills in your skills section. Showing hiring managers that you have applicable experience in working a cash register, improving operations, or troubleshooting credit card issues can be the difference between landing a job or getting passed over. In addition, make sure you read through the job posting to see what skills they list, and emphasize the skills they’ve highlighted throughout your resume.

Template 6 of 15: Entry-Level Sales Associate Resume Example

If you just recently graduated from college, you may not have several years of sales experience under your belt. That’s normal, and there’s no need to fret about it -- hiring managers know to look at different areas of your resume to gauge your skills and abilities in the workplace. Use this template to sell yourself to companies and demonstrate that you are absolutely capable of getting the job done.

Tips to help you write your Entry-Level Sales Associate resume in 2024

   lead with your education section.

Since your work section likely won’t be the star of the show, start your resume out instead with your education section. Include coursework that relates to sales associate skills, such as consumer psychology, marketing, or business. Note any honors you received to show that you go above and beyond in all realms of your life. Make sure to also include your GPA or any relevant test scores such as the ACT or SAT.

   University projects and relevant volunteering experience in sales

You can also include a section for university projects and volunteering experience. When you’re building your bullet points here, include details that speak to relevant sales associate abilities. For example, to demonstrate your ability to work with other associates, include times where you worked with other team members. Or, to highlight your potential ability to work successfully with customers, elaborate about the time you developed rapport/trust with an external client.

Skills you can include on your Entry-Level Sales Associate resume

Template 7 of 15: senior sales associate resume example.

As a Senior Sales Associate, you play a crucial role in driving sales and maintaining customer relationships. In today's competitive market, companies rely heavily on experienced sales professionals to stay ahead. Your resume should showcase your industry knowledge and sales expertise. In this fast-paced world, hiring managers will appreciate a well-crafted resume that highlights your accomplishments and demonstrates your potential to be a valuable asset to their team. Brand names and product lines are constantly evolving, so it's essential for a Senior Sales Associate's resume to reflect their ability to adapt and learn new strategies. Additionally, highlighting your proficiency in CRM tools and other relevant technologies is a must, as they're a significant part of the sales process.

Tips to help you write your Senior Sales Associate resume in 2024

   highlight quantifiable achievements.

When writing your resume, be sure to include numerical data tied to your past sales successes. This might include the percentage by which you increased sales or the number of new clients you secured. These figures demonstrate your impact and effectiveness as a Senior Sales Associate.

   Emphasize soft skills and adaptability

Senior Sales Associates need to connect with people and navigate dynamic situations. Emphasize your interpersonal and problem-solving abilities, along with your capacity to adapt to new products and changing market conditions. Showcasing your resilience and versatility will make you stand out as a valuable candidate.

Skills you can include on your Senior Sales Associate resume

Template 8 of 15: senior sales associate resume example.

A senior sales associate is in charge of overseeing sales policies and initiatives, and is typically on track to get promoted to a management position. It’s important to demonstrate your experience in sales and your ability to lead others and ensure the team is hitting sales quotas. In addition, you should highlight your career journey through increasing levels of responsibility, and exhibit excellent sales numbers from past positions.

   Demonstrated leadership and career growth in sales roles

Hiring managers looking for senior sales associates want to know that you can handle increasing levels of responsibility. Highlight your growth through past sales positions, and include any instances where you managed or helped other sales associates, or stepped up to take on a role that was above and beyond your job description. If you have any rewards or recognition, make sure to include those in your resume as well.

   Showcase tangible sales accomplishments, especially when applying for senior roles

When applying to a senior level sales associate role, you should demonstrate a senior level of sales savvy and expertise. The best way to do this is to include quantified proof of past sales accomplishments. Ask yourself what is most relevant and impressive to someone else reading your resume, and write your resume accordingly. For example: Did you exceed targets and quotas? By how much? Did you create an innovative selling process or build a system that generated higher sales? How much did sales increase as a result?

Template 9 of 15: Sales/Customer Assistant Resume Example

Unlike a general sales associate or retail sales associate who works in-store or selling directly to customers, a sales/customer assistant is more likely to be working between businesses (B2B) and assisting with the sale of products/services between those businesses. Follow this template when crafting your sales/customer assistant resume.

Tips to help you write your Sales/Customer Assistant resume in 2024

   tailored work experience to sales and customer assistance.

The terms “sales associate” and “sales assistant” are often interchangeable, so when applying to these roles it’s especially important to carefully read the job posting. Different sales skills are needed for different industries, so you’ll want to curate relevant work experience and skills as you craft your resume. For example, if the role entails working closely with account executives and preparing sales reports, include instances of similar responsibilities you’ve held in the past.

   Strong action verbs and metrics highlighting key achievements in sales

When writing your work experience bullet points, always remember to lead with strong action verbs that accentuate your skills. If you want to highlight your customer service abilities, use phrases like “increased customer retention by xx%” or “decreased cancellations by xx%”. Note that it’s important to accompany your strong action verbs with metrics that demonstrate quantifiable evidence of your ability.

Skills you can include on your Sales/Customer Assistant resume

Template 10 of 15: inside sales representative resume example.

The main role of an inside sales representative is to grow sales either remotely or within an office/business environment. They achieve this task by reaching out to clients over the phone or email. It doesn't just start and end with calling or emailing; they also need to have some skills in identifying their client's needs (not wants). And one productive way to determine their needs is by simply researching. Of course, there are other ways inside sales representatives can identify clients' needs. The most important thing is selling the product and achieving the sales target. Period! The sample resume below shows how an inside sales representative used various skills to sell products at different companies.

Tips to help you write your Inside Sales Representative resume in 2024

   state your achievements and the corresponding sales skillset.

You should state how you reached a sales milestone, surpassed a KPI, or recorded an achievement. It's important to show recruiters how that happened because it proves you know your onions. Besides, you're already way ahead of other inside sales representatives who do not do that.

   Itemize relevant previous sales roles, and work experiences

If you have worked in other places, you should let your potential employers know. You can insert this information towards the tail-end of your resume (like in this sample) by stating the relevant roles you occupied and company names.

Skills you can include on your Inside Sales Representative resume

Template 11 of 15: fragrance sales associate resume example.

In this position, you will be selling fragrances to clients. You will welcome potential customers, help them discover the fragrance that works best for them, give them fragrance samples, and complete purchases. You need to have an excellent understanding of fragrances and very strong interpersonal skills. Here is a resume sample for this position.

Tips to help you write your Fragrance Sales Associate resume in 2024

   focus your skill set on fragrance sales skills..

Do not create a generic sales skill list. There are skills specific to fragrance sales that should populate the skill section instead. Examples include scent sampling, perfume marketing, and fragrance personalization.

   Highlight a high sales rate.

Many women come to stores to sample perfumes with no intention of actually buying one. If you can indicate that you have a high sales conversion rate, it will be very beneficial for your application. Make sure you include actual figures and metrics to make your accomplishments shine.

Skills you can include on your Fragrance Sales Associate resume

Template 12 of 15: clothing store sales associate resume example.

As the name applies, you will work in a clothing store selling clothes for this position. Tasks you can expect include welcoming customers, answering any questions they may have, helping them find appropriate sizes, folding and organizing clothes, and processing purchases at the till. Recruiters will want to see a background in sales, preferably in clothes sales. Take a look at this successful resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Clothing Store Sales Associate resume in 2024

   have a range of skills to match the range of responsibilities..

You may have to do all of the steps in the sales cycle, and as such your skills list should include skills to help you complete each step. E.g. include customer service, merchandising, and cashiering to show range.

   Include any sales or fashion-related certifications.

Show recruiters that you are a dedicated and skilled sales professional by including any sales certifications you may have acquired. This applicant has included 3 impressive certifications.

Skills you can include on your Clothing Store Sales Associate resume

Template 13 of 15: luxury sales associate resume example.

Luxury sales associates sell expensive luxury products. The industry you work in or the products you are selling will determine the skill set you should include in your resume. You must be especially knowledgeable and skilled in the products you are selling, and recruiters will want to see a background in selling these products. You must also have impeccable communication and customer service skills. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Luxury Sales Associate resume in 2024

   indicate what industries you have experience in..

The sales strategy for selling luxury cars is very different from the strategy used to sell jewelry. So it is imperative that you include the industries you have worked in, especially if you are applying to a position in an industry you have a history in.

   Show career progression in sales.

Show recruiters that you are exceptionally skilled and successful by showing promotions in your career. It will also show recruiters your dedication to your profession. This applicant started as a merchandiser and moved their way up to a luxury sales associate.

Skills you can include on your Luxury Sales Associate resume

Template 14 of 15: wireless sales associate resume example.

A wireless sales associate works in a telecommunication company dealing with customers looking for their services. You may be tasked with greeting customers, answering their questions about the various products on offer, assisting them with purchases, handling customer service issues, etc. To thrive in this position you need to have the technical knowledge of all things telecommunication and must be an expert on the products the company offers. You also need to have customer service skills as your position is a customer-facing position. Take a look at this applicant’s strong resume.

Tips to help you write your Wireless Sales Associate resume in 2024

   highlight key achievements in your introduction section..

Let recruiters know from the beginning of your resume, just how successful you are in sales by including a quantifiable key success in your introduction section. It sets an impressive tone for the rest of your resume.

   Include technical language to show technical knowledge.

A recruiter should be able to tell that you are very knowledgeable in the telecommunication field by the language you use in the resume. Some industry-relevant keywords include wireless, hardware, software, programming, etc.

Skills you can include on your Wireless Sales Associate resume

Template 15 of 15: car sales rep resume example.

As a Car Sales Rep, you're the bridge between the customer and their dream vehicle. Your job isn't just about making a sale, it’s about understanding the client's needs and translating that into a vehicle that fits their lifestyle. Recently, car sales have been shifting towards online platforms and digital showrooms, so it's crucial to adapt to these new modes of selling. When writing your resume, it's important to display not only your sales prowess but also your ability to connect with people and your adaptability to new technologies.

Tips to help you write your Car Sales Rep resume in 2024

   showcase your sales track record.

Numbers speak louder than words. Include your sales figures, units sold, or targets met to demonstrate your abilities. If you've consistently met or exceeded your sales targets, make sure to mention that.

   Highlighting your EDGE in customer service

As a Car Sales Rep, providing excellent customer service is paramount. You should include any customer service training, certifications, or customer satisfaction scores that you've earned. It's important to remind the hiring manager of your commitment to the customer's satisfaction.

Skills you can include on your Car Sales Rep resume

As a hiring manager who has worked with companies like Walmart, Target, and Macy's, I've seen countless resumes for sales associate positions. The best ones always stand out because they showcase the candidate's sales skills, customer service experience, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment. In this article, we'll share some tips on how to create a winning sales associate resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers like myself.

   Highlight your sales achievements with metrics

Employers want to see that you have a proven track record of success in sales. Use specific numbers and percentages to show the impact you had in your previous roles.

• Exceeded sales targets by 25% for three consecutive quarters, resulting in $50,000 in additional revenue
• Consistently ranked in the top 10% of sales associates nationwide based on monthly sales figures
• Upsold products to customers, increasing average order value by 15%

Avoid using vague statements that don't provide any real evidence of your abilities:

• Good at sales
• Helped increase store revenue

Sales associates are the face of the company and must provide excellent customer service. Highlight specific examples of how you went above and beyond for customers.

• Resolved customer complaints quickly and efficiently, resulting in a 95% satisfaction rate
• Provided personalized product recommendations based on customer needs and preferences
• Received multiple positive reviews on the company's customer feedback portal

Don't just say that you have good customer service skills. Prove it with concrete examples.

   Tailor your resume to the specific company and role

Each company has its own unique culture and values. Research the company and tailor your resume to match their specific needs and requirements.

For example, if the company emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, highlight your experience working in a team:

• Collaborated with a team of 10 sales associates to implement a new sales strategy, resulting in a 20% increase in revenue
• Participated in weekly team meetings to share best practices and provide feedback to colleagues

Avoid using a generic resume that doesn't speak to the company's specific needs and values.

   Include relevant certifications and training

Many companies offer training programs for their sales associates. If you have completed any relevant certifications or training programs, be sure to include them on your resume.

• Completed a 6-week customer service training program focused on handling difficult customers and resolving complaints
• Earned a Sales Excellence Certificate from the National Retail Federation

Don't include irrelevant or outdated certifications that don't apply to the sales associate role.

   Use a clear and concise resume format

Hiring managers often have to review hundreds of resumes for each open position. Make sure your resume is easy to read and highlights your most relevant qualifications.

Use bullet points and short paragraphs to break up the text and make it easier to scan. Use a clear and legible font, and make sure there is plenty of white space on the page.

Results-driven sales associate with 5+ years of experience in fast-paced retail environments. Proven track record of exceeding sales targets and providing excellent customer service. Skilled in upselling, cross-selling, and resolving customer complaints. Seeking a challenging role in a dynamic company that values hard work and dedication.

Avoid using long paragraphs or tiny fonts that make your resume difficult to read.

Writing Your Sales Associate Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. put your name front and center.

Your name should be the most prominent element in your header, typically using a larger font than the rest of your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers to remember who you are and quickly find your resume in a stack of applications.

Choose a professional-looking font that's easy to read:

Avoid nicknames or unprofessional email addresses like:

• [email protected]

2. Include essential contact details

Under your name, add key contact details so employers can easily get in touch with you:

• Phone number
• Professional email address
• Location (City, State)
• LinkedIn URL (optional)

You can include these details on one line, separated by vertical lines or bullets. For example:

John Doe 555-123-4567 | [email protected] | New York, NY | linkedin.com/in/john-doe

There's no need to include your full mailing address. If you're applying for remote sales associate positions, you can simply put "Remote" as your location.

3. Highlight your sales specialty

If you specialize in a particular area of sales, consider including a targeted title or brief tagline under your name. This can quickly communicate your sales focus to hiring managers. For example:

• John Doe Automotive Sales Associate
• JANE SMITH Passionate Retail Sales Professional

However, avoid cramming this space with too many keywords or a laundry list of skills. A concise, targeted title will be more impactful than:

• John Doe Sales Associate | Customer Service | Relationship Building | Product Knowledge

  Summary

A resume summary, also known as a professional summary or summary statement, is an optional section that highlights your most relevant qualifications for the job. While it's not a mandatory part of your resume, a well-written summary can grab the hiring manager's attention and convince them to read further. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it focuses on your goals rather than how you can benefit the company.

When crafting your summary for a sales associate position, focus on your key skills, experiences, and achievements that align with the job requirements. Tailor your language to the specific industry and company you're applying to. Keep it concise, around 3-4 sentences or bullet points, and make sure it adds value beyond what's already in your resume.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Sales Associate resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Sales Associate Resume Summary Examples , or Sales Associate Resume Objective Examples .

1. Highlight your sales skills and experience

Emphasize the specific sales skills and experience that make you a strong candidate for the position. Consider including:

• Number of years in sales or customer service roles
• Types of products or services you've sold
• Key skills like relationship building, negotiation, or closing techniques

Here's an example of highlighting relevant skills and experience:

Results-driven sales professional with 5+ years of experience in retail sales. Skilled in building customer relationships, identifying needs, and recommending products to drive revenue growth. Proven track record of consistently meeting and exceeding sales targets.

2. Quantify your achievements

Whenever possible, use specific numbers and metrics to quantify your sales achievements. This helps hiring managers understand the impact you've made in previous roles. For example:

• Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets by 20%
• Generated $500K+ in annual revenue for the company
• Maintained a 95% customer satisfaction rating

In contrast, avoid using vague or subjective statements like:

• Great at sales
• Hardworking and dedicated employee

These statements don't provide concrete evidence of your abilities and can come across as generic or insincere.

3. Tailor your summary to the company and role

Research the company and the specific sales associate position you're applying for. Look for key skills, qualities, or experiences they emphasize in the job description and incorporate those into your summary. This shows the hiring manager that you're a good fit for their specific needs.

For example, if the job description mentions 'upselling' as a key responsibility, you might include a line like:

Adept at identifying upselling opportunities and recommending complementary products to increase average order value.

Tailoring your summary demonstrates your understanding of the role and your ability to contribute to the company's goals.

  Experience

The work experience section is the most important part of your resume as a sales associate. It's where you show the impact you've made in your previous roles. Highlight your most relevant and impressive experiences that relate to a sales associate position.

We'll walk through the key steps to write an effective work experience section that will impress hiring managers and increase your chances of landing an interview.

1. Focus on sales-related accomplishments

Instead of listing your day-to-day responsibilities, focus on your top sales accomplishments that showcase your skills and impact. Quantify your achievements with metrics, such as:

• Exceeded sales targets by 25% for 3 consecutive quarters
• Generated $50K in new revenue from upselling techniques
• Maintained 95%+ customer satisfaction scores

Avoid vague or generic statements that could apply to any sales associate:

• Helped customers find products
• Organized the stockroom
• Worked the cash register

Not sure if your resume highlights your top accomplishments effectively? Try our Score My Resume tool to get instant feedback on over 30 key criteria hiring managers look for, including a score for your achievements.

2. Showcase your sales skills and techniques

Effective sales associates use a variety of skills and techniques to engage customers, overcome objections, and close deals. Highlight examples of how you:

• Built rapport and long-term relationships with customers
• Used consultative selling to identify customer needs
• Utilized persuasive communication to convey product benefits
• Collaborated with team members to reach sales goals

Leveraged storytelling techniques to bring product features to life, increasing average order value by 15%.

Tailor your skills and keywords to the specific sales associate job you're applying for. Our Targeted Resume tool analyzes your resume against any job description and identifies missing skills and keywords to include.

3. Demonstrate career progression

Hiring managers want to see that you've progressed and taken on more responsibility throughout your sales career. If you've been promoted or taken on leadership roles, make that clear:

• Promoted to Senior Sales Associate within 1 year
• Selected to train and mentor 5 new sales associates
• Managed $500K+ retail sales territory

If you don't have a promotion, you can still show progression by highlighting how your role or contributions expanded over time:

• Took on additional responsibilities for visual merchandising and increased store foot traffic by 10%
• Consistently exceeded individual sales targets year-over-year, ranking as a top 5 sales associate

Quantify your progression as much as possible - use metrics like number of people managed, revenue generated, etc.

  Education

Your education section is a key part of your sales associate resume. It shows hiring managers that you have the necessary knowledge and training to succeed in the role. Here are some tips to make sure your education section stands out:

1. List your highest degree first

Start your education section with your most recent or highest degree. This is usually a high school diploma or a college degree if you have one.

Here's an example of how to list your education:

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration University of California, Los Angeles Graduated: May 2022

If you have a college degree, you don't need to include your high school information.

2. Include relevant coursework

If you're a recent graduate or have taken courses related to sales or customer service, consider listing them under your degree. This can help show employers that you have specific knowledge that will help you in the role.

Some examples of relevant coursework for a sales associate might include:

• Marketing principles
• Consumer behavior
• Business communications
• Negotiation strategies

3. Highlight sales-related training

If you've completed any sales-specific training programs or certifications, be sure to include them in your education section. This could include things like:

• Product knowledge training
• Sales techniques workshop
• Customer service certification

These types of training show that you're dedicated to developing your sales skills and knowledge.

4. Keep it concise for experienced professionals

If you have several years of sales experience, your education section should be brief. Hiring managers will be more interested in your work history and accomplishments.

Here's an example of an education section for a senior sales professional:

B.A. in Marketing, ABC University

There's no need to list graduation dates, as this can unnecessarily age you.

• B.A. in Marketing, ABC University, Graduated 1995

Action Verbs For Sales Associate Resumes

Sales associates must be excellent communicators, must know how to quickly get up to speed on a new product/service to answer customer questions. You must demonstrate exceptional professionalism and display empathy and tact in case a customer gets confused or frustrated. When writing your sales associate resume, keep these qualities in mind as you choose action verbs to describe your experiences. Use the ones that reflect your strongest assets and that are relevant to the position. For example, use words like “resolved” or “handled” to emphasize your empathetic nature when you approach challenging customer problems. Besides the list we have here, you can come up with ones of your own to use, or even read through various relevant job descriptions to see what kind of action verbs companies tend to use when they’re looking to hire sales employees.

• Conceptualized
• Troubleshooted
• Communicated

For more related action verbs, visit Sales Action Verbs .

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Sales Associate Resumes

Skills for sales associate resumes.

Working as a sales associate requires strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. In some cases, you might need to have specific product knowledge or experience within a certain industry. Keep this in mind as you fill in your skills section, or choose which skills to expand on in your work experience section. As mentioned earlier, it’s always important to read through a job posting carefully. Whether you’re writing a resume for the first time or making adjustments to your current one, you should take the time to understand what kind of experiences and skills the company is looking for in a new hire.

• Merchandising
• Retail Sales
• Visual Merchandising
• Customer Service
• Social Media
• Inventory Management
• Cash Handling
• Physical Therapy
• Adobe Illustrator

How To Write Your Skills Section On a Sales Associate Resumes

You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:

Skills Word Cloud For Sales Associate Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Sales Associate job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

Resume bullet points from sales associate resumes.

You should use bullet points to describe your achievements in your Sales Associate resume. Here are sample bullet points to help you get started:

Led full redesign of website with findings from customer segmentation and competitive research, increasing website leads by 200%

Determined sales effectiveness strategy for a ERP software supplier to increase sales by $10M over three years

Grew revenue from $1MM to $2.5M in one year by expanding channel partnerships; exceeded target by 150%

Managed a portfolio of 5 customers, generating new business revenue totaling $10M / year

Initiated and managed relationships with key enterprise customers; wrote and executed business plan that resulted in 120% ($5MM) increase in division revenue over 3 years

For more sample bullet points and details on how to write effective bullet points, see our articles on resume bullet points , how to quantify your resume and resume accomplishments .

Other Sales Resumes

Administrative assistant.

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• Skills and Keywords to Add
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• All Resume Examples
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• Sales Associate Interview Guide
• Explore Alternative and Similar Careers

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Sales Associate Resume Example for 2024 [Job Description, Skills & Tips]

As a sales associate, you know the importance of persuasion.

With your positive attitude and effective communication skills, you can get any customer to buy any product…even if they don’t actually need it.

But it’s one thing to persuade customers into buying items and another thing to persuade the recruiter into hiring you. 

For the latter, you need an effective sales associate resume!

And, because sales skills tend to shine best in person, you might struggle to translate them into a winning sales associate resume.

Well, worry not! 

This guide includes everything you need to know about writing a sales associate resume, including:

• Sales Associate Resume Example (Better Than 9 Out of 10 Resume Examples)

Step-By-Step Guide to Write Your Sales Associate Resume

30 sales associate skills to put on your resume.

…and more! 

Sales Associate Resume Example

Not bad, right? 

Here are the elements that make this sales associate resume example so effective:

• Chronological format. The sales associate resume example above uses the reverse-chronological resume format, which is the most popular resume format all around the world.
• Relevant contact information. This sales associate resume example includes all the essential contact details, such as the candidate’s name, email address, and phone number, as well as their professional LinkedIn URL.
• Attention-grabbing resume summary. In just two sentences, the sales associate resume summary above highlights the candidate’s strong points and achievements.
• Work achievements. The sales associate resume example above focuses more on the candidate’s achievements over their responsibilities, which helps them stand out from other candidates.
• Bullet points. This sales associate candidate has structured the resume information in bullet points, which are much easier to read than a block of text.
• Relevant skills. The sales associate resume example above only mentions sales-related hard and soft skills. 
• Additional sections. This sales associate resume example includes extra sections such as volunteering experience, languages, and other skills that are valued in customer service and can help the candidate stand out more.

If you're interested in a different job position, check out these related resume examples:

• Sales Resume
• Marketing Executive Resume
• Marketing Resume

So, without further ado, let’s go through the process of writing a sales associate resume that’s just as compelling as the resume example above.

Here’s exactly what you need to do:

Step #1. Format Your Sales Associate Resume the Right Way 

As we mentioned above, you want to go for the reverse-chronological format for your sales associate resume. That’s the most popular resume format (and a favorite among recruiters!).

Here’s what it looks like:

The other two popular resume formats are functional and combination : 

• The functional resume format is skill-based, so you should only choose it in case you have no sales-related work experience but have industry-related skills.
• The combination resume format, on the other hand, should only be used in specific cases, such as employment gaps or in case of a career change. So, as a sales associate, this resume format is probably irrelevant to your situation.

All in all, none of these formats will do nearly as good of a job highlighting your experience and achievements as the reverse-chronological resume format , so don’t think twice about using it.

So, now that you’ve picked a format for your sales associate resume, you should focus on the resume layout , which includes:

• Use a professional font . You should use a simple, yet professional font style throughout your sales associate resume (yeap, that excludes Comic Sans & Co.).
• Choose the right font size. Go for 14-16 pts for headings and 11-12 pts for the body of your sales associate resume. Anything smaller will be hard to read and anything bigger might make your resume spill over to page 2.
• Use bullet points. Organizing the information in your sales associate resume in bullet points makes your resume look clean and helps the recruiter to skim your sales associate resume.
• Keep your resume short. It’s best to fit your sales associate resume in one page - that way, you can be 100% sure the hiring manager, busy as they are, will read it all. After all, they go through countless applications daily and they don’t usually spend more than a mere 7 seconds on each resume .
• Save your resume as a PDF file . Unless asked otherwise, save your sales associate resume in a PDF format to ensure it looks the same on every device and OS.

Use Our Tried & Tested Templates

If you’ve ever tried making a Word resume, you know that formatting alone takes ages.

You have to tweak the margins, pick the font, adjust its size, and the list goes on…

Instead of wasting your time on all of that, you should just be focusing on perfecting the content of your sales associate resume.

How do you ask?

It’s simple - just use one of our professional resume templates and jump straight to filling in the contents of your sales associate resume.

Our resume templates were created in collaboration with professional recruiters, so you don’t just win time - you get a free, professional, and visually appealing sales associate resume!

You can see for yourself how our tried-and-tested templates compare to traditional, black and white templates.

Step #2. Add Your Contact Information

Once you’re done with formatting, you can focus on the contents of your sales associate resume.

First things first - fill in your contact information (correctly!) so that the company can successfully reach out to you.

Here are all the contact details you should include:

• Your full name
• Your professional title
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• Your location (city and state)

If you are active on LinkedIn, make sure to include your profile’s URL, too.

Here’s an example of all the above:

Scott Michaels

Sales Associate

012-345-6789

[email protected]

Los Angeles, California

linkedin.com/in/scott.michaels

Step #3. Write an Appealing Sales Associate Resume Summary or Objective 

Your next step is to write a sales associate resume summary or objective.

Both of these 2-3 sentence paragraphs go at the top of your sales associate resume to show recruiters you’re a relevant candidate in a matter of a few seconds (and get them to read the rest of it).

However, you only need to use one. 

If you have plenty of work experience , you should write a resume summary to paint a picture of your professional background and highlight your top skills or achievements.

As such, an impactful resume summary can include:

• Your position and years of experience
• Your most relevant sales skills
• 1-2 professional achievements

Here’s an example of an effective sales associate resume summary:

• Enthusiastic and customer-oriented Sales Associate with 4+ years of experience in sales, specializing in the sale of home improvement items. Excellent customer service, communication, and collaboration skills. Awarded Employee of the Year in 2021 for regularly exceeding sales target quotas.

Now, if you’re still in high school looking for a part-time sales associate job or a recent graduate without work experience, you should use a resume objective to introduce yourself, your skills, and your professional goals.

To write an effective resume objective, just mention the following:

• Your industry-related degree (if applicable)
• What sales background makes you the right fit for the company
• Why do you want to work for the company

Here’s an example of an appealing sales associate resume objective:

• Outgoing and helpful costume design student, who is passionate about fashion and genuinely enjoys working with people. Looking to apply the strong customer service skills acquired from a summer job as a cashier in Company Y to help ensure customer satisfaction as a sales associate in your fashion boutique and learn more about fashion trends.

Step #4. Make Your Sales Associate Work Experience Stand Out

After you’ve grabbed recruiters’ attention with your resume profile, you should focus on your work experience section.

First, let’s address the basics.

Here’s how you should format your work experience section:

• Start from your current/most recent position and go back in time from there. If you have lots of experience in sales, only list your most relevant and recent positions. The recruiter won’t care about the summers you spent doing garage sales as a teenager.
• Begin each entry with your job title. Your job title should accurately describe your current/previous role.
• Continue with the company name and location. If the company isn’t well-known, you can also briefly describe it.
• Include the employment period. Use the mm/yyyy format to show how long you worked at the job.
• Add achievements and responsibilities. Go for 5-6 bullet points for your most recent jobs and 2-3 bullet points for older roles. 

Now that you know how to format the work experience section, let’s dig a little bit deeper:

You may or may not know this, but more than 13 million people are working in sales in the United States alone. 

And, of course, many of them are sales associates.

So, how can you make sure your sales associate resume stands out in such a big crowd?

Well, how you write your work experience section plays a big part:

The key is to focus more on your achievements over your responsibilities as much as you can.

Think about it - while most sales associates share the same responsibilities, such as helping customers and operating the cash register, your achievements are what can really set you apart from other candidates. 

So, as you write this section, ask yourself: how did your work affect the company? 

Perhaps you increased sales or customer satisfaction? Or maybe you’ve been awarded Employee of the Month?

No matter the achievement, make sure to mention it and make it as quantifiable as possible to really back your claims with hard evidence.

Here’s how an achievement-oriented sales associate work experience section should look like:

Make-up Sales Associate

Company X   

01/2019 - 12/2021

• Assisted over 50 customers every day in selecting the best cosmetic products for their skin type.
• Efficiently operated Point of Sale systems.
• Showed initiative to assist team members in handling customers, cash operations, and store maintenance when needed.
• Stocked and organized make-up counters 15% faster than other sales associates.
• Won Employee of the Month Award in April 2020, June 2020, and August 2021 for outstanding customer service.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Many people find their first job in sales, so don’t stress if you don’t have work experience .

To make up for your lack of professional experience, you can instead focus on other types of sales-related experience you may have.

The options are plenty. For example, you can mention volunteering , internships, academic projects, extracurricular activities, etc.

After all, being a sales associate is all about helping customers, communicating effectively, and making sales, so if you have any related experience, just write it down!

Here’s what this could look like:

Animal Shelter Volunteer Animal Shelter X

06/2018 - 12/2020

• Assisted 30+ people in choosing the right pet for adoption.
• Consulted people on pet adoption-related questions.
• Cleaned and maintained animal living spaces.

Step #5. List Your Education Right

A sales associate position doesn’t include many academic requirements.

This is probably why working as a sales associate is one of the best jobs for high school students .

So, whether you’ve been working as a sales associate for some time now,  are still in high school, or graduated college, you should keep your education section short and to the point.

Simply list your highest degree and include the following:

• Degree name
• University, college, high school, or other institution attended
• Location (optional)
• Years attended

Here’s what this looks like on the resume:

BA in American Studies

The University of Groningen, The Netherlands

09/2012 - 06/2016

Now, in case you don’t have any work experience or sales-related experience, you can mention your education first. 

Additionally, you can mention other details that add value to your application, such as relevant courses you’ve taken, academic achievements, GPA, Honors, and the like.

Step #6. List Your Sales Associate Skills

Skills are another key element to your sales associate resume. They can be a plus if you lack work experience in sales or help you stand out from other applicants with similar work experience as yours.

However, listing all your skills just for the sake of it is redundant and won’t really help you land the job.

So, instead, you should tailor your sales associate skills section for the position you’re applying for.

Now, the best way to go about it is by carefully reading the job ad. 

Does it mention some specific skills the company is looking for in a candidate? 

If your sales skills match any of the skills listed in the ad, make sure to include them in your sales associate resume.

And, in terms of formatting,  it’s generally advised to list your hard and soft skills separately.

Are you still unsure which skills to include in your sales associate resume? 

Worry not! We’ve compiled a list of the 30 most in-demand soft and hard skills for sales associates to give you some inspiration.

20 Soft Sales Associate Skills

• Customer Service
• Communication Skills
• Active Listening
• Helpfulness
• Organizational Skills
• Time Management
• Stress Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Interpersonal Skills
• Multi-tasking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Persuasiveness
• Attention to Detail
• Negotiation Skills

10 Hard Sales Associate Skills

• Cash Register Operation
• Microsoft Office
• Point of Sale Systems
• Product Knowledge
• Stock Management
• Brand Awareness
• Visual Merchandising
• Store Maintenance

Step #7. Include Relevant Additional Sections 

If you still have some space on your sales associate resume, consider making use of some additional sections.

While they aren’t as important as your work experience or skills, additional sections can give you the edge you need over candidates with very similar resumes to yours.

Not to mention, these sections are especially useful if you’re still in school/university or recently graduated.

As a sales associate, you can add one or more of these additional sections:

• Languages. Do you speak any other languages than your native? If so, definitely include this in your sales associate resume! Languages are useful and highly valued in any job, but even more so in customer-oriented roles, as customers are more satisfied with and loyal to brands that offer customer service in their native language.
• Hobbies and interests. Including your hobbies and interests in your sales associate resume allows you to express your unique personality and skills. When relevant, list field-related hobbies/interests. For example, listing dog agility training as a hobby won’t help much if you’re applying to work in an electronics store, but it can definitely give you an advantage if you want to be a sales associate in a pet store.
• Awards and certifications. Perhaps you were awarded for selling the most vintage clothes in a charity event? If you want to work in a clothing store, definitely list that in your sales associate resume. Likewise, list any certifications related to sales, retail, accounting, and other related fields.

Here’s an example of how these additional sections should look on your sales associate resume:

English - Native or Bilingual Proficiency Spanish - Native or Bilingual Proficiency German - Limited Working Proficiency

• Programming
• Video Games

#8. Match Your Sales Associate Resume With a Cover Letter

By now, you should feel more confident about writing a job-landing sales associate resume.

And rightly so!

There is, however, one last step before you can put all that we covered into practice and that is to attach a sales associate cover letter to your resume.

Essentially, a cover letter is a 4-5 paragraph letter to the recruiter that aims to explain why you’re the perfect candidate for the position and a good fit for the company.

So, to do this effectively, instead of repeating what you’ve already said in your sales associate resume, your cover letter should explain more in detail anything important you didn’t have the chance (or space) to mention on your resume.

This may sound like a lot, but writing a compelling cover letter isn’t all that difficult. 

Here’s exactly what you need to do to write a convincing cover letter:

• Start your cover letter by including your contact information in the header.
• Greet the recruiter by their name or title, instead of the overly popular and outdated “To Whom It May Concern.”
• In the first paragraph, grab the recruiter's attention by mentioning your 1-2 top achievements.
• In the body of your cover letter, describe your work experience and skills in detail, explain your motivation to work for the company as well as highlight what makes you a good asset to their team.
• End your cover letter with a call to action.
• To make sure your cover letter is nothing short of perfect, check our cover letter writing tips and cover letter mistakes .

Want to impress the recruiter with your attention to detail? Make sure it matches your sales associate resume by choosing one of our cover letter templates !

Key Takeaways

And that’s all!

Now you’re ready to write the perfect sales associate resume AND cover letter to land the job.

But, before you do that, let’s go over some of the key points of writing your sales associate resume:

• Choose the ever-popular reverse-chronological format for your sales associate resume.
• Depending on whether you have work experience or not, catch recruiters’ attention with a resume summary or objective.
• If you have work experience, make it pop by focusing on your achievements. If not, you can write down any other relevant sales experience you have, including internships, projects, or volunteer experience.
• List any other additional information, such as languages, awards, and hobbies to make your sales associate resume stand out.
• Attach a convincing cover letter to your sales associate resume to help you land the job.

Suggested Reading:

• +150 Best Skills to Put On Your Resume
• Best Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume
• CV vs Resume - What is the Difference?

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