I have seen it many times as candidates submit their resume that was either created by a professional writer or a generic resume that the individual wrote themselves and without any changes or customization to match the job, they blindly send it in. With competition for the highest paying sales jobs and good companies, it is best to take the time to learn how to write your own resume and to update and customize it to fit the job you are applying for. Below are some other disqualifiers that might be the cause of you not getting any calls for interviews.
NOT LISTING RESULTS
As a hiring sales manager who looks at a lot of resumes, I want to know the how behind resume fillers such as, achieved 120% to goal in second quarter. I will be sure to ask about the other quarters and to help me understand how you obtained the 120%. Be prepared to answer what you would do during months or quarters where you are performing, because sales success is not by accident and as a hiring sales manager, I would like to know how you achieve the results you listed.
Since we are on the topic of results, I have tossed many sales resumes in the trash as it only lists generic responsibilities versus showing any results. If you are going to customize your sales resume to the job posting, at least give some measurable results along with that side of filler.
JOB HOPPER
On your sales job cover letter you state how your passion is in such and such industry and that you know you would do well in (insert industry here), but your resume showed that you either have no industry experience or that you bounced around so much, who is to believe where your passions truly lay? I say focus more on your transferable skills and the results you were able to accomplish with the experience you do have. Sell yourself with the facts versus on hopes and you all knowing feeling that you will do well if just given the chance. Sell me on how you have already accomplished these successes and how you would repeat that success with my team.
ERRORS
If you are sloppy or your sales resume has mistakes, then why should any hiring sales manager take you serious? You read it on all resume tips and advice articles but yet, I always see errors on resume and if it is a reflection of the quality of work you are destined to do, then your resume is destined for the trash bin if it reaches my desk. The way I look at it is this, it is just one or two pages and if you cannot deliver a document that represents you well, then spend some time to ensure that this does not disqualify you from getting an interview.
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