Best Outside Sales Representative Resume Examples For 2025 (Template & Guide)

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Outside Sales Representative Resume: Choose a Format

Selecting the right resume format is a crucial first step to making a lasting impression in the competitive world of outside sales. There are three resume formats that outside sales representatives can choose from: chronological, functional or combination.

Let’s take a closer look at each format so you can choose the best one to highlight your sales skills and experience.

Chronological Resumes for Outside Sales Representatives

A chronological resume format is the most traditional choice for an outside sales representative resume. This format places an emphasis on your work experience, so it is an excellent choice for a seasoned sales professional.

This format features a detailed work history, starting with your most recent job and then working backward to showcase the progression of your career. Under each job entry, you use bulleted sentences to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in your previous roles.

A chronological resume format will be familiar to employers and is highly compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS), so using a chronological format for your outside sales resume may increase your chances of getting your resume into the hands of potential employers.

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Functional Resumes for Outside Sales Representatives

A functional resume format takes a different approach, emphasizing your skills and qualifications rather than a chronological work history. They are most commonly used by recent graduates who don’t have relevant job experience or by someone transitioning from a different career.

If you are a recent graduate looking for your first outside sales position, you can emphasize relevant skills you gained in school or from previous work experience. For example, if you promoted events for a school organization, took speech or debate classes, or had a part-time customer service job, you gained skills that apply to an outside sales position.

A word of caution– employers tend to prefer a detailed work history, so they may wonder what is missing from your resume. Functional resumes can also be incompatible with an ATS. That doesn’t mean you can’t choose this format, but be aware of its drawbacks.

Combination Resumes for Outside Sales Representatives

Your third choice is a combination resume format. This format places an equal emphasis on skills and work experience by combining elements of both a chronological and functional format.

In a combination format, you would place your most relevant skills and qualifications near the top of your resume, followed by a detailed work history. This format is a great choice for someone with limited relevant experience, a career gap, or transitioning from a different career path.

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Choosing a Resume Format

Choosing the best format to present your skills and experience to potential employers is an important step in writing your resume.

If you aren’t sure which format is best for you, experts say a chronological format is the safest choice. Even if your work experience is not directly related to outside sales, you can emphasize transferable skills and qualifications throughout your resume to demonstrate your fit for the job.

For example, suppose your most recent job was serving tables at a restaurant. In that case, you can emphasize your ability to build relationships with regulars, increase revenue per table, and take pride in being the face of the business.

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How to Write an Outside Sales Representative Resume

Once you choose your format, the next step is to write your resume for your outside sale representative position.

There are five key sections to include in a resume:

• • • • • Contact Info
        • Resume Summary or Objective Statement
        • Work History
        • Skills
        • Education

Each section plays an important role in grabbing the attention of potential employers, so take time crafting each section.

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Summary or Objective

Next, you will craft a compelling resume summary or objective statement.

A resume summary is a brief introduction summarizing your work experience and most relevant skills. A summary is best suited to an experienced outside sales representative.

An effective resume summary is 2 – 3 sentences long, concisely describing your experience and ability to do the job.

For example:

“Driven outside sales representative with a proven track record of exceeding sales targets. Effective in building and maintaining client relationships, with a keen eye for identifying new business opportunities.”

On the other hand, an objective statement is more suitable for someone just starting out in their career as an outside sales representative.

This statement is also a brief 2-3 sentence introduction but focuses on letting the hiring manager know your career goals and enthusiasm for the job.

For example:

“Dedicated and motivated recent graduate eager to launch a successful career as an outside sales representative. Seeking an entry-level position to contribute to the growth and success of a dynamic sales team. Ready to embrace challenges, adapt quickly, and exceed sales targets while continuously learning and advancing in the field.”

Resume Advice: Whichever one you choose, remember to tailor this section of your resume to the job you are applying for. Use keywords from the job description where possible to help your resume pass initial screenings by ATS and human resource managers.

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Work History

Next, you will detail your work history, focusing on your most relevant experience and achievements.

Start with your most recent job and work backward in chronological order. Each job entry will include your job title, employer’s name and location, and the dates you worked there.

Then, under each job entry, you will include at least three bulleted sentences to describe your experience and accomplishments in each position.

Make this section persuasive! This is your chance to show your ability to convince employers you are the right person for the outside sales representative position.

To write a compelling work history section, use strong action verbs like increased, spearheaded, upsold, and informed.

Also, use numbers and percentages to quantify your accomplishments in each job.

For example:

“Increased territory sales by 20% through strategic account management and effective negotiation.”

This helps clearly demonstrate your value as an outside sales representative. Employers get great context that informs their decision on who to hire, so use your quantifiable accomplishments to stand out!

A work history section entry on an outside sales representative resume may look like:

Outside Sales Representative
Dynamic Solutions Inc., Houston, TX
March 2019 – Present

• • • • • Spearheaded a regional sales initiative, increasing territory sales by 25% within the first year through strategic client engagement and innovative product demonstrations, establishing a strong brand presence in previously underperforming markets.

• • • • • Upsold products and services to existing clients, achieving a 40% increase in upsell revenue, by effectively communicating product benefits and customizing solutions to meet client needs, leading to higher client retention rates.

• • • • • Cultivated and maintained relationships with over 100 new and existing clients through regular on-site visits, informative product updates, and timely follow-ups, resulting in a 30% increase in client satisfaction scores.

Resume Advice: Your work history is also an opportunity to tailor your resume to the specific job you want. Read the job description carefully, and focus on showing how you meet the job requirements. Using keywords and focusing on the employers’ needs will help your resume get noticed!

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Skills

Next, you will craft a dedicated skills section. Emphasize your most relevant outside sales skills. Include technical skills, interpersonal skills, and industry-specific expertise.

As you write this section, remember to include both hard skills and soft skills to show you are a well-rounded professional who is easy to work with.

To help you get started, we have compiled a list of some of the top skills for an outside sales representative resume.

Top 5 Hard Skills for Outside Sales Representative Resumes

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Employers value a sales representative who can utilize CRM tools to track and manage sales activities.
            2. Negotiation: The ability to effectively negotiate terms and close deals is a core responsibility of all sales jobs.
            3. Market Analysis: Let employers know you can analyze market trends and competition to identify opportunities and increase sales.
            4. Strategic Planning: Your ability to develop and implement strategic sales plans is critical to success in outside sales.
            5. Prospecting: Finding new leads and moving them through the sales funnel is a sought-after skill for outside sales representatives.

Top 5 Soft Skills for Outside Sales Representative Resumes

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Relationship Building: Your ability to cultivate and maintain strong client relationships is the key to your success and the success of your employer.
            2. Communication: Salespeople must articulate ideas clearly to clients and internal teams to succeed.
            3. Adaptability: Showcase your ability to navigate changing market dynamics and client needs.
            4. Collaboration: Let employers know you can work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure client satisfaction.
            5. Resilience: Outside sales is a tough job. Let employers know you can handle rejection and overcome objections.

Understand that it is important to tailor your resume to the outside sales job description to show that you are an extremely relevant and qualified candidate.

So when choosing which skills to promote, such as different types of computer skills, make sure to pick ones that are sought after in the job description.

When completed, a skills section on an outside sales representative resume may look like:

SKILLS

• • • • • CRM Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Salesforce and HubSpot, with certification in Salesforce Administration.
        • Market Analysis Tools: Skilled in using Google Analytics and SEMrush for market trend analysis and opportunity identification.
        • Lead Generation: Proficient in LinkedIn Sales Navigator and cold emailing tools for effective lead sourcing.
        • Client Relationship Management: Known for building and sustaining long-term client relationships.
        • Team Collaboration: Collaborative team player, experienced in working with cross-functional teams.

Resume Advice: A well-crafted outside sales representative resume should highlight skills most relevant to the employer. Customize your resume for each job to show employers you have done your homework and are genuinely interested in the position.

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Education

The fifth key section of your resume is your educational background. Let potential employers know you meet the educational requirements in the job description by listing your relevant degrees and certifications.

Provide your highest degree earned, the institution’s name, and location. Including your graduation date is optional.

You may also choose to include relevant coursework, honors, or an impressive GPA.

Your education section may look something like this:

Bachelor of Business Administration: Sales and Marketing
XYZ University
Phoenix, Arizona

Additional Sections

Once you have carefully crafted the essential five sections of your resume, if space allows, you can enhance your resume with optional sections such as:

• • • • • • Certifications
          • Professional Memberships
          • Awards and Recognitions
          • Languages Spoken

If you choose to add additional sections to your resume, make sure you are focused on the value you bring to an outside sales position.

For example, speaking multiple languages can be helpful in a face-to-face sales position. Or, winning a top salesperson award can validate your sales abilities.

Top Certifications For Outside Sales Representatives

If you lack relevant work experience, obtaining certifications can also show you are eager to learn and dedicated to honing your sales skills. Here are two examples to consider:

• • • • • Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP): The National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP) offers an online course that teaches essential sales skills.
        • Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL): Also awarded by the NASP, this certifies your ability to manage a sales team.

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7 Tips For Writing An Outside Sales Representative Resume

Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each application to show you are genuinely interested in working for the employer and selling their particular product.

Quantify Achievements: Use numbers and percentages to validate your sales achievements.

Keyword Optimization: Use relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume to make it ATS-friendly.

Use Action Verbs: Start bullet points with powerful action verbs to create compelling resume content that inspires hiring managers to keep reading.

Highlight Technical Skills: Emphasize your proficiency in sales tools and technologies. In today’s digital world, your ability to integrate your face-to-face sales skills with behind-the-scenes technology is essential to success.

Use Visual Appeal: Choose a modern and professional-looking resume template to catch the eye of hiring managers.

Proofread Carefully: Ensure your resume is free of spelling and grammatical errors to show professionalism and attention to detail.