How to write a sales executive CV

Decide whether the advert wants new business or existing accounts. The first bullets should match that.

Rowan Blake is fictional. The quarter in the example is made up.

1. Say what you sold and to whom

Product, new or existing accounts, and the region if it matters. “Hunter” is useless if you only renewed a book.

2. Show the CRM as a habit

A next step and a date. A full call recording does not belong on a CV.

3. Use numbers you can open

Quota, win rate and revenue only with the period and the definition. If you do not have them, write the meetings booked and the orders handed to finance.

Before and after

Before

Consistently exceeded quota and built strong relationships.

After

Booked the renewal conversation before the contract month and removed deals that had no meeting in the diary.

Before

Excellent closer with a hunter mentality.

After

Logged the next step before leaving the call, and handed finance the start date and the billing contact.

Checklist

  • New business and existing accounts are not mixed up.
  • Every number has a period.
  • No customer contract value is identifiable.
  • Discount rules you mention are ones you followed.
  • The document is a CV, with no photo.

A finished example

Rowan Blake is fictional.

Rowan Blake

Birmingham · rowan.blake@example.com

Eligible to work in the UK · field and office days

Personal statement

Sales executive with four years selling business software to existing accounts. I log the next step in the CRM before I leave the call, and I do not forecast a deal that has no date. Looking for a role with a named book of accounts.

Experience

Sales executive

Fieldnote Software (fictional) · March 2022 – present

  • Own a book of existing accounts in the Midlands, and book the renewal conversation before the contract month.
  • In a made-up sample quarter, wrote the next step and the date on every open opportunity, and removed two deals that had no meeting in the diary.
  • Prepare a one-page note before a visit: what they bought, what is unused, and the question I am there to ask.
  • Hand a signed order to finance with the start date and the billing contact, not a verbal yes.

Account executive

Paperline (fictional supplier) · July 2020 – February 2022

  • Called a set list of customers each week and recorded the outcome, including “no answer”, so the next person did not start from zero.
  • Quoted only from the price list, and asked a manager before offering a discount.

Education

  • BSc Business, 2020

Skills

  • Account plans and renewal dates
  • CRM notes with a next step
  • Forecasts that match the diary
  • Discovery questions before a proposal
  • Handover to finance with the billing contact

Use it on your own CV

FAQ

What if I missed target?

Say the period and what you changed. A missing number you hide is worse than a quarter you can explain.

Should I include a personal interest?

Only if it is short and true. It does not replace a pipeline bullet.

Do I need a cover letter as well?

If the advert asks, yes. The CV still has to stand on its own. There is a separate cover letter example for customer service, which is a different job.

Where is the full sample?

The sales executive CV example uses the same fictional person.

Free job-ready CV checklist

A one-page checklist for any role. No name, and no account.