8 Account Executive Resume Examples for 2024

As the gateway to a rewarding career in sales, a strong account executive resume is crucial. This article offers proven examples and strategic advice to help job seekers showcase their skills. Learn how to highlight sales achievements, tailor your resume to specific roles, and use industry jargon such as "CRM" and "B2B sales" effectively. Our goal is to equip you with the tools for a resume that opens doors.

  Compiled and approved by Diana Price
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in top-notch account executive resumes.

  • Showing Impact With Numbers: The strongest resumes show clear impact with numbers. You should include sales growth percentage, revenue targets hit, customer acquisition counts, and market share growth. These metrics prove your success clearly.

  • Skill Selection From Job Descriptions: Include skills you have that are also in the job description. Focus on hard skills and tools like CRM software proficiency, data analysis, lead generation, contract negotiation, and sales forecasting.

  • Tailoring To The Account Types: Choose phrases that fit the account type you'll handle. For a tech-focused role, mention tech industry networks. If it's finance, use financial product knowledge. This shows you fit the sector well.

Where to place education section

As an account executive, tailor your resume to show your strongest qualities at the top. If you have been working for some time, list your job experience first. If you have recently completed a new educational program that is important for your career, like a masters or specialized sales training, place your education before your experience. This helps explain any work gaps and emphasizes new skills.

For those just starting, like recent graduates or current students, your education should go first on your resume. Make sure to include sales or communication coursework that aligns with an account executive's role.

Tailored sales experience

When applying for a role as an account executive, highlight direct sales or client management experience. Use specific examples, like leading a successful pitch or growing a key account. Those with direct sales results show potential employers you can deliver as an account executive.

Include any experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software, as this is a critical tool in the industry. Being able to show good use of such tools can set you apart in the hiring process.

Ideal resume length

Your resume should be clear and concise. Aim for one page if you have less than 10 years of relevant experience. This helps you keep focused on the most important achievements and skills that apply to being an account executive.

Those with more experience, aiming for a more senior account executive role, may need two pages. Be thorough yet selective; include only the roles and successes that show you are a good fit for the role you want. Shorter may often be better to hold the reader's interest.

Communications skills emphasis

Effective communication is key for an account executive. Your resume should reflect strong verbal and written skills. Mention any roles where you had to interact with clients or led team meetings. These details are important for roles in sales and account management.

Also, participate in communication training or workshops and list them under your qualification section. This shows dedication to improving skills that are essential for succeeding in this role.

Beat the resume scanners

When you apply for a job as an account executive, your resume might first be read by a computer program called an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system looks for certain words and details to decide if your resume is a good match for the job. To make sure your resume gets seen by a real person, follow these tips.

  • Use keywords from the job description, like 'sales targets' and 'client relations,' so the ATS knows your experience matches what they're looking for.
  • Make sure your job titles and skills are clear and match the terms used in the industry, but don't copy the job title exactly. Instead of 'Account Executive,' use phrases like 'managed client accounts' or 'drove sales growth.' This shows you understand the work.

Keep the format of your resume simple. Complex designs or columns might confuse the ATS. Stick to standard resume formats and clear headings for sections like 'Work experience' and 'Education.'

Make your resume job-specific

Your resume should show you are the right person for an account executive role. Think about what you have done that is just like the work of an account executive. Use clear words and phrases from the job ad you are applying to. This helps your resume stand out to hiring managers.

  • Understand the job you want. Show examples of how you have managed accounts or worked with clients.
  • If you have experience in sales or customer service, highlight achievements that show you are good at dealing with people and solving problems.
  • Change descriptions of your past jobs to fit this new job. For example, if you worked in a team, show how you helped get new business or kept clients happy. Use phrases like 'managed a client portfolio' or 'increased sales by 20%'.

Show impact with numbers

As an account executive, showing the direct impact you have made in your role is crucial. Numbers are a clear way to make your achievements stand out. Think about how you can quantify your success.

Consider these ideas:

  • Highlight sales growth by mentioning the percentage increase in revenue, like a 20% rise in sales over a quarter.
  • Include the number of new accounts you've secured, such as 15 new clients in a year.
  • Showcase your efficiency by detailing how you've cut down on time to close deals, perhaps by 30%.
  • Mention the size of the accounts you manage, like handling a portfolio worth $2M.
  • Express how you've improved client retention with figures, e.g., achieving a 95% client retention rate.
  • Detail how you've reduced customer issues by citing a decrease in support tickets, like a 40% reduction in client complaints.
  • Quantify project management skills by listing how many projects you've led, for example, overseeing 10 major product launches.
  • Illustrate team leadership by the number of team members you've supervised, such as leading a team of 5 sales professionals.

Use these numbers to show your value. If you're unsure about exact figures, estimate conservatively or use ranges to maintain credibility. For instance, if you can't remember the exact revenue increase, you could say 'increased sales by approximately 15-25% over six months'. Numbers help employers see the clear value you could bring to their team.

Need more resume templates?

Quick links

Samples


Insights