But what makes a Sales Director resume effective, exactly? That’s the question MentorCruise is here to answer!
In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a Sales Director resume—from the structure to the content itself. By the end, you’ll know how to craft a resume that helps you communicate key massages about yourself and catch the eye of employers.
Ready to land your dream job? Let’s get started.
Important Elements of a Resume
Heading
The heading of a resume is the first thing that a potential employer will see when they look at your resume. It is important to make sure that the heading of your resume is clear, concise, and professional.
There are a few key pieces of information to cover here, including:
Name
Contact information (i.e., phone number, address, and email)
LinkedIn profile
Tailored information for the job you’re applying for
Relevant Experience
For a Sales Director position (and any senior position, really), it's important to highlight your relevant experience in sales, business development, and marketing.
For this position, employers are interested in experienced candidates who have a track record of success in various areas, including:
revenue growth
customer success
team building
strategic planning
negotiation
budget management
Ultimately, short-listed candidates for the job will have experience leading productive and efficient sales teams. To earn a spot on that short-list, make sure you cover tangible goals, targets, and objectives that you and past teams have achieved.
Link these to campaigns or initiatives listed in the experience section, and be sure to include the outcome of projects that are relevant to the job role.
Skills
When submitting a resume for a Sales Director role, it is important to highlight the core skills and qualifications that make you a great candidate. Below are some of the most relevant skills and experience that can be included in a resume for a Sales Director role:
Proven success in previous sales roles as evidenced by target performance metrics.
Expert knowledge of marketing strategies
Strong leadership skills
Outstanding communication and negotiation skills
Ability to develop comprehensive marketing strategies
Skilled in developing long term strategic relationships
Keep the skills section simple and to the point, so they can be easily read with a quick glance and digested by potential employers.
Sales Director Resume Template Example
Your Name
Sales Director
Contact
Address
Phone Number
Professional Summary
Write a short summary of your skill and experience to enable a potential employer to get a snapshot of your suitability for the role. Be descriptive and include solid evidence such as numbers to support your applications.
Skills
Include a list of all your relevant skills in a bullet point format.
Work History
Include details of all your jobs as well as any gaps. Use bullet points for easy reading and numbers where necessary.
Job Title
Dates
Education
School Name
Subject Name
Date
Accomplishments
EG Took part in the X programme
Volunteered for X
Mentored younger pupils in X
Certifications/degrees/qualifications
Qualifications achieved
Sales Director Resume Template Example
Tips for creating an outstanding resume
Choose a Format
Choosing the right format for your resume is important if you want it to be a compelling document that makes a solid case for your employment.
There are three main types of resume formats you have to decide between:
1. Chronological
The chronological format is probably the most common resume structure. It lists your work history in reverse chronological order, beginning with your current or most recent position and then working backwards through each prior role.
This is a great choice if you have a consistent career path or have held multiple positions with the same company, since it allows employers to quickly see both the progression of your career and any areas you’ve specialized in. The example resume above shows a chronological option with the work experience first.
2. Functional
The functional resume is ideal if you have had any gaps in your work history, and focuses on the skills you have for the job.
3. Combination
Finally, there’s the combination resume format, which combines elements from both chronological and functional resumes by listing out both job-specific experience and skill sets that are applicable to various roles.
This approach gives employers insight into both your professional background and how those experiences have helped shape you into a qualified candidate for their open position.
Customize Your Resume
Customizing a resume for a Sales Director role is an important step in the process of creating an outstanding resume. The format and content of your resume should be tailored to the Sales Director role that you are applying for.
This ensures that it stands out from other candidates and shows that you have taken the time to familiarize yourself with the role. This shows motivation and commitment.
Use Active, Powerful Language
Using active language in your resume is key. Not only does it make your resume stand out, but it also helps your writing come across as more engaging. Plus, active language is much clearer and more direct, making it easier to get your point across.
Take the time to think of how best to phrase the job experience and skills listed on your resume. Power words like “created,” “designed,” “negotiated,” and “implemented” can help your accomplishments stand out from other applicants.
Use the STAR Method
The STAR method allows you to show (not tell) exactly how you contributed to a specific project or task. It’s a step-by-step formula that you can follow to easily make your resume more compelling.
Here’s how the process works:
Situation: Start by describing a situation that’s relevant to the Sales Director role. This probably makes the most sense in the experience section.
Task: Identify the task that you were responsible for completing.
Action: Explain what action you took to achieve the desired result.
Result: Describe the result of the task, focusing on tangible and quantifiable accomplishments.
The STAR method is a great way to showcase your experience and skills. It helps make your examples more concrete, thus making it easier for the person reading your resume to understand the situation in full.
Plus, it’s also a great way of forcing yourself to think deeply about your experiences, skills, and knowledge. This is a major benefit further along in the application process when behavioral interview questions about those very same situations come up.
Highlight Your Professional Development
Employers want to see that you’re able to grow and adapt to new situations, positions, and responsibilities. So, demonstrating how much you have developed over time is a great way to add depth to your resume.
Make sure you mention any courses or certifications that you have completed, as well as any awards or achievements you’ve received during the course of your career. This will show employers that not only do you take initiative, but also that you are dedicated to continuous growth.
Proofread (and Proofread Again)
Typos and grammatical errors are a great way to make yourself seem careless—not ideal when you’re applying for a job that requires attention to detail.
To avoid any embarrassing mistakes, review your entire resume multiple times before hitting send to ensure that it’s accurate, professional, and error-free. When proofreading your resume, take the time to read through each section thoroughly. Check for any spelling or grammar errors, typos, as well as formatting inconsistencies.
Also, make sure to double-check the contact information, job titles, dates of employment, and other pertinent details throughout the document. If possible, ask someone else to read it over, as they may pick up on errors that you did not notice.
Conclusion
When it comes to creating a great resume, you can utilize companies such as MentorCruise that provide advice and help with professional resumes. MentorCruise offers a variety of services, including resume writing, resume review, and career advice.
MentorCruise is the perfect place to find the right mentor to help you reach your potential. The platform and community connect professionals and entrepreneurs with the best mentors and coaches. You can work with top tech professionals and get tailored advice to get you to where you want to be.
Book a career coaching & advice session today and benefit from decades of experience on-demand!