Inside Sales Resume Examples

Crafting an effective inside sales resume can feel like more of a hard sell than landing a big client deal. It’s not just about listing your past roles; it's about presenting your skills in a way that grabs attention in seconds. Many inside sales reps find it tricky to showcase their strengths on paper, often underselling their achievements. When looking for a job, a weak resume can mean missed chances and lost opportunities. That's why it's crucial to have a resume that clearly outlines your sales experience, achievements, and value. Without the right guidance, even the best inside salespeople can struggle to make their resumes shine. Let’s dive into how you can polish your resume to perfection.

Your resume template is your first impression. It can either make recruiters eager to learn more about you or make them move on to the next candidate. Choose a professional, clean template that aligns with your industry. A cluttered or outdated resume template can turn off even the most interested recruiter, so make sure yours is modern and easy to read.

We have over 700 resume examples to help you craft the perfect inside sales resume.

What to focus on when writing your inside sales resume

An inside sales resume should paint a clear picture of your ability to close deals, manage client relationships, and meet or exceed sales targets. Highlighting key skills like communication, lead generation, and data analytics can set you apart. Include detailed metrics to showcase your achievements.

To boost its impact, consider adding:

• Specific sales targets achieved or exceeded.
• Examples of successful client interactions.
• Quantifiable results from sales campaigns.
• Certifications or trainings in sales techniques.

Must have information on your inside sales resume

When creating an inside sales resume, it's crucial to include sections that highlight your skills and experience in the sales field. Here are the must-have resume sections:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Sales Experience
• Skills
• Education
• Achievements

Additional sections can further highlight your strengths, such as Certifications, Volunteer Experience, or Languages Spoken. Including these sections can make your resume more impressive and tailored to the inside sales industry.

Which resume format to choose

For an inside sales resume, the best format is the reverse-chronological one, as it showcases your work experience from most recent to oldest. Opt for modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat instead of outdated ones like Arial and Times New Roman. Always save your resume as a PDF to maintain its format and ensure compatibility across different devices. Margins should be set to one inch on all sides to give your content enough room to breathe and not look cluttered. Use clear section headings that are keyword-rich to help Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) easily parse your resume content.

An inside sales resume should include the following sections:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Education
• Certifications
• Achievements
• References

Resume Mentor's free resume builder handles all of this for you, ensuring a polished and professional resume that stands out.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

When writing your resume experience section for an inside sales position, follow a logical order. List your jobs in reverse chronological order with your most recent job at the top. Generally, you should include your last 10-15 years of work experience. Only include relevant job titles to keep your resume targeted. Customizing your resume for each job application can help you stand out. Focus on showcasing achievements using strong action words like "achieved," "managed," and "increased."

Use this format to illustrate your experience effectively:

Here’s an example that’s poorly written:

This example is vague and lacks detail. Phrases like "made sales calls" and "reached out to clients" are too general. There's no sense of accomplishment or measurement of success in any of these statements.

Now, compare this to a well-crafted example: [here was the JSON object 3]

This second example stands out because it focuses on achievements supported by numbers. Statements like "achieved 120% of sales target" and "increased client base by 30%" provide clear evidence of success. The use of strong action verbs like "achieved," "implemented," and "increased" makes the resume more dynamic.

Inside sales resume experience examples

Looking to boost your inside sales game? Get ready to "seal the deal" with these stellar resume experiences that cover every sales angle. Let's dive in and add some sparkle to your professional story.

Achievement-focused

Highlight the milestones and awards you've scored in your career. These experiences show employers that you know how to deliver excellence.

Skills-focused

Demonstrate your hard and soft sales skills. This emphasis shows you're versatile and prepared for varied sales challenges.

Responsibility-focused

Underlining your key responsibilities showcases your role scope and depth. This demonstrates reliability and capability.

Project-focused

Highlighting specific projects shows your ability to focus and deliver on targeted goals.

Result-focused

Emphasize outcomes you've achieved, which means you're driven and effective.

Industry-Specific Focus

Show your expertise within a specific industry, illustrating specialized knowledge and experience.

Problem-Solving focused

Detail how you've tackled challenges head-on, showing resilience and resourcefulness.

Innovation-focused

Demonstrate how you've brought fresh ideas that resulted in success. Innovation shows adaptability and forward-thinking.

Leadership-focused

Showcase your leadership contributions to demonstrate that you can guide others towards success.

Customer-focused

Illustrate how understanding and fulfilling customer needs has been central to your sales strategy.

Growth-focused

Highlight how your initiatives and efforts have fueled business growth.

Efficiency-focused

Focus on the processes you've improved to make operations more efficient.

Technology-focused

Show your prowess in leveraging technology to boost sales.

Collaboration-focused

Highlight how well you work with others to reach common goals. Show your teamwork skills.

Training and Development focused

Showcase your efforts in training and developing others, emphasizing your commitment to growth and knowledge sharing.

Write your inside sales resume summary section

Writing a compelling resume summary for an inside sales position involves showcasing your skills, experience, and key accomplishments that align with the job you're applying for. The summary should be concise and tailored to the specific role. Make sure to focus on your ability to meet sales targets, your understanding of the sales process, and your interpersonal skills.

Applicants should describe themselves using actionable words and quantifiable achievements. Words like "achieved," "managed," "increased," and "developed" help demonstrate your impact. Use numbers when possible to highlight your successes, like "boosted sales by 30%."

Here's the difference between a resume summary and other sections:

A resume summary provides a quick snapshot of your qualifications and achievements and is usually placed at the top of the resume. A resume objective focuses on your career goals and how they align with the company's needs. A resume profile is similar to a summary but generally includes a mix of your skills and experiences. A summary of qualifications lists bullet points of your most relevant accomplishments.

This summary is bad because it is vague and lacks specifics. "A lot of experience" doesn't give the reader an idea of how much experience you have. Mentioning "various roles" and "many products" without specifics leaves the reader unclear about your expertise. The sentence about growing revenue is too general and does not provide any quantifiable achievements.

This summary is good because it is specific and quantifiable. "7 years of experience" provides a clear idea of your expertise. Mentioning an increase in sales by 30% shows a measurable achievement. Stating skills like CRM software and building client relationships makes it clear what your strengths are, making it easier for potential employers to see your value.

Listing your inside sales skills on your resume

When writing your skills section for an inside sales resume, it's essential to highlight your strengths and soft skills. This section can stand alone or be incorporated into other areas like your experience and summary. Soft skills are personal attributes that enable you to interact effectively with others, such as communication and adaptability. On the other hand, hard skills are specific, teachable abilities like proficiency in CRM software or data analysis.

Both your skills and strengths can be considered resume keywords. These keywords help your resume get noticed by hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). Including relevant keywords increases your chances of landing an interview.

Example standalone skills section:

This skills section is strong because it focuses on specific skills relevant to inside sales. It clearly lists essential capabilities without unnecessary words or formatting, making it easy for hiring managers and ATS to understand.

Best hard skills to feature on your inside sales resume

Hard skills in inside sales should communicate your technical abilities and specific knowledge related to sales processes. These skills help you perform tasks effectively and often require training or experience to acquire. Here are the most in-demand and popular inside sales hard skills:

Best soft skills to feature on your inside sales resume

Soft skills in inside sales should demonstrate your interpersonal abilities and how well you work with others. These skills are crucial for building relationships, understanding customer needs, and adapting to changing situations. Here are the most in-demand and popular inside sales soft skills:

How to include your education on your resume

The education section is an important part of your inside sales resume. It should be tailored to the job you're applying for, so don't include any irrelevant education. When listing your degree, be clear and specific. If your GPA is strong and relevant, include it. Mention honors like cum laude if you have them.

A poorly written education section might look like this:

This example is bad because it lists an irrelevant degree and a low GPA. Including location details adds clutter without adding value. There are no honors or relevant coursework included.

An excellent education section might look like this:

This example is good because it lists a relevant degree in Business Administration, includes a strong GPA, and avoids unnecessary details. The degree is directly related to sales, making it more appealing to recruiters.

How to include inside sales certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section in your inside sales resume is crucial to showcase your relevant skills and qualifications. Start by listing the name of the certificate. Include the date you received the certificate. Add the issuing organization for credibility. Certificates can also be included in the header for immediate visibility. For example, it could look like: "Certified Sales Professional, Sales Training Institute, 2023".

An example of a good standalone certificates section could be formatted as:

This example is excellent because it includes relevant certifications that are directly aligned with an inside sales role. It names the certificate, provides the issuing body, and offers a clear section title. This makes the qualifications easy to find for hiring managers. It bolsters your credibility and points to your continuous professional development.

Extra sections to include in your inside sales resume

Crafting a compelling inside sales resume involves highlighting every aspect of your skills and experiences. Adding extra sections like languages, hobbies, volunteer work, and books can provide a fuller picture of who you are, making you a more attractive candidate.

• Language section — Include fluency in multiple languages to show versatility and potential to reach diverse markets.
• Hobbies and interests section — Share hobbies that demonstrate skills relevant to sales, such as negotiation or teamwork.
• Volunteer work section — Highlight volunteer experiences that showcase leadership or community engagement.
• Books section — Mention industry-related books you've read to indicate ongoing learning and passion for sales.

These sections help you stand out and bring more depth to your resume. They can make a significant impact on how an employer views your overall fit for the role.

Pair your inside sales resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume when you apply for a job. It introduces you to the employer and highlights your qualifications. A good cover letter explains why you are interested in the job and how your skills and experiences make you a perfect fit. This personal touch can help you stand out among other applicants.

For an inside sales position, your cover letter should focus on your sales experience, your achievements in hitting or exceeding targets, and your ability to build relationships with clients. Mention any specific sales software you have used and your comfort with cold calling or lead generation. Highlighting your communication skills and customer service experience can also make a strong impression.

Ready to create your perfect cover letter? Use Resume Mentor's cover letter builder for an easy process and export it as a PDF to protect your content and formatting. Start making your cover letter today!