8 Area Sales Manager Resume Examples for 2024

Discovering effective strategies is essential for a sales manager resume. This article offers successful examples and practical advice. Learn how to highlight key skills, quantify achievements, and tailor your resume to job descriptions.

  Compiled and approved by Grace Abrams
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for area sales managers.

  • Show Measurable Impact: Use numbers to show your impact. Common metrics include sales growth, customer retention, revenue growth, and territory expansion.

  • Include Relevant Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are CRM software, sales forecasting, market analysis, strategic planning, and budget management. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Highlight Industry Trends: Show knowledge of trends. For example: digital transformation, omnichannel strategies, and AI in sales.

Get feedback on your resume

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Education section order

As a hiring manager, you should know where the education section goes on a resume. If you're an area sales manager with work experience, list your work first. Your practical sales experience is what catches an employer's eye. But, if you've just finished a significant educational program like an MBA, put your education at the top of the resume.

For this role, highlight any sales-related or management courses. Make it easy for employers to see why your education makes you good for the job. Remember, keep your resume focused on what matters most for the sales management role. Show relevant education clearly and early if it's your strongest asset, but if experience is your main strength, that comes first.

Highlight sales metrics

Make sure to include specific sales metrics on your resume. Data like the percentage increase in sales, the revenue you generated, or the number of new clients you secured can greatly enhance your application.

Employers in sales value measurable achievements. Clearly displaying this information helps them understand your impact and effectiveness in the role.

Optimal resume length

For an area sales manager position, keep the resume concise. You want to focus on quality, not quantity. Aim to present your most relevant sales achievements and leadership experiences within one to two pages. If you have less than 10 years of relevant experience, one page should be sufficient. This will show that you know what is important and can communicate it efficiently.

For those with a longer career in sales management, you may extend to a second page to thoroughly showcase your track record of successful area sales supervision, strategic planning, and team leadership. Make sure the first page captures the core of your expertise and achievements as this is what hiring managers will likely read first. Every word counts; ensure you prioritize information related to sales performance and management skills over less relevant details.

Mention sales software skills

Include any sales software tools you are proficient in, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or any CRM software. Listing these tools shows that you are technologically savvy and can manage customer relationships effectively.

Employers often look for candidates who can seamlessly integrate into their current systems. Mentioning these skills helps show that you are ready to contribute from day one.

Beat the resume screener

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can be the first hurdle in landing an area sales manager role. Your resume might be strong, but if it's not ATS-friendly, it may never reach a human reader. Here are tips to help you get past the screeners:

  • Use clear, simple job titles and industry keywords. For example, instead of 'territory champion,' write 'area sales manager,' or 'sales team leader.'
  • Highlight your sales achievements with numbers. Mention the percentage you increased sales in your area or the revenue you brought in. This shows your success in a way that is easy for the ATS to recognize.

Customize your resume

You need to show how your skills fit what an area sales manager does. A good resume speaks directly to the job you want. It's not just a list of what you've done. It makes it clear why you're the right choice.

  • List the regions you've managed sales in. Mention specific areas if the job is for a known territory.
  • For a senior role, say how many salespeople you've led. Use numbers to show the size of your team, like 'Managed a team of 15 sales representatives'.
  • If you're changing careers, link your past work to sales skills. For instance, if you have a customer service background, talk about how you've dealt with client needs and boosted satisfaction.

Highlight success with numbers

When you write your resume, showing your success with clear numbers makes a strong impact. Numbers help hiring managers see the real value you bring. Here's how to do it for an area sales manager role:

  • Think about your sales targets. How much did you exceed them by? Write down your target achievements in percentages or total sales volume.
  • Consider the size of the area you managed. How many clients were there? Mention the number of clients or percentage growth in client base.
  • How did you help the team improve? Show team performance increases, like 25% faster deal closures or 30% more calls made.
  • Did your strategies reduce costs? Include numbers like 20% reduction in travel expenses or 15% less spending on supplies.
  • Think about training you led. Did it increase efficiency? Maybe your team saw a 40% improvement in product knowledge or a 50% decrease in onboarding time.
  • Customer satisfaction is key. If you raised it, show by how much, like 10-point NPS increase or 35% fewer customer complaints.

By using numbers, you give a clear picture of your impact. Even if you're not sure of the exact numbers, estimate them based on what you remember. It's about showing you understand the value of measuring success.

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