Have you hugged your sales resume lately? When was the last time your updated your resume? I don’t mean adding a few more years at the same company you are working at or changing the format. Have you truly added more value to your personal brand and what you have to offer? The article explores 4 ways you can re-boost your resume and truly update it to make you much more competitive in the job search.
If you were to compete against a clone of yourself for a sales opportunity, with the same experience and background, how would you beat yourself? Now think about other professionals out there continually improving themselves and adding more value to bring to the table. The following are some suggestions to help give you that competitive edge and this is an ongoing thing, not just a one time activity.
1: GO BACK TO SCHOOL
One of the best ways to stay relevant and to add more value is to go back to school. With the numerous options available nowadays for you to obtain a certificate or even a Master’s degree fully online, it will help give you that competitive edge by investing in yourself. In sales, there are specific certificates you can take to improve on negotiation skills, leadership, marketing or try something that you are passionate about and add this to your resume.
I personally went and pursued my MBA while working full time and even though it was tough, I now have that credential behind my name for the rest of my life. Does it guarantee employment, no. But it sure does help tell a story of prioritizing my professional and personal life to juggle a career all while pursuing a degree. I also gained useful business knowledge as I learned the many different moving parts that is different than my role, in doing so helped landed me a marketing rotation within my own company.
Do your research and find a program that makes sense to you time wise, financially and that it fits within your career or personal goals.
Looking for the right college? Let CollegeQuest help. Begin your college search today.
2: VOLUNTEER
Volunteering is good in every way that you look at it. I am not suggesting you sign up to do a walk or help with setting up a booth for a day. Look for a volunteer opportunity where you are gaining valuable new skills and meeting new professionals. I volunteered with a local education program as helped them build a website and in doing so, added different skills that I was unable to achieve by just doing my sales job. I added this to my resume and when I interviewed, I had an interesting story to tell as well as talk about the new skills I acquired.
Look for Volunteer opportunities in your area: volunteermatch.com
3: ASK FOR MORE RESPONSIBILITY
With your current role, if you are performing well that is, ask for more responsibilities to develop new skills. This not only makes you more valuable to the company, but you also gain different experiences within your own company. Usually there isn’t a set program in place for you, so go and seek an area of need and put together a proposal on a side project on top of your current duties. This not only shows that you can do your work, but you can handle much more.
4: HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
Your resume is your marketing piece to get you in front of the hiring sales manager. It is truly worth looking into getting your resume evaluated and written by a professional. The cost might seem high, but done correctly, you can position yourself and communicate your skills and what you have to offer with impact. I suggest: ResumeEdge: Certified Professional Resume Writers edit and write your resumes and cover letters. Get an Edge. Click Here!
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