7 years ago
August 18, 2017

4 Resume Optimization Tips to Get Noticed by Sales Headhunters

Sales headhunters are inundated with resumes. In today’s competitive landscape, if you fail to put the time into optimizing your resume, you are preparing to fail. Before you can even…

Rhys Metler

Sales headhunters are inundated with resumes. In today’s competitive landscape, if you fail to put the time into optimizing your resume, you are preparing to fail. Before you can even think about getting an interview, you need to focus on crafting a custom resume for each job you are interested in pursuing. Other candidates do it, and so should you.

“Before you make it to the interview phase of the hiring process, you will need to quantify your skills in your resume: e.g., Increased sales volume 28% year over year, contributing to unprecedented growth. You will also need to write a compelling cover letter that highlights your sales achievements, qualifications, and experience,” says Alison Doyle from The Balance.

Here are a number of effective strategies to optimize your resume and get noticed by sales headhunters:

1. Focus On Results

Sales is a results-driven industry. Therefore, sales headhunters are looking for candidates who have a strong record of success in the industry. It’s not enough to say you meet your sales targets. You need to quantify your success by providing statistics and results. What percentage of your quota do you meet? How many dollars in sales did you do each month?

2. Highlight Awards and Achievements

Awards and achievements tell recruiters that you are different and a top achiever. Always include important awards and accomplishments to show that you are a top sales rep and above the rest of the pack.

3. Include Skills That Show You Are Unique

Most sales reps have a similar skill set. Listing the same skills that every other candidate will list on their resume won’t do much for you. However, if you have unique or notable skills, make sure you highlight them up front to differentiate yourself from others. Are you an expert prospector? Do you have other business skills that can help you achieve more? Are you strong with sales presentations?

4. Cater Your Resume to the Job Post

Your resume needs to be customized to the job post. While this can be time-consuming, it’s one of the most effective ways to get noticed by sales headhunters. Note the keywords, job skills, and other information that is most important in the job post and make sure you mirror this in your resume. Eliminate irrelevant information and focus on what the hiring company states is most important.

 

More Tips from Sales Headhunters

6 Common Issues to Avoid in Sales Resumes

5 Things Recruiters Hate about Your Resume

What Does a Great Sales Resume Look Like?

 


SalesForce Search is a sales recruiting company which specializes in the recruitment and placement of sales professionals. We recruit sales people in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. Find the right sales person for your organization, start your search here.

Rhys Metler

Rhys is a tenacious, top performing Senior Sales Recruiter with 15+ years of focused experience in the Digital Media, Mobile, Software, Technology and B2B verticals. He has a successful track record of headhunting top performing sales candidates for some of the most exciting brands in North America. He is a Certified Recruitment Specialist (CRS) and has expert experience in prospecting new business, client retention/renewals and managing top performing sales and recruitment teams. Rhys enjoys spending quality time with his wife, son, and daughters, BBQing on a hot summer day and tropical vacations.

salesforce-popup